Listed Building record MDO16071 - Parish church of St Wolfrida, Horton

A medieval church remodelled in the early 18th century. The north tower built in 1722-3; there was further restoration in 1869 and the tower was repaired in 1900. It is thought that the church was associated with a Benedictine abbey at Horton, founded by Ordwulf son of Earl Ordgar in the late 10th century, which became a cell of Sherborne Abbey in the early 12th century. The walls of the building are constructed of brick, flint and stone, and it has a tiled roof.

The Parish Church of St. Wolfrida was extensively rebuilt and added to in the 18th century. The tower, north transept and nave belong to this period with some 15th century material incorporated. The core of the chancel and part of the south wall of the nave contain flint and rubble masonry probably of the 12th or 13th century. <5>

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1897, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club for 1896, xxxix-xl (Serial). SDO10.

The last Church visited before luncheon was Horton, which stands on the site of an ancient monastery, but unfortunately time did not permit the inspection of more than the Church. The party were conducted over the Church by the Rector, Rev. G. Wellington, who read the following paper :
" The parish church of Horton is dedicated to Saint Wolfride, mother of Saint Edith, Abbess of Wilton, 1401. It was almost wholly rebuilt about 1720 from its then ruinous state, and is probably part of the ancient priory church. The north transept has an ancient doorway and buttresses, and on a small stone in the north wall is inscribed l.C. 1755. There is also a small locker on the east side of the doorway within. The two monumental effigies on each side of the doorway within were removed from the Hastings aisle under the tower at the restoration of 1869. The knight in Purbeck marble is St. Giles de Erase, who died about 1395, and it formerly rested upon a low altar tomb. The lady in Hamhill stone used to lie near it, and she may be his wife. The font was unused for many years, and was stowed away in a dilapidated condition in the Hastings aisle. At the restoration of 1869 it was repaired and placed in its present position. The body of the church underwent a restoration in 1869, when the two galleries and the pulpit sounding board were removed, and the church generally was put into a state of repair. The vestry under the tower is the old Hastings aisle belonging to the family at Woodlands House ; and the piers supporting the arch into it are probably Norman. In it there is a monument to three members of the Hastings family, and on the floor underneath are three grave stones with their respective names. The registers date from 1563, but there are none for the years 1725 to 1740 and also 1753 to 1773. There is a book of affidavits of burials in Woollen 1678 to 1720 ; and also the churchwardens' account book from 1716 to 1895. The silver chalice and paten are probably of 1610. The tower was rebuilt in 1722 on the foundations of a former one, and three of the bells were sold for 79 16s. In the churchwardens' account book there is the following entry : " Whereas the tower of the parish church of Horton is very much decayed, and the parishioners are desirous to erect a new tower upon a small aisle belonging to Edward Seymour, Esq., the said Edward Seymour, Esq., doth give leave that the tower should be erected as desired, provided the parishioners take care to place the monuments in the same places in which they now stand, as near as may be, and proper pews be erected for him and his family. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands, the 13th day of February, 1722. E. Seymour, N. Stuart, Henry Thornbull, churchwardens." There is the following inscription on the one remaining bell : " Love God. 1684. F.D., E.F., W.F." The chancel was restored in 1869 and in 1890 the organ and choir stalls were placed in it, the altar and its cloths being presented by the Countess of Shaftesbury. There is a xl. Sundial on the south wall of the church on which is inscribed : '* Post est occasio calva. G. Young fecit 1791. The first recorded Vicar of the parish was Baldwyn de Candel, 1295." There was a rectory house and sonic rectorial glebe, but these were very anciently appropriated to the Priory, and there has probably never been any vicarage or vicarial glebe, the Vicars being non-resident until about 1817, when the Earl of Shaftesbury provided a house, rent free, for their use.

<1> Brewster, T F, 1964, A short history of Horton Church (Monograph). SDO18160.

<2> Heap, E J F, 1967, A short history of Horton and The Church of St. Wolfrida (Monograph). SDO18159.

<3> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1968 (Map). SWX1540.

(SU 03020745) Ch (NAT)

<4> Newman, J, and Pevsner, N, 1972, The Buildings of England: Dorset, 234-5 (Monograph). SWX1290.

<5> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East), 34-35 (Monograph). SDO129.

‘(1) THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST WOLFRIDA stands in the village. The walls are of stone, flint and brick, with ashlar dressings; the roofs are tiled. William of Malmesbury (Gesta Pontificum Anglorum, Rolls Ser. Lii, 203) says that a Benedictine abbey at Horton was endowed by Ordulf, son of Earl Ordgar, the founder of the Benedictine house at Tavistock (961); early in the 12th century Horton became a cell of Sherborne. Little remains of the ancient walls mentioned by Hutchins (III, 156). In c. 1720 the mediaeval Chancel and Nave were remodelled; the E., W. and part of the S. walls were rebuilt and the remainder of the S. wall was cased in brickwork. The North Tower (Plate 3) was built in 1722-3 (churchwardens’ accounts books) to a design which betrays the influence if not the authorship of Vanbrugh, then engaged at Eastbury (TARRANT GUNVILLE (2), Dorset IV, 90). The North Transept was added in 1755. Restorations were undertaken in 1869 and the tower was repaired in 1900.
The tower is of some architectural interest, and among the fittings the medieval effigies and the 18th-century reredos are noteworthy. …’

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 213089 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2025 7:40PM