Wareham
The ancient, walled market town and port of Wareham dates
from the 9th 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.
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