Listed Building record MDO10536 - St Mary's Church, Beaminster

Parish Church of St Mary, Beaminster. Rubble- stone and ashlar walls with ashlar dressings under stone, slate and lead roofs. The font is late twelfth century. The east end of the north aisle wall was formerly the end wall of the thirteenth century north transept. The chancel was rebuilt and north and south aisles added in the fifteenth century and the north chapel was rebuilt in 1505. The West tower, of three stages, is early sixteenth centuryand the south west vestry is mid sixteenth century with reset windows. The North porch dates to the 1860's.

The east part of the north aisle of the church of Saint Mary appears to have been the end of the 13th century transept of a cruciform church.

In the 15th century the chancel was rebuilt, the west part of the nave extended or rebuilt and the north and south aisles partly or wholly rebuilt. The north chapel was added in 1505 and the west tower, one of the most spectacular in Dorset, was being built in 1503. The south-west vestry is mid 16th century, and the north porch is modern.

The church was restored in 1860-63 and 1889. <1>

St Mary's Church. The late C12th square Norman font of Purbeck marble is defaced. <5>

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West) (Monograph). SDO97.

‘(1) PARISH CHURCH OF ST. MARY stands on the S. side of Church Street. The walls are of local rubble with some ashlar, the dressings are of the same material; the roofs are covered with stone slates and lead. The E. part of the North Aisle seems to have been the end of the 13th-century transept of a cruciform church. In the 15th century the Chancel was rebuilt, the W. part of the Nave extended or rebuilt and the N.and South Aisles partly or wholly rebuilt. The North Chapel was added in 1505 by John Hillary and the West Tower was under construction in 1503; about the same time the E. bays of the arcades were built on the site of the former crossing; the South West Vestry was built about the middle of the 16th century. The church was restored in 1860–3 and 1889 and the North Porch is modern.
The Tower is a handsome example of its period.
Architectural Description—The Chancel 22½ ft. by 15¾ ft.) has a 15th-century E. window of five cinque-foiled lights with vertical tracery in a two-centred head, with moulded reveals; the tracery-cusping has been removed as has that of several other windows. In the N. wall is an early 16th-century arch, moulded and three-centred and springing from moulded and shafted responds. In the S. wall are two 15th-century windows, each of two cinque-foiled lights with a quatrefoil (the cusps of the eastern removed) in a two-centred head and moulded reveals; the head of the western window has been rebuilt; the doorway, of the same period, has moulded jambs and two-centred head with foliated spandrels and blank shields. The 15th-century chancel-arch is two-centred and of one continuous moulded order; the reveals and soffit have double panels, divided into tiers by trefoiled ogee heads. S. of the arch is a squint to the S. aisle.
The North Chapel (17¾ ft. by 16½ ft.), now the organ-chamber, was added, according to a board within it, by John Hillary of Meerhay in 1505, 'beautified ' by Mary Mills of the same place in 1767 and restored by William Clarke of Beaminster in 1794. The E. window is of four cinque-foiled ogee lights with modern tracery in a two-centred head and moulded reveals. In the N. wall is a window of four trefoiled ogee lights with restored tracery in a four-centred head and moulded reveals. In the W. wall is an arch similar to that in the N. wall of the chancel, but four-centred.
The Nave (84 ft. by 15½ ft.) has N. and S. arcades of five bays, the two eastern of early 16th-century date and the others of late 15th-century date; the arches are two-centred, the later ones being of two moulded orders; the earlier ones are moulded; the piers have each four shafts with moulded capitals and bases and divided by hollow-chamfers; the responds have attached half-piers; the earlier capitals of the piers and responds have carved vine-foliage. In the S.E. angle of the nave is the rood-loft staircase.
The North Aisle (16½ ft. wide) is of late 15th-century date, but incorporates earlier work in the E. bays. The two eastern windows in the N. wall are both of three cinque-foiled lights with vertical tracery in a two-centred head with moulded reveals; the two western windows are largely modern; the N. doorway is modern except for the label-stops carved with half-angels, one holding a shield. The W. wall has a window of three trefoiled lights with vertical tracery in a two-centred head with moulded reveals and much restored.
