Providing HR Support to Sturminster Marshall Businesses

Sturminster Marshall may not be the largest village or parish, but it still has it’s fair share of local businesses with the same issues, requirements and challenges around staff and HR than any city based business. Effective HR services are part of that. We can help your Sturminster Marshall business create a fantastic and safe working environment, with clearly defined processes and procedures that follow both the law and best practice. 

At The HR Dept we can help you with every aspect of HR, from contracts and payroll to disciplinary procedures, meaning far less stress for you.

A bit about Sturminster Marshall

History

Humans have inhabited the area around Sturminster Marshall for millennia, but the first notable records come from the 800s. That is when Alfred the Great wrote his will, including the bequeathing of the village to his son Æthelweard. Sturminster means “large church on the Stour”, whilst Marshall is a reference to the knight William Earl Marshal. 

Even today, the Norman church of St Mary’s remains a central feature of the village. For many years, the area was reliant on agriculture, but the arrival of the railway in 1860 marked a growth in industry, including a now defunct milk and cheese factory, once one of the largest in Europe. The parish of Sturminster Marshall, which includes neighbouring villages, is home to around 2000 people. Its emblem is the water rat.

Location

Located in the Winterbourne Valley, on the banks of the River Stour in Dorset, Sturminster Marshall can be found between Poole and Blandford Forum. As is common in this part of the country, there is no local motorway, but the A31 and A350 both pass nearby, north to south and east to west respectively. Dorset Community Transport runs a local bus service from Sturminster Marshall to Wimborne to Colehill and back, passing through other nearby villages.

Other Amenities

Many of Sturminster Marshall’s attractions are historical, such as Dorset’s oldest bridge, plus the Walnut Field, an Iron Age site with Scheduled Ancient Monument status. There are many listed buildings, together with small monuments to events from the Battle of Trafalgar to Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. Unsurprisingly, for a traditional English village, there are two pubs. The old school building is now operated by a charity offering learning and cultural activities for all ages, and there are a couple of halls where meetings and events can take place. 

More modern developments include the building of a small industrial estate that takes its name from the old Baillie Green Railway Station. Built on the site of the cheese factory, here you can find local shops such as the pharmacy and Post Office. Visitors can stay in local holiday cottages and parks.

The village has several greens, including Maypole Green, host to Mayday celebrations and traditionally home to markets and fairs. A playing field is available, with local sports including cricket and football, and there is also a children’s playground. For further exploration of the area’s natural spaces, you could follow the Trailway, a public footpath along what was once the Somerset and Dorset Railway Line. Sturminster Marshall is near the Stour Valley Way.