Stour Provost

including Stour Row

St Michael's © Lynda Mudle-Small 2003

Stour Provost [also Stower Provost] is a quiet, little village that lies in the heart of the Blackmore Vale in Dorset 5 miles south-west of the Saxon hilltop town of Shaftesbury.

Up until 1925 most of the village was owned by King's College, Cambridge which has undoubtedly helped the village retain its character over the years and stem the amount of new development that has taken place.

The church of St Michael is an ancient building with chancel, nave, north aisle, south porch and a square embattled tower.

The parish registers date from 1701. There was a Primitive Methodist chapel at New Yeate and a Congregational Chapel at Stour Row.

There used to be an active quarry at Manor Farm and a flour mill in the village. The school was built in 1850.

Stour Row situated beside Duncliffe Hill three miles south west of Shaftesbury is in the parish on the road from Shaftesbury to Marnhull. The church of All Saints was built in 1868 but not consecrated until 1878. There are separate Baptism Registers for All Saints dating from 1879. 

Most of the 2730 acres of the parish are laid to pasture and the population in 1861 was 889 and in 1891 was 700.

Stour Row: Church of All Saints
  © Copyright Chris Downer and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

The Online Parish Clerk (OPC) for Stour Provost is Cassandra Gotham

Please place the words 'OPC Stour Provost' as your subject for e-mails

Stour Row Congregational Chapel © Caryl Parsons 2004