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Straddling a limestone ridge in the Blackmore Vale, Marnhull is one of the largest villages in Dorset, composed of several distinct hamlets that have merged over centuries. Its geography is defined by the local "Todber" stone used in many of the older cottages and the prominent 15th-century tower of St Gregory’s Church, which serves as a landmark for miles around. It is a practical, self-contained community with two primary schools, a doctor’s surgery, and a small selection of shops, including a traditional butcher and a post office, which keeps the village from feeling like a mere satellite of nearby Sturminster Newton. While many know it as ‘Marlott’ from Thomas Hardy’s *Tess of the d’Urbervilles*, the village’s character today is more rooted in its network of footpaths that lead down towards the River Stour and its active village hall, which hosts everything from local markets to flower shows. It is a place where the landscape remains dominated by agriculture, and life tends to follow the quieter rhythms of the North Dorset countryside.