The South Aisle (14¾ ft. wide) was built late in the 15th century. The E. window is modern except for the rear-arch and part of the jambs and splays; N. of it is the much restored lower doorway to the rood-loft staircase; the staircase projects externally on moulded corbelling with reused dog-tooth ornament. In the S. wall are four windows, the three eastern much restored and similar to those in the N. aisle; the westernmost window is probably a little later but is generally similar to the rest and has a label with returned stops; the S. doorway has moulded jambs and two-centred head. In the W. wall is an arch, perhaps of 14th-century material reset; it is two-centred and of two chamfered orders, the outer continuous and the inner dying on to the responds.
The West Tower (14 ft. by 14¾ ft.) is of three stages (Plate 65) with a modern floor inserted in the second stage; it is of early 16th-century date and has a moulded plinth with a band of quatrefoils at the top and an embattled parapet with panelled pinnacles at the angles and intermediate pinnacles; at the base of these and at the angles of the tower are grotesque beast-corbels. The moulded two-centred tower-arch has moulded and shafted responds, the reveals and soffit have double panels divided into tiers by cinque-foiled ogee heads. In the S. wall is a similar but much lower four-centred arch, opening into the vestry. The W. wall has a recessed four-centred wall-arch, treated like the tower-arch but with a single row of panels and enclosing the W. window and doorway; on the inner moulding are two carved half-angels; the window is modern except for the opening and label-stops carved with mitred heads; the doorway has moulded jambs and four-centred head; the flanking buttresses and one on the N. face have each a pinnacle standing on a carved beast, and two niches with tabernacle-work and modern figures standing on old corbels carved with angels, two holding shields. The roof-corbels of this stage are carved with the symbols of the Evangelists, eagle, phoenix, pelican, fox and snake, fox and goose, angel and grotesque beast. 'The second stage has, in the E. wall, a window of two trefoiled lights in a square head with a label and head-stops; in the N. and S. walls are similar windows but with cinque-foiled ogee heads to the lights; between this and the lower stage is a band of panels traceried or quatre-foiled, with paterae or blank shields; in the middle of this band on the W. face (Plate 72) is a canopied niche containing an image of the Virgin and Child, flanked by two smaller niches with figures of St. James the Less (?) and St. George; above these is a panel in the form of the N. and S. windows; set on this window-panel is a carved Crucifix with the Virgin and St. John; above the panel are three pinnacles standing on angle-corbels and between them two small panels under canopies and carved with a Resurrection and an Ascension; flanking the pinnacles are two secular figures, perhaps of donors, under canopies; at this level there are pinnacles set against the buttresses and standing on carved beasts similar to those below. The bell-chamber has, in each face, two coupled windows each of two cinque-foiled ogee lights with tracery in a two-centred head, moulded reveals and labels and cinque-foiled ogee heads under the transoms.
The South West Vestry was built in the 16th century. In the S. wall is a modern window. In the W. wall is a reset late 14th-century doorway, now blocked; it has moulded jambs and two-centred head; above it is a modern window. The roof-corbels are carved with half-angels.
The Roofs of the aisles are of pent-type and of the 17th century; both are of eight bays with moulded principals and moulded subsidiary beams forming panels.
Fittings—Bells: eight, all by the Bilbies, 1765; 1st and 8th by T. Bilbie senr. and T. Bilbie junr.; 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th by T. Bilbie; 5th by T. Bilbie and Sons. The oak bell-frame is probably contemporary. In the third stage of the tower is a weight-driven device for ringing the bells, consisting of a slatted drum of wood with projecting metal teeth which are adjustable for different chimes; the drum has shaped and moulded spokes and is mounted in a wood frame with a brass plate engraved with the maker's name and date, Thomas Bilbie, Cullumpton, 1767. Bracket: In N. chapel—on E. wall, projecting chamfered slab, mediæval. Brasses: In N. chapel—on W. wall, (1) to Ann, wife of Henry Hillary, 1653–4, inscription only; (2) to Elizabeth (Hillary), wife of William Mills, 1674–5, inscription only; (3) to William Mills of Meerhay, 1760, and Mary his wife, 1771, inscription only. In N. aisle— on E. wall, (4) to Margerie, wife of John Mason, 1591–2, inscription only; on N. wall, (5) to William Brinson, 1723, inscription only. In S. aisle—(6) to John Tone, c. 1500, inscription only. Chairs: