A TIMELINE OF WAREHAM, DORSET
By Tim Lambert
700 AD St Aldhelm founds a nunnery on the site of Wareham. In time a village grows up by it.
876 The Danes capture Wareham
10th century Wareham is a fortified settlement. Its a flourishing though small market town.
1015 King Canute sacks Wareham
1248 Wareham is given a charter allowing the townspeople certain rights
1348 The Black Death devastates Wareham. The town is in decline as Poole takes trade away.
1418 John Streche leaves money to build almshouses
1500 Wareham is a little market town with a population of about 1,000
1762 Wareham is badly damaged by fire and much of it has to rebuilt
1837 A workhouse is built in Wareham
1847 The railway reaches Wareham
1860 Wareham is a small town with a brewing industry
1889 Oddfellows Hall is built
1906 Wareham gains a piped water supply
1919 A War Memorial is built in Wareham
1927 A new bridge is built over the River Frome
1939 Eric Kennington carves an effigy of Lawrence of Arabia
1951 Wareham has a population of nearly 3,000
1974 Wareham Town Museum opens
2001 Wareham has a population of about 6,500