Listed Building record MDO16329 - Holy Trinity Church, South Street, Wareham

A medieval church, more recently an art gallery. Built as a church in the 14th century, on the site of an earlier church. The nave and chancel are 14th century, but the original chapel was replaced in the 18th century. The tower dates to the 16th century. The east wall was rebuilt in the 17th century.

Church of the Holy Trinity, South Street has a 14th century chancel and nave with two-bay arcade opening into a north chapel. The west tower was built in the 16th century with rebuilding of the east wall in the 17th century. During the 18th century a very plain stone structure replaced the former north chapel; the west end of which has since been rebuilt. <2>

Holy Trinity Church stands on the site of St. Andrew's Chapel which was possibly the church possessed at Domesday by Horton Abbey. The "Chapel of St Andrew" is mentioned in 1145 as the property of Sherborne Abbey, to which Horton Abbey and its possessions was granted in 1122. The church was possibly destroyed in the 12th century Civil War and replaced by Holy Trinity church, for a confirmation of Sherborne's property in 1163 mentions Holy Trinity but not St. Andrew's.

The present Holy Trinity Church with fabric of the 14th century (see Authy 1) is now used as an Art Gallery. <3>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey 25 inch scale map, 1936 (Map). SDO18020.

(SY 92328722) Holy Trinity Ch. (NR)

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 2, 314 (Monograph). SDO149.

<2> Penn, K J, 1980, Historic Towns in Dorset, 110-11 (Monograph). SWX1202.

<4> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AA43/01156 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of the west side of South Street, Wareham, from the north-east, showing numbers 30 and 32, and the east end of Holy Trinity Church

<5> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AF0615810 (Index). SDO14738.

RCHME: Wareham, Dorset. A large excavation archive compiled by R.E.M. Wheeler and E. Gee between 1952 and 1954.Condition : SATISFACTORYBibliographic Reference: 1) 1959, Volume 3

<6> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24682 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of the west side of South Street, Wareham, from the north-east, showing numbers 30 and 32, and the east end of Holy Trinity Church. This print was received by the National Buildings Record on 1st May 1943.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456706 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

May 31 2023 3:33PM