Marnhull
Today Marnhull is in a conservation area consisting of farms, stones houses and cottages that all show a variety of architecture, and is described as a scattered village on the banks of the Stour two miles northeast of Sturminster Newton and is adjacent to Fifehead Magdalen, Todber, Margaret Marsh, West Orchard, Hinton St Mary, Sturminster Newton and Stalbridge.

The parish church is dedicated to St Gregory and has an altar tomb that has been restored and shows a knight in armour between his two wives. The tower is from the 15th century. The village featured as Thomas Hardy's "Marlott"  where Tess of the D'Urbervilles was born. In the churchyard is an inscription on a monument which reads:

"Here under this stone
Lie Ruth and John
Who smoked all his life
And so did his wife.

And now there's no doubt
But their pipes are both out
Be it said without joke
That life is but smoke;
Though we live to fourscore
'Tis a whiff and no more."

 

And Henry VIIIs widow Catherine Parr had her home at Nash Court which has now been restored.