Maiden Newton is a large chalk stream village on the A356 just over 7 miles north of Dorchester.  It straddles the River Frome and lies in the heart of the Dorset chalk lands.

Near the end of the 18th century, some tessellated pavement from Roman times was found on the southern edge of the parish, indicating that there were early settlements in the area. Portrayed amongst other things - Neptune in conflict with a sea monster. However, only record of Maiden Newton the Domesday Book mentions is having two watermills, so presumably there was little else here in the 11th century. Maiden Newton was once a market town and the market cross can be found at the junction of Dorchester Road and Church Road and dates from the 15th century. There are also several old stone houses in the village.

The parish church of St Mary is mainly Norman and medieval but the blocked off Saxon doorway is said to be one of the oldest in the country. Damage caused by musket fire during the English Civil War can still be seen on the walls of the church. Remarkably the church also bears bullet holes from hundreds of years later from a German aircraft during the Second World War which penetrated the window above the alter.

During the Civil War King Charles stayed in the rectory in the village. In 1952 Queen Elizabeth II spent the night in the royal train in Maiden Newton prior to a visit to the West Country.

Although the stop was supposed to be a secret, the Parish Council obtained permission to present the Queen with an Address of Welcome.

Thomas Hardy’s name for the town was Chalknewton and he described the local coaching inn (now rebuilt) in his novel, “Tess of the D’Urbevilles”.

There used to be also a railway line to Bridport and the old track is now a nature walk through the water meadows. Many varieties of down land flowers, butterflies and birds such as dippers and kingfishers are found in this habitat. Otters may also be spotted on the river. A moth new to England, the Blairs Wainscot, was discovered here in 1997.

The more popular use of the motor car in years following the Second World War meant the loss of the Bank, Butcher's, carpet factory and a dairy plant. Although this has been balanced to an extent due to the growth of Maiden Newton Service Station, the Industrial Estate, new Primary School, Doctor's surgery and village hall.

Today the village the village has a population of around a thousand.