Wimborne Minster

Wimborne Minster

Wimborne Minster, town (parish), East Dorset district, administrative and historic county of Dorset, southern England. It is situated on the River Allen at its confluence with the Stour, about 5 miles (8 km) north of Poole.

Cuthburga and Cwenburh, sisters of King Ine of Wessex, founded a convent there in 718; the present minster, reputedly occupying the same site, is dedicated to St. Cuthburga and dates from 1120. The chantry and seminary, founded in 1496, were reestablished as a grammar school by royal charter of Elizabeth I (reigned 1558–1603). St. Margaret’s Leper Hospital (13th century) has been converted to almshouses. The town’s industries are market and nursery gardening and fruit growing. Pop. (2001) 6,418; (2011) 6,790.