Shaftesbury is one of England’s most historic settlements and was established around the Abbey in the year 888. The town we love today has been shaped by its history as a place of pilgrimage and as a successful market town.
Historic buildings form a major part of the character of Shaftesbury. The majority of modern suburban development is largely concentrated to the east of the historic town. Smaller areas of modern housing are found on the edges of Enmore Green, St James and Cann.
Open and wooded areas on Shaftesbury’s historic hilltop and on the steep slopes around the town include Abbey Park and Castle Hill, both settings for ancient monuments. These, and the long views across the Blackmore Vale to the north, west and south, contribute significantly to the distinctive rural hilltop character of the town and are a magnet for many visitors.
The nationally important landscape of the Cranborne Chase, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, wraps around the north, east and south sides of the town, which has recently achieved international acclaim for its dark night skies.
