town (“parish”), East Dorset district, administrative and historic county of Dorset, England, on the River Allen. 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.