Source Tarrant Gunville Country United Kingdom | Mouth Tarrant Crawford | |
- location Tarrant Gunville, Dorset - location Tarrant Crawford, Dorset |
The River Tarrant is a 12 km long tributary of the River Stour in Dorset. The valley lies to the east of Blandford Forum and runs through Cranborne Chase, an area of chalk downland. The eight Tarrant Valley villages all bear the name of the river. Listed in order from the river's source they are:
Map of The Tarrant, United Kingdom
There were three other Tarrant Communities;
Churches also existed once at Tarrant Launceston (the site is on Higher Dairy Farm), and Tarrant Rawston (which still exists but in private ownership). In the Middle Ages there was a Church at Tarrant Stubhampton. The Church at Tarrant Crawford is looked after by the Redundant Churches Commission, and the Parish is united with Tarrant Keyneston.
A Roman road followed the valley and there are many tumuli on the hills on both sides of the river, evidence of long occupation.