epresentation of the People Act of
1868 Lyme Regis was disfranchised, and by the Redistribution Act of 1885
the remaining boroughs were disfranchised.

_Antiquities._--Remains of medieval castles are inconsiderable, with the
notable exception of Corfe Castle and the picturesque ruins of Sherborne
Castle, both destroyed after the Civil War of the 17th century. The
three finest churches in the county are the abbey church of Sherborne,
Wimborne Minster and Milton Abbey church, a Decorated and Perpendicular
structure erected on the site of a Norman church which was burnt. It has
transepts, chancel and central tower, but the nave was not built. This
was a Benedictine foundation of the 10th century, and the refectory of
the 15th century is incorporated in the mansion built in 1772. At Ford
Abbey part of the buildings of a Cistercian house are similarly
incorporated. There are lesser monastic remains at Abbotsbury, Cerne and
Bindon. The parish churches of Dorsetshire are not especially noteworthy
as a whole, but those at Cerne Abbas and Beaminster are fine examples of
the Perpendicular style, which is the most common in the county. A
little good Norman work remains, as in the churches of Bere Regis and
Piddletrenthide, but both these were reconstructed in the Perpendicular
period; Bere Regis church having a superb timber roof of that period.

The dialect of the county, perfectly distinguishable from those of
Wiltshire and Somersetshire, yet bearing many common marks of Saxon
origin, is admirably illustrated in some of the poems of William Barnes
(q.v.). Many towns, villages and localities are readily to be recognized
from their descriptions in the "Wessex" novels of Thomas Hardy (q.v.).

A curious ancient _Survey of Dorsetshire_ was written by the Rev. Mr
Coker, about the middle of the 17th century, and published from his
MS. (London, 1732). See also J. Hutchins, _History and Antiquities of
the County of Dorset_ (London, 1774); 2nd ed. by R. Gough and E. B.
Nichols (1796-1815); 3rd ed. by W. Shipp and J. W. Hodson (1861-1873);
C. Warne, _Ancient Dorset_ (London, 1865); R. W. Eyton, _A Key to
Domesday, exemplified by an analysis and digest of the Dorset Survey_
(London, 1878); C. H. Mayo, _Bibliotheca Dorsetiensis_ (London, 1885);
W. Barnes, _Glossary of Dorset Dialect_ (Dorchester, 1886); H. J.
Moule, _Old Dorset_ (London, 1893); _Victoria County History,
Dorsetshire_.

DORSIVENTRAL (Lat. _dorsum