Description
Stinsford, a parish, with four hamlets, in Dorsetshire, 1 1/2 mile ENE of Dorchester stations on the G.W.R. and S.W.R. Post town, Dorchester. Acreage, 2071; population, 278. In 1894 that portion of Holy Trinity parish outside the borough of Dorchester, and a portion of the parish of St George's Fordington outside the said borough and E of St George's Fordington, were joined to the ancient parish of Stinsford for civil purposes. There is a parish council consisting of seven members. Stinsford House, Kingston House, and Birkin House are chief residences. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Salisbury; gross value, £138 with residence. Patron, the Earl of Ilchester. The church was well restored in 1883.
Parish Church
The church of St. Michael is a small but ancient building of stone, partly in the Norman style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles and a small western tower, mantled with ivy and containing 3 bells: several stained windows and a reredos of marble and Caen stone were presented by the late James Fellowes esq. of Kingston House: there are two fine monumental tablets of the Pitt family, and the font of white marble was the gift of Mrs. Pitt; the communion plate, of silver gilt, was presented by Mrs. Strangeways Horner, in 1737, and a smaller set in 1819 by the Rev. William Floyer, then vicar: the church was restored in 1883, and affords 190 sittings.
The register dates from the year 1535.
Villages, Hamlets, &c.
Kingston Marlwood, a hamlet in Stinsford parish, Dorsetshire, 1 1/2 mile ENE of Dorchester.
Kingston, Upper, a hamlet in Stinsford parish, Dorsetshire, 1 1/2 mile NE of Dorchester.
