Christchurch, Coastal town in Dorset, England
Christchurch sits where the Rivers Stour and Avon join before flowing into a natural harbor on the Channel coast. Sandy beaches stretch east and west of the river mouths, forming a long shoreline.
The settlement was originally called Twynham and arose in the 7th century at the river junction. The current name took hold after a priory was built in 1094.
The name derives from the priory church that has anchored the center for almost a thousand years. Today visitors find riverside paths used by residents for walking and by sailors for mooring their boats.
Trains on the South West Main Line link the town to London Waterloo and other regional destinations. Most landmarks lie within walking distance from the station, between the priory and the harbor.
The priory church measures 311 feet (95 meters) in length and ranks as the longest parish church in England. A weekly market has taken place every Monday in the town center since 1149.
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