In 1086 in the
Domesday Book, Maiden Newton was recorded as
Newetone; it had 26 households, 7
ploughlands, of meadow and 2 mills. It was in
Tollerford Hundred and the lord and
tenant-in-chief was
Waleran the Hunter. Maiden Newton was the basis for the village of Chalk-Newton,
South Wessex, in many of the works of
Thomas Hardy. In the vicinity of the village is evidence of Roman occupation and early British settlements. The parish church of St Mary contains much
Norman work, with additions from the 14th and 15th centuries. There is also the shaft of a medieval cross in the churchyard which is a scheduled monument. Maiden Newton is also home to one of the country's oldest
fire engines, restored and in full working order, the fire engine house built for it in 1842-3 is a grade II listed building. Maiden Newton is in an
electoral ward with the same name, which also contains much of the surrounding countryside including the villages of
West Compton,
Toller Fratrum,
Toller Porcorum and
Hooke. The population of this ward was 2,081 at the 2011 census. ==Transport==