The parish is nearly square in outline and extends for 543 acres. It occupies the valley of the River Tarrant at its confluence with the River Stour, the latter forming the SW Boundary. The land, mostly chalk, is nearly all farmland supporting a 200 cow dairy and arable. A percentage of land is run in conjunction with the RSPB to encourage bird life. The parish is well served by many footpaths.

Tarrant Crawford has a strong mediaeval history. The early settlement (untraceable today)is likely tohave been near the parish church, dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, in the North of the parish. The present village, half a mile to the South, includes part of a late mediaeval wayside Cross as well as evidence of deserted house sites and closes.

Tarrant Crawford is best known as the site (in the area of the Church) of one of the wealthiest Cistercian nunneries in England. It originated as a small community of nuns founded in the reign of Richard I by the de Kahaines family who came over with William the Conqueror over 100 years before. This nunnery was re-founded in 1230 by Bishop Poore, who was baptised here. He was the guiding force behind the construction of Salisbury Cathedral. It was also intimately connected with Joan, Queen of Alexander 11 King of Scotland. Both Bishop Poore and Queen Joan were buried at the Abbey in 1237 and 1238 respectively. The Abbey was swiftly demolished when Henry V111 dissolved it in 1539. Today, a few green mounds SW of Crawford Church are all that remains of the blessed resting place of a Queen.

The 13thC Crawford Church with Norman fragments which was probably part of Bishop Richard Poore's reconstruction, was restored in 1911. At that time, some of the wonderful wall paintings dating from the late 13thC, were partly exposed. The Church was vested in the Redundant Churches Fund in 1988 but still holds services in the summer months.

TARRANT KEYNESTON

In prehistoric times people in this area generally avoided the river valleys and made their homes onthe surrounding downs. By about 1000BC more elaborate structures were found of which Buzbury Rings, crossed by the B3082, is one. It is within the Tarrant Keynston Parish so might be considered the origin of the village. Very little is known about the Tarrant Valley during the Saxon period although the Domesday Book records that this village was owned by Herling before 1066.
The oldest building in the village is part of All Saints Parish Church. The tower dates from the 14th century. In the churchyard stands the tomb of the Bastard family who, as architects, played a large part in the rebuilding of Blandford after the disastrous fire of 1731 and lived in this village. The village probably grew around All Saints Church because the route from the north and one from the Blandford area entered the village roughly along the farm track which starts opposite Church Close. The main Blandford - Wimborne road B3082 was established as a turnpike in the late 1700s. There was a toll house on the Blandford side of the True Lovers Knot Public House which itself dates from the period when the turnpikes were made. The Tarrant road bridge by the crossroads dates from about 1800.

There are 21 grade II listed buildings in Tarrant Keynston most of them dating from the 18/19th century of which Manor Farmhouse, The Old Rectory, Keynston Lodge, Marriotts and Simplers Joy are noteworthy.

An old village hall, called The Church Room, stood on the site of "Thistles" in Valley Road and was the centre of many successful village activities. The new hall was built thanks to a bequest from resident Anne Biddlecombe and was opened in 1991. It is now the focus of village life with clubs and societies meeting there and visits from musical groups, film shows, travelling and local players. Behind it there is a small playing field and children's play area.

TARRANT RUSHTON

Tarrant Rushton parish covers 2073 acres and is the largest of the South Tarrants. It is on the Eastern side of the Tarrant Valley. The alignment of the Roman road from Badbury Rings to Bath crosses the parish. The village is reached by crossing the River Tarrant over a narrow bridge at the northern end and by a ford in the south.

The village houses tend to follow the line of the river. Buildings considered worthy of note in the Royal Commission for Historical Monuments Survey of 1972 include an Old Rectory now renamed, which is early 18th Century with several 19th century additions and Rushton Mill, a water driven corn mill which dated from the 1800's and remained in use until the 1920's. There are several cottages of 17th 18th and 19th Century origin. Also, Preston Farm, which is late 18th Century, with front rooms added in the early 19th century.

The Parish Church of St Mary's is located in a truly peaceful setting to the North of the village. It is cruciform in shape with the arms of the cross of almost equal lengths. The Nave and Chancel Arch are early 12th century.

In the words of a life long resident, Tarrant Rushton "stole the limelight" from the other Tarrants because some of its farmland became the site of a wartime airfield. Construction of the airfield began in September 1942 with the demolition of the 18th Century Crook Farm. At 300 feet, the natural tabletop was perfect for the glider airfield which opened in May 1943 with 3 main runways andbecame home to about 3000 men and women. It played a major part in the Normandy landings of 1944, the first troops landed having been flown out of Rushton, as well as an important role at Arnhem and the 1945 push across the Rhine into Germany. Post war, it became home to Sir Alan Cobham's "Flight Refuelling". The last aircraft left Tarrant Rushton airfield on September 30th 1980 and the airfield closed after 37 years.

TARRANT RAWSTON

Rawston is long and relatively narrow, having meadows for cattle and sheep to graze and drink from the stream. The land runs up to downland through some arable land, to crop with cereals or roots for sheep. Dewponds provided some water on the downland but they were mainly grazed by dry sheep needing little water.

So far as can be found, Rawston Farm has included almost all of Tarrant Rawston, but in the 1800's some of the land belonged to the Church or Rector. In 1877, Sir William Henry Smith-Marriott of Down House, Blandford St. Mary let the 619 acres Rawston Farm to James Cossins, then on James' death in 1891 to his son John, who in 1919, with his sons, bought the farm. They had bought the Glebe Farm from the Reverend Allwright in 1918.

Apart from the Church and Rawston Farmhouse, all dwellings in the village have been built or re-built since the First World War. The Ashley Wood 9 hole golf course was started in 1896 and extended to 18 holes in 1992 .

With the construction of the Tarrant Rushton Airfield in 1942, the cart track up to the top of the Cliff was made into a major road and is now the main route to Witchampton.

Grain production has continued to increase over the centuries. Farm tours are a popular summer event, many local people and their friends tour the adjoining farms of Preston and Rawston by tractor and trailer which, in conjunction with the summer fete, has become known as The Hay Ride.

Tree planting at Rawston is first recorded in 1897 and increased from 1946 onwards, since when about 30,000 have been planted. Following the call to feed the nation, some of Ashley Wood was cleared in 1950 for cropping.

The Parish Church of St Mary stands to the north east in front of Rawston House. The nave is 14th Century, the South Chapel and Porch 16th Century. In 1973 St. Mary's was declared redundant and passed into private ownership. It was extensively restored in 1975/6.