Wimborne Minster | |
---|---|
The Saxon church, known as the Minster |
|
Wimborne Minster shown within Dorset | |
Population | 15,552 (2014 estimate ONS built-up area) |
OS grid reference | SU015005 |
District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | WIMBORNE |
Postcode district | BH21 |
Dialling code | 01202 |
Police | Dorset |
Fire | Dorset and Wiltshire |
Ambulance | South Western |
EU Parliament | South West England |
UK Parliament | |
Wimborne Minster (often referred to as Wimborne, /ˈwɪmbɔːrn/) is a market town in East Dorset in South West England, and the name of the Church of England church in that town. According to Office for National Statistics data the population of the Wimborne Minster built-up area as of 2014 is estimated as 15,552 inhabitants and is situated at the confluence of the River Stour and River Allen, 5 miles (8 km) north of Poole, on the Dorset Heaths. The town is also recognised as part of the South East Dorset conurbation.
The town and its administrative area is served by eleven councillors and one from the nearby ward of Cranfield. The electoral ward of Wimborne Minster is slightly bigger than the parish. The population of this ward at the 2011 census is 7,014. Wimborne is twinned with Valognes, France and Ochsenfurt, Germany. Wimborne Minster is part of the Mid-Dorset and North Poole Parliamentary Constituency.
The architecture of Wimborne is regarded as one of the foremost collections of 15th, 16th and 17th century buildings in Dorset. Local planning has restricted the construction of new buildings in areas such as the Corn Market and the High Street, resulting in the preservation of almost all of the original buildings. The most interesting examples of English architecture include the centuries-old Wimborne Minster, the town hall, the Priest's House Museum and dozens of original 16th, 17th and 18th century fronted shops and pubs. The town is home to the Tivoli Theatre, a 1930s art deco cinema and theatre.