Blandford Forum Town

Blandford Forum sits on the River Stour in north Dorset. Much of the town centre dates from a rebuilding after the 1731 fire carried out by local builders John and William Bastard, who used ashlar stone to create a coherent range of Georgian houses and public buildings. The layout around the market place and the church of St Peter and St Paul reflects that 18th-century plan; the church itself was rebuilt at the same time and its tall tower remains a local landmark. The surviving Georgian fabric gives the town a consistent character and concentrates shops, cafes and civic buildings around the central square.

The Blandford Forum Museum records local archaeology, craft and the history of the rebuilding, and riverside paths beside the Stour lead out from the town into the surrounding farmland. Borough Gardens and the market place provide green space and venues for a weekly market and occasional fairs. Residents use a mix of independent traders, small workshops and community facilities, while local routes connect the town to nearby villages and services.