Dorchester is the county town of Dorset and has been so since 1305. It lies on the River Frome, 20 miles west of Poole and eight miles north of Weymouth. There were 7,386 dwellings in 2001 and 205 shops in 1991. Near the town centre is Maumbury Rings, an ancient British earthwork converted by the Romans for use as an amphitheatre. The Town Pump is a central point in Dorchester - located next to Dorchester's Corn Exchange and the impressive clock tower. There are many Roman finds in the County Museum. Here, visitors will find an information board, outlining four popular historic walks around the town.