Listed Building record MDO362 - Parish Church of St Mary, Church Street, Bradford Abbas

Medieval Parish Church of St Mary. The earliest part, the chancel, is thought to date to the 12th century with later additions in the 14th, 15th and 19th centuries. In the 15th century the Knave was rebuilt and probably lengthened. Also around this time the South Chapel and South porch were added and the two East bays of the North aisle were built. Shortly after the West tower was built. In the late 15th century the south vestry was added and an arch dividing it from the chancel inserted. The walls are built from local rubble and Ham Hill stone and the roofs covered with stone slate and lead.

Parish church of St Mary. The chancel may date to the C12th. The nave was rebuilt and no doubt lengthened in the C15th when the South chapel, South porch and North aisle were also added. (2-3)

National Record of the Historic Environment, 883052 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

1971, The Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Bradford Abbas (Monograph). SDO18240.

Le Pard, Gordon, 1998, Medieval sundials in Dorset. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society 119, 73 (Article in serial). SDO21411.

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 31-34 (Monograph). SDO97.

'(2) Parish church of St. Mary (Plates 81, 82, 83) stands in the village. The walls are of local rubble with ashlar and dressings of Ham Hill stone; the roofs are covered with stone slates and lead. The Chancel may date from the 12th century, but the thickness of the walls and the absence of buttresses is the only evidence of this; two of its windows may date from the 14th century. About the middle of the 15th century the Nave was rebuilt and no doubt lengthened, the South Chapel and South Porch were added and the two E. bays of the North Aisle and arcade were built; shortly after the aisle and arcade were continued to the W. and the West Tower was added. The South Vestry was added late in the 15th century and the arch between it and the chancel inserted. The stone wall above the screen was removed and the chancel-arch inserted in 1858; the roofs were restored in 1890 and the tower in 1906; the Organ Chamber was added in 1911.

The church is of considerable architectural interest and among the fittings the seating, font, pulpit and churchyard are noteworthy.

Architectural Description - The Chancel (23 ft. by 16½ ft.) has a 14th century E. window of two trefoiled lights with vertical tracery, partly restored jambs and two-centred head; the tracery is an 18th or early 19th century restoration. In the N. wall is a 15th century window of two cinquefoiled ogee lights in a square head with a label and head-stops of a bishop and a king; further W. is a modern archway. In the S. wall is a window with late 14th century jambs and splays and modern mullion and head with a label and returned stops; further W. is a two-centred 15th century arch, moulded and springing from moulded and shafted responds; the E. reveal and the soffit have two rows of cinquefoil-headed panels; in the W. respond is a doorway with a four centred head, communicating by flat-roofed wall-passage with a doorway in the S. chapel, with moulded jambs and two-centred head. The chancel-arch is modern.

The Organ Chamber is modern, but reset in the E. wall is a 15th century window of two trefoiled lights in a square head with a moulded label and returned stops.

The South Vestry (12½ ft. by 11¼ ft.) is of the 15th century, ashlar-faced and finished with an embattled parapet; it has an octagonal stair-turret at the S.E. angle and a shallow porch on the S. side. The E. window is of three cinquefoiled ogee lights with vertical tracery in a two-centred head with moulded reveals; the internal reveals are corbelled back at the sill-level for a former altar. In the S. wall is a similar window, but without ogee heads to the lights; the doorway to the stair-turret and the inner doorway of the porch have moulded jambs and four-centred heads; the porch has an outer doorway with moulded and shafted jambs and moulded four-centred arch with panels of foliage in the spandrels; the porch has a high-pitched gabled roof covered with weathered stone slabs and having a string-course at the base and a carved beast on the ridge; in the face of the gable is a shallow niche with a bracket carved with foliage and a shield, side-standards with pinnacles and a three-sided canopy with crocketted gables and ribbed soffit; the porch has a flat stone ceiling with a quartrefoiled panel enclosing a shield, a leaf and a rose. In the N.W. angle of the vestry is an opening to the passage to the chancel.

The Nave (54½ ft. by 18 ft) has a N. arcade of two dates in the second half of the 15th century; it is of five bays with moulded two-centred arches, springing from hollow-chamfered piers each with four attached shafts having moulded capitals and bases; the responds have attached half-piers. In the S. wall is a 15th century arcade of two bays of similar detail to the E. part of the N. arcade; to the E. of it is a passage and steps to the former rood-loft; it has a doorway, on the S. face, with rebated jambs and three-centred head. The 15th century S. doorway has moulded jambs and two-centred arch; further W. is a 15th century window of three cinquefoiled lights with restored vertical tracery in a two-centred head with moulded reveals.

The North Aisle (10 ft. wide) is of two dates in the second half of the 15th century; it is finished with an embattled parapet and gargoyