Beaminster is a large village in Dorset, England on the A3066 between Bridport and Crewkerne. It is in the valley of the River Brit. It is famous for the Beaminster Festival, an annual nine-day music and art festival. A previous festival was opened by actor Martin Clunes and included a huge variety of music, exhibitions and talks. Beaminster is historically a market town and still makes a great place to shop and sample local fare in. The town has survived three major fires, first in 1644 during the Royalist occupation, then in 1684 and again in 1781. It prospered mainly from wool cloth, sailcloth, sackcloth, shoe-thread, rope and twine. Glorious walks abound for Beaminster stands at the head of Dorset's "Hidden Valley", or the historic Vale of the River Brit whose tranquil beauty hides rare flowers, badger setts and old water mills.