Monument record MDO1810 - Ringstead Old Church, Ringstead, Osmington

Ringstead Old Church, now Glebe Cottage, located north of the side of West Ringstead village. It has walls of local rubble and a roof covered with modern tiles. Only the chancel and chancel arch survive from the original building which has been considerably altered by the insertion of domestic door and window openings. A church, probably on this site, is referred to in 1227 and the surviving fabric appears to be of the thirteenth century; it was largely destroyed or abandoned in late Medieval times. (1-8)

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 edition OS map (Map). SWX1540.

<3> Deserted Medieval Villages : studies, 186 (Monograph). SWX1652.

<4> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 2444-45 (Aerial Photograph). SWX2452.

<5> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, 21-JUL-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<6> DOE (HRR), 17 Oct 1986, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: District of West Dorset amendment 1986, p18 (Scheduling record). SWX2454.

<7> DCMS, 1999, Scheduled Monument Notification 1999, 25-NOV-1999 (Scheduling record). SDO17351.

<8> DCMS, Scheduled Monument Notification EH Scheduled Monument Review, 14-DEC-2000 (Scheduling record). SWX2456.

<9> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 1, 180 (Monograph). SDO148.

(2) RINGSTEAD OLD CHURCH, now Glebe Cottage (747817), immediately N. of the site of West Ringstead village (27), has walls of local rubble and a roof covered with modern tiles. Only the chancel and chancel arch survive from the original building which has been considerably altered by the insertion of domestic door and window openings. A church, probably on this site, is first referred to in 1227 (see Monument 27) and the surviving fabric appears to be of the 13th century; it was largely destroyed or abandoned, with the village, in late mediaeval times.
Architectural Description—The Chancel (19½ ft. by 12⅓ ft.) has a wide plinth, and the line of the original E. gable is visible below the present roof-line. There was no E. window and no traces of original openings remain in the N. and S. walls. At the W. end of the S. wall a break in the masonry in line with the W. side of the W. wall of the chancel marks the end of the original work. The two-centred chancel arch is of two chamfered orders; it is largely blocked but survives to its full height. Nothing remains of the original nave. The presence of a Burial Ground S. of the church has been indicated by numerous finds of bones in the cottage garden. The following fragments of mediaeval dressed stone have also been found: (1) a piece of window tracery with double hollow chamfer on one side; (2) moulded base or capital, much damaged; (3) two pieces of cross-finials; (4) part of a cresset with traces of three sinkings; (5) circular stone basin, damaged, possibly a stoup. Pottery from the garden includes one sherd probably of the 13th century, some fragments of the 16th and 17th centuries and much 18th-century ware.
Post-mediaeval alterations—A floor has been inserted in the chancel, supported by a roughly chamfered ceiling beam. A fireplace at the E. end has a chamfered bressummer and a bread oven at the N. side. The building has been heightened and rooms have been added to W. and N. None of the domestic features appears earlier than the 18th century.

Record last edited

Dec 7 2024 7:13AM