BEAMINSTER, or BEMINSTER, a market-town in the hundred of Netherbury and county of Dorset. It is situated in a fruitful district surrounded with orchards, and is 137 miles from London. It has some manufactures of sailcloth and other flaxen goods, and of coarse woollens. The market is held on Thursday. The inhabitants amounted in 1801 to 2140, in 1811 to 2290, and in 1821 to 2806.