Stalbridge (/ˈstɔːlbrɪdʒ/)[1] is a town and civil parish in Dorset, England, situated in the Blackmore Vale, near the border with Somerset.

Stalbridge is situated on the A357 on a low limestone ridge, one mile (1.5 kilometres) west of the River Stour.

[3] Though relatively small, Stalbridge has its own independent supermarket, dispensing pharmacy, dentist and optician, as well as many other services, reflecting its catchment area of surrounding farms and hamlets.

[5] Stalbridge was home to scientist Robert Boyle (see below), and writer Douglas Adams, who wrote much of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in the town.

[citation needed] In 1727, Sir James Thornhill erected an obelisk in the park to honour the accession of King George II.

He enclosed an area used as common land to the northwest of the church, moving tenant farmers out, and built a Jacobean style mansion, the fifth largest house in Dorset.

[14] To the West, the town climbs Barrow Hill, with older housing, some estates dating to the 1950s, and the 1990s Pond Walk.

There are two parks in Stalbridge, the larger of which is situated on Barrow hill, and hosts a football field and a cricket pitch, as well as two tennis courts.

[15] The smaller park functions largely as an outdoor playset, with two slides, a small football pitch and other toys.