England Historical Facts

Lewesdon Hill is the highest point in Dorset at 279 metres high. It is situated in West Dorset, near to the village of Broadwindsor and offers spectacular views through the trees.

Evershot is famous for its strong associations with Thomas Hardy, the English novelist and poet.

The village of Evershot is the source of the river Frome, which travels for approx 30 miles eventually flowing into the English Channel at Poole Harbour.

At 625ft above sea level, the village of Evershot is the second highest village in Dorset.

The village of Ightham in Kent, was once famous for growing Kentish cob nuts.

Scenes of the period drama The Monuments Men were shot in Fingest in May 2013, starring George Clooney, Matt Damon and Jean Dujardin.

The market town of Launceston was once the capital of Cornwall.

In 1501, Catherine of Aragon stayed at The Queen’s Arms in Charmouth, Dorset. It is also where King Charles stayed on Septemeber 22 1651. The king was trying to escape Oliver Cromwell's soldiers, and was given refuge by the landlady at the time, Margret Ward. The building is now known as The Abbots house and is the oldest building in Charmouth.

The county of Dorset has no motorways, with agriculture and tourism its main industry. It does however have an international airport near Bournemouth, railway links to London, and 3 coastal ports in Poole, Weymouth, and Portland.

Dorset has a long history of smuggling, which was particularly common during the 18th century.