In chancel—two with enriched backs and cresting, early 17th-century, made up with modern work. Clock: In tower—third stage, mechanism hung in wrought-iron frame with maker's name-plate attached, R.A. Cloud, 1739; it was remade by W. J. Ives in 1929 re-using much of the original material. Font: Square bowl of Purbeck stone with four round-headed panels on E. face, late 12th-century, stem and base modern. Glass: In chancel—S. wall, in E. window, memorial to Peter, the only son of Peter and Anne Cox, 1850, figure subjects in each light, Resurrection and Ascension. In N. chapel—in E. window, in heads of lights, crowns, and two fragments with foliage in tracery, early 16th-century. Monuments and Floor-slab. Monuments: In N. aisle—on E. wall, (1) to Daniel Cox, 1778, John Cox, 1783, and Samuel Cox, 1801, brothers, white and grey marble wall-monument put up in the lifetime of Samuel, with shield-of-arms and standing female figure leaning on an urn; on N. wall, (2) to John Hoskins and Mary Gifford his daughter, 18th-century, marble wall-monument with Doric side-columns with entablatures, pediment and cartouche-of-arms; (3) to Gershom Levieux, 1735, white marble wall-tablet in stone frame with flanking scroll-brackets and pedimented cornice; (4) to Richard Symes, barrister, 1783, Elizabeth his wife, 1792, Anne their daughter, 1822, and her husband Samuel Cox, 1822, marble wall-monument with oval medallion carved with female figure leaning on an urn and shield-of-arms in frame of foliage; on S. wall, (5) to Henry Samwayes, 1706, Henry his eldest son, 1711, and five other sons, and Mary (Samwayes), wife of Giles Merefeild, 1712, freestone and slate wall-monument with Corinthian side-pilasters, entablature, pediment and cherub-heads. In S. aisle—on S. wall, (6) to Thomas Strode, Sergeant at Law, 1698–9, marble wall-monument (Plate 68) with standing figure in wig, gown, etc., side-pilasters supporting cornice, pediment, urns and achievement-of-arms, two putti (Plate 171) in front of pilasters; (7) to George Strode of Parnham, 1753, and Catherine his wife, daughter of Richard Brodrepp of Mapperton, 1746, white and veined marble monument (Plate 173) probably by P. Scheemakers, erected by Thomas Strode, brother of George, with reclining figures of a man and woman on a sarcophagus and on either side standing allegorical figures one with a cornucopia the other an anchor, above is an achievement-of-arms. In churchyard—W. of the tower, (8) to Betty, daughter of William and Ann Pavy, burnt in the Beaminster fire of 1781, headstone, recently restored. Floor-slab: in N. aisle, towards E. end, to John H..ll and Mary, 179.. Piscinae: In chancel—recess with hollow-chamfered jambs and two-centred head, shelf and rectangular drain with boss, 14th-century. In N. chapel—in S. wall, recess with two-centred head and shelf, mediaeval, sill modern. In S. aisle—in S. wall, recess with trefoiled head and gable, 13th-century, no drain; further W., recess with trefoiled arch in square head with glass-groove, rectangular drain with boss, 15th-century. Plate (Plate 29): includes a cup of 1611 with slender moulded stem, another of 1797 with band of engraved key-pattern ornament round the top of the bowl and plain curved stem, a third of 1845 with twelve-sided bowl embossed with figures of the Apostles in canopied niches and with serpententwined stem, with stand-paten to match, and a pair of flagons and a pair of salvers of 1749 given by George Strode of Parnham. Pulpit (Plate 67): of oak, octagonal with enriched cornice and base-moulding, enriched styles and two tiers of enriched arcaded panels, early 17th-century, restored fluted stem, base modern; said once to have had a canopy with an inscription recording that it was built by Richard Hillary and Lancelot Hallett, 1619. Stoup: In N. aisle—E. of doorway, recess with pointed head, sill modern. Weather-vane: On tower—large gilt cock (Plate 54) 17th or 18th-century. Miscellanea: Incorporated in rood-loft staircase, 13th-century stone with dog-tooth ornament. Incorporated in N.W. buttress of N. aisle, four stones laid horizontally, each with a relief design of a plant and flowers in a vase, probably 16th or 17th-century reused material.’

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1962 (Map). SWX1540.

(ST 47880124) St Mary's Church (NAT)

<3> Newman, J, and Pevsner, N, 1972, The Buildings of England: Dorset, 84-5 (Monograph). SWX1290.

<4> Long E T, The parish church of St. Mary the Virgin, Beaminster (Monograph). SDO18229.

<5> Department of the Environment, 1983, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: District of West Dorset, 10 (Scheduling record). SDO16336.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 193058 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 15 2025 11:32AM