Listed Building record MDO16926 - Parish Church of St George, Langton Matravers

Parish Church of St George, Langton Matravers, has a west tower of squared and coursed rubble built in the mid 15th century but the remainder of the church was rebuilt in 1828 and 1875-6. In the east wall of the tower is the outline of the low roof of a medieval nave, which Pevsner refers to as 13th century, some 6 1/2ft narrower than the present nave. Jackson and Fletcher, however, tentatively assigned this feature to the time of St. Aldhelm, circa 700AD (see SY 98 NW 55 for historical details of a church built by Aldheim 'near Wareham') Plan. <1, 4-6>

St. George's Church mentioned as 'church of Langeton' in 1311. Evidently the Priory of Wilkswood (founded possibly 1154 AD - see SY 97 NE 6) had a free chapel or chantry in St George's Church. <7>

30/1A B Church of St. George.

Parish church. Rebuilt in 1876 except C.15 tower. The rest of the fabric is Victorian Gothic. (Authority 3 is the full text of Authority 2). <3>

Parish Church of St. George. <8>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey 1 to 25 inch scale map, 1930 (Map). SDO18020.

(SY 99837889) ST George's Church (NAT)

<2> DOE (HRR), 1952, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Wareham and Purbeck Rural District 1952, 25 (Scheduling record). SWX3230.

<3> DOE (HRR), 1952, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Wareham and Purbeck Rural District 1952, 25 (Scheduling record). SWX3230.

<4> British Archaeological Association, 1963, Journal of British Archaeological Association 3rd Ed Vol 26, 1-5 (E Jackson and E Fletcher) plan (Serial). SDO19640.

<5> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 1, 140-141, No 1 (Monograph). SDO148.

‘a(1) The Parish Church of St. George stands in the middle of the village. The West Tower, of squared and coursed rubble with a lead-covered roof, was built in the middle of the 15th century; at the S.E. corner is a vice, rebuilt in 1876. The rest of the church was rebuilt in 1828 and again in 1875–6 to the designs of G. R. Crickmay.

Architectural Description—The West Tower (9 ft. by 10 ft.) is of three storeys divided externally into two stages by a weathered offset and has a moulded plinth and diagonal buttresses to the lower stage. At the top is a parapet string and an embattled parapet, partly modern. In the E. wall the archaic tower arch is two-centred, of two wave-moulded orders with continuous jambs. Above is the outline of the low roof of a mediaeval nave some 6½ ft. narrower than the present nave. The rectangular W. window has casementmoulded jambs and lintel; the mullions have been removed and the window has been extended to form a doorway and fanlight. The first floor is lit by small rectangular windows in the N. and S. walls. The bell-chamber has in each wall a window of two trefoiled lights with sunk spandrels in a square head; that to the E. is below the level of the present nave roof and is blocked. Across it runs the line of the roof of the nave of 1828.

Fittings—Bells: one, with inscription 'S[a]ncte Ihonas ora pro nobis' and stamp of a mediaeval ship with stern-castle, made in Bristol by John Gosselin, early 15th-century; two 18th-century bells were disposed of in 1941. Bell-frame, probably 17th-century, restored. Brass: In nave—S. of chancel arch, to [John] Havelland, 1607, and Mary his wife [1587], also of Thomas their eldest son, 1624, inscription plate, made 1630, now incomplete (Dorset Procs. LII (1930), 20; Hutchins, 1st ed. I, 215). Font: octagonal bowl with two trefoil-headed panels in each side, on octagonal stem with eight engaged shafts, 13th-century, retooled, set on modern base. Monument: In S. aisle, to the Rev. Samuel Serrell, 1842, and Harriot (Digby) his wife, 1848, white marble tablet with cornice on slate backing. Plate: includes an Italian cup of the early 16th century, a cup and flagon both of 1735, and a small salver of 1766. Miscellanea: In S. aisle, on S. wall, oak panel carved with St. George and the Dragon and subsidiary scenes, 16th-century, probably German; in S. aisle over S. door, part of plain gable cross; in W. tower, flanking head of W. window, two carved stone heads, reset.’

<6> Newman, J, and Pevsner, N, 1972, The Buildings of England: Dorset, 251 (Monograph). SWX1290.

<7> Mills, A D, 1977, The place-names of Dorset, Part 1: the Isle of Purbeck, the hundreds of Rowbarrow, Hasler, Winfrith, Culliford Tree, Bere Regis, Barrow, Puddletown St George, 39 (Monograph). SWX972.

<8> Department of the Environment, 1984, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Purbeck 1984, 10 (Scheduling record). SDO19622.

<9> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456473 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 16 2025 5:25PM