ALFRED THE GREAT founded the Abbey and his daughter Ethelgiva was the first Abbess.

KING CANUTE died here.

WILLIAM CHAMBERLAYNE, one of our minor poets, born and practised as a physician here.

KING EDWARD THE MARTYR, murdered at Corfe Castle (according to tradition) was buried here and his relics attracted vast numbers of medieval pilgrims making the Abbey rich and the medieval town prosperous.

ETHELGIVA was the first Abbess of the Abbey founded by her father, Alfred the Great.

CHARLES GARRETT, the famous 19th century Methodist preacher was born here.

JAMES GRANGER, was a parson, born in Shaftesbury. He collected 14,000 engraved portraits to produce the first biographical history of England to use such portraits.

LORD HORDER, the famous 20th century Royal Physician was born here.