SHAFTON, (Dorset) or SHAFTSBURY, 9 m. from Blandford, 14 from Salisbury, 88 cm. 103 mm. from London, stands on a hill in
the postroad to Exeter, which has a prospect into Wilts and Somerset. This T. is supposed to have been built in the 8th
century, and to have been enlarged by K. Alfred, and had 10 Chs. (besides a famous mon. in the Saxons time;) but has now
only 4. K. Edw. the Conf. was buried here. It had 3 mints before the conquest, and in the R. of Hen. VIII. was the see of
a suffragan Bp. It was incorporated by Q. Eliz. and K. Cha. II. and is governed by a mayor, recorder, 12 ald. bailiffs,
and a C.C. Here are about 600 houses, many of which are of free-stone. Water is so scarce here, that it used to be
supplied with it from Motcomb, in the manner we there mentioned; and it was furnished with water more commodiously in
1718, at the expence of Will. Benson, Esq; then one of its members in Pt. and since auditor of the imprests, by means of
engines, which raised the water above 300 feet perpendicular, and conveyed it to a large cistern in the middle of the T.
from the distance of 2 m. But even this is laid aside, and they have dug several pits at their doors, in which they
preserve the rainwater; and the poor get their living to this day, by fetching it in pails, or on horses. This place gave
title of E. in the R. of Ch. II. to Sir Anthony-Ashley Cooper, whom he at the same time made Ld.-High-Chanc; whose
posterity still enjoy it. The Mt. is S, Fairs the Eve of Palm-Sund. Midsummer-day; and St. Martin's. On the top of Park-
Hill here, a fine plantation was lately made by a neighbouring gentleman for the inh. to walk in. The T. bel. to the mon.
till its Diss. after which Ed. VI. gave it to Thomas Wriothesley, E. of Southampton. In the R. of Eliz. the Es. of
Pembroke were Lds. of this manor and Bor. but in that of Cha. II. the royalty was sold to Anthony-Ashley Cooper, E. of
Shaftsbury, whose descendant, the present E. now enjoys it. This Bor. has returned members from the very beginning of Pts
to this time, saving a defect in the Rs. of Hen. VII. Hen. VIII. and Edw. VI.