Monument record MDO1787 - Old Parish Church of St Peter, North Poorton

The former parish church first documented in 1298. It was originally dedicated to St Nicholas, but was re-dedicated to St Peter in 1405. It was ruinous by 1861 when it was replaced by the present Church of St Mary Magdalene, situated a little way to the south.

The church was dedicated to ST NICHOLAS c.1381, but seems to have been re-dedicated to ST PETER c. 1405. In the SARUM registers it is generally described as a chapel till 1488. The new church dedicated to ST MARY MAGDALENE, was consecrated in 1862. <1>

The old parish church of ST PETER, 50yds N. of the modern church. The walls of local rubble generally stand to a height of 4ft. In the N. wall is a doorway of the 15THc or 16THc. The church was a plain rectangle about 42ft. X 15ft. Externally. The modern church was built in 1861. <3>

Description contained in <3> is correct. The walls, which are 0.6m wide, are being destroyed by the roots of the trees and scrub which covers the site. <4>

Dedication in <1> incorrect. Within the modern church of St. MARY MAGDALEN is a list of rectors from Oct. 1298 - Aug. 1940, - suggesting the earlier chapel to be of the 13.c. - Dates of/and dedication & rededication agree with <1> St. MARY MAGDALEN not being mentioned prior to 1862. <5>

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1863, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 2, 170 (Monograph). SWX1269.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1904 (Map). SWX1540.

[SY 51879815] ST MARY MAGDALEN'S CHURCH [GT] (In Ruins)

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 180 (Monograph). SDO97.

'(1) OLD PARISH CHURCH of St. Peter, 50 yards N. of the modern church, was a building of local rubble. The walls generally stand to a height of 4 ft. but in the N. wall is a doorway with moulded jambs and four-centred head of the 15th or 16th century. The church formed a plain rectangle, about 42 ft. by 15 ft. externally. The modern church was built in 1861; there is a Bell here by R.P., 1635, and the following Monuments are in the S. Vestry, (1) to John Paul, 1737, slab; (2) to John Mordon, 1717, slab; (3) to Mabel, wife of Thomas Paul, 1727, slab; (4) to Thomas Paul, 1719, slab; (5) to John Cox Russell, rector, 1819, oval marble wall-tablet; (6) to Thomas Paul, 1719, tablet lying loose.'

<4> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 27-APR-55 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<5> Colquhoun, F D, Field Investigators Comments FDC, F1 FDC 02-MAY-55 (Unpublished document). SWX2609.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 450779 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 3 2023 2:47PM