Turnworth

Turnworth
St Mary's, Turnworth
Turnworth
Turnworth shown within Dorset
Population	30
OS grid reference	ST
District	North Dorset
Shire county	Dorset
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Postcode district	DT
Police	Dorset
Fire	Dorset and Wiltshire
Ambulance	South Western
EU Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	North Dorset
List of places UK England Dorset 50°52′01″N 2°15′21″W / 50.867°N 2.2557°W / 50.867; -2.2557Coordinates: 50°52′01″N 2°15′21″W / 50.867°N 2.2557°W / 50.867; -2.2557

Turnworth is a small village and civil parish in north Dorset, England, situated on the Dorset Downs 5 miles (8.0 km) west of Blandford Forum. It consists of a few cottages and farmhouses scattered around a church and manor house. In 2013 the civil parish had an estimated population of 30.

In 1086 in the Domesday Book Turnworth was recorded as Torneworde; it had 19 households, was in Pimperne Hundred and the lord and tenant-in-chief was Alfred of 'Spain'.

The church, with the exception of the tower, was rebuilt in the 19th century with assistance from Thomas Hardy, who designed the capitals and possibly also the corbels. Hardy described Turnworth's position as being "stood in a hole, but the hole is full of beauty", and he used Turnworth House as the inspiration for Hintock House in his novel The Woodlanders.

Nearby is Ringmoor, an ancient settlement on the top of the scarp face of the downs.

...
Wikipedia