Listed Building: CHURCH OF ST MARY (103190)

ST 8512 IWERNE COURTNEY OR SHROTON MAIN STREET (West Side) 11/102 14-7-55 Church of St Mary GV I Church, C14 chancel, C15 tower, nave, north aisle, south chapel and general remodelling. C17 south aisle and south porch 1871, chancel remodelled 1872, vestry late C19/early C20. 1610 work for Sir Thomas Freke. Greensand ashlar walls with tiled roofs having end stone copings with C17 finials. Moulded cornice. Plan: nave, chancel, north aisle, south aisle and chapel. west tower, north vestry. Tower: 3 stages separated by weathered strings diagonal buttresses to first stage has corner pilaster strips; pointed 2-light west window with stopped labels, rectangular loops to north and south second stage; 2-light, pointed belfrey windows with stopped labels. North aisle and south chapel windows are C17 of 3 graduated lancets under a pointed head with returned labels, that to the south aisle is aC19 copy. North and south chancel walls have C14 2-light windows with ogee quatrefoils. C14 pointed door to south chancel wall. East chancel window of 3-lights with rose tracery. South porch has diagonal buttresses and pointed arch. Interior: North aisle has C17, 3 bay, segmented pointed arcade on piers with 4 attached shafts separated by a continuous hollow chamfer. The chancel arch and arch from south chapel to nave are of a similar form. The C19,2 bay south arcade has pointed arches and pier with 4 attached shafts. The tower arch is pointed of 3 straight chamfered orders the outermost of which is continuous and inner two of which die into flat jambs Roofs to nave and north and south aisles are C19 ribbed barrel vaults of semi-circular profile. Those to the nave and south aisle have carved bosses and the nave roof has carved angles at the springing point of the ribs. The south chapel has a 3-bay arch-braced collar beam roof with carved bosses. The chancel has a 2-bay, arch braced collar beam roof with king post and struts. There are carved bosses and the wall plate bears paterae. The principals spring from C19 foliage carved corbels. North aisle partitioned with C17 screen to form Freke chapel. Screen has 2 levels of panelling over which is a range of colonnettes with open lattice work. Above is an enriched entablature with carved heads surmounted by a strapwork cresting. C19 piscina. C19 terracotta reredos to the design of Lady Baker. Octagonal font, probably C12 but retoolled C17; C17, C18 and C19 monuments and floor slabs notably that to Sir Thomas Freke and his wife Elizabeth, 1633. This has open segmental pediment, sculptured pediment and carved putti, angels, doves etc. Other fittings and furnishings largely Cl9. The church is an interesting example of C17 Gothic work with affinities with the chapel at Higher Melcombe House, also for Sir Thomas Freke. It is, however, stylistically unlike the series of C17 north Dorset Churches including Folke, Ryme Intrinsica and Leweston (RCHM Dorset, vol III, p 126/7, no 1 Newman and Pevsner N. The Buildings of England: Dorset, Penguin 19?2j p 236/7). Listing NGR: ST8599012423

Record last edited

Dec 23 2019 9:23AM