Worth Matravers Parish Council was set up by statute in 1894 to provide government for people at local level and to attempt to address their local problems. The Parish Council consists of seven councillors who are elected to serve for four years. The Chairman and Vice Chairman are elected at the first Council Meeting (or Annual Meeting) in May.

The Council meets each month, usually on the first Tuesday at 7.30pm and alternates between Worth Matravers Village Hall and Harmans Cross Village Hall. Notices of the meetings are posted on both the village notice boards, one opposite the Green in Worth Matravers and the other at Harmans Cross crossroads opposite the bus shelter.

The public discussion period is held at the beginning of the meetings and all are most welcome to attend.

Worth Matravers

This beautiful Purbeck stone village is an ancient settlement now part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It has a fascinating history, from the days of dinosaurs to Second World War radar research and surrounded by stunning views, wildlife and countryside.

Evidence of Iron Age occupation has been found on the edge of the village, and a Romano-British barn and grain drier has also been excavated. The Church of St Nicholas is Norman in origin.

The grassy strip lynchets, at East and West Man, were formed in the 14th century, to grow corn to feed a large population in Worth, which was decimated by an outbreak of bubonic plague in 1348. The lynchets reverted to sheep and cattle grazing.

The stone cottages in the village were built in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries to house quarry workers, fishermen and agricultural labourers. These replaced earlier timber framed or wattle and daub dwellings with thatched roofs. At the centre of this picture postcard village are the Village Green and the Duck Pond. The houses on the Winspit Estate were built in the 20th century.

There are many popular walks in the surrounding area of the village which include:
. Chapmans Pool which is a spectacular, secluded cove and is ideal for swimming and fossil hunting.
. St Aldhelm's Head. The chapel was built around 1080, and is named after St. Aldhelm, the Bishop of Sherborne. It has an impressive Norman arch and vaulted roof.

Harmans Cross

Harmans Cross sits astride the busy A351 which is the main route between Corfe Castle and Swanage.

After the First World War, building began in Harmans Cross. Until then the only buildings were at Quarr and Old Caplestone. Houses were built in Haycrafts Lane and many wooden army huts and asbestos buildings were transported and erected along the new road. Later, more substantial properties were built at North Instow and South Instow. A Village Hall was erected in Haycrafts Lane and the development had a small shop, a small chapel and a very thriving garage.

Harmans Cross continues to grow and has a flourishing shop and Post Office incorporated into the garage. The numbers of people on the electoral roll has increased from 163 in 1955 to 342 today.