The ancient, walled market town and port of Wareham dates from the 9^th century although there are many traces of earlier peoples. In the time of King Edward the Confessor it contained 148 houses and two mints for coining money but after William the Conquerer subdued the Saxon borough the Domesday Book records just 70 houses. Most of the town was destroyed by fire in 1762. Many of the buildings date from the rebuilding after this catastrophe and today over 200 of them are listed as of architectural or historical interest.

Since the Industrial Revolution Wareham's trade in agricultural produce and Purbeck stone has been supplemented by trade in clays, first with Staffordshire and the Black Country (The finest Minton is made from local clay) and later with many European potteries.

Wareham provides all the amenities necessary for modern living whilst preserving the image of a sleepy, prosperous country town.