Blandford Forum, frequently Blandford, is a market community in the North Dorset district of Dorset, England, sited by the River Stour regarding 13 mi (21 km) northwest of Poole. It was the administrative head office of North Dorset District Council until April 2019, when district councils merged to end up being Dorset County Council. Blandford is noteworthy for its Georgian style, the result of restoring after most of the town was ruined by a fire in 1731. The restoring job was aided by an Act of Parliament as well as a contribution by George II, as well as the rebuilt community centre-- to layouts by local architects John and also William Bastard-- has survived to the present day greatly intact. Blandford Camp, an armed forces base, is sited on the hills 2 miles to the north eastern of the community. It is the base of the Royal Corps of Signals, the communications wing of the British Military, as well as the site of the Royal Signals Gallery. Dorset Area Council approximates that in 2013 the town's civil church had a population of 10,610. The town's economic climate is based upon a mix of the solution market as well as light market, and provides work for regarding 4,000 individuals.