The name is likely a combination of a Celtic or Pre-Celtic element "-Dor" with the common suffixation "Chester" (Old English: "A Roman town or Fort").

This etymology was known as early as 1545 when it was used by John Leland in his epic poem Cygnea Cantio ("Song of the Swan").

The Romans built a vicus[4] here, with a road linking the settlement to a military camp at Alchester, 16 miles (25 km) to the north.

The settled nature of the bishopric made Dorchester in a sense the de facto capital of Wessex, which was later to become the dominant kingdom in England.

King Henry VIII dissolved the Abbey in 1536, leaving the small village with a huge parish church.

[10] Bishop's Court Farm offers alpaca walking, a cafe, a livery, mooring on the Thames, as well as lambing events in the spring.