The town of Wimborne, sometimes referred to as Wimborne Minster, is a lovely market town that resides in the equally lovely ceremonial county of Dorset. Sitting comfortably between the River Stour and the River Allen, Wimborne is blessed with a beautiful scenic view all year round and, though its population is under seven thousand, Wimborne is filled to the brim with the necessary amenities that keep the town from being too rural. In fact, the small population is actually a good thing because it has ensured that many gorgeous buildings from far back in Wimborne's history have stood to this day and offer visitors and residents alike a peek into the past of England in general and Dorset in particular.
Many English cities have buildings that date back to the Georgian or Victorian Era and this is a good thing considering the fact that these two Eras offer arguably the most beautiful examples of architecture. All the same, looking at the same kind of buildings in each city can become tiresome and it is here that Wimborne truly shines. Its stunning collection of buildings that date mostly from the 1400s to the 1600s is far and away considered to be the best in Devon and among the best in the United Kingdom. It is a great testament to the city planning of the locals in charge in Wimborne that these masterpieces were not razed to the ground to make room for some filling station or mini-mart.
The Wimborne Minster is probably the most beloved building in town and for good reason: This towering beauty is of Saxon origin and boast architecture of both the Norman and Gothic style. Rather than tall, thin spires like the kind seen on most churches in the area, the Minster is a thick, wide, almost cubic edifice that juts upward in glory toward heaven almighty. The gorgeous facade of Wimborne Minster's outside pales in comparison to the treasures contained within, though. The chained library inside the Minster is famous around the world and the tombs of some many famous individuals can be found inside as well. King Ethelred, the brother of Alfred the Great is entombed in the Minster as are the grandparents of Henry VII. Surprisingly, the popularity of Wimborne Minster is nearly equalled by a very unlikely source: The Wimborne Model Town. This is one of the most popular as well as one of the largest model towns in all of England. Built at 1/10 scale, the model town is something of a time capsule of Wimborne in 1950, when the model was built. The Minster stands above the town just as in real life, and even at this small scale it is several feet high. Wimborne has some rich history to be sure but the greatest treasure is the fact that so much of this history can still be witnessed simply by walking around the town. This is a trait that is all too rare in this day and age and thus Wimborne should be visited by anybody interested in either architecture or history.
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