Stanpit Marsh has a 7000-year history of human activity, starting with coastal wanderers in the Middle Stone Age.

The Doomsday Book entry for Stanpit in 1086 reveals that the village was once known as Stanpeta, meaning two estates with meadows.

In the late 18th century, Stanpit Marsh was notorious for smugglers. Contraband was landed at Mudeford Quay, brought across the harbour and up the narrow channels that still crisscross the marsh.

Mother Siller's channel used to stretch as far as the Ship in Distress, providing a quick and easy route through which goods could be landed and left in the care of Hannah Siller, the 'protecting angel' of smugglers.

The climax of smuggling was on 15 July 1784 at the Battle of Mudeford, which was a skirmish fought between smugglers and Customs and Excise officers on what is now the car park at Mudeford Quay. Today the scout hut on Stanpit Recreation Ground is named ‘Orestes’, in memory of the customs lugger sent to confront the smugglers.

Stanpit Marsh was designated as a Local Nature Reserve in 1964 and in 1986 as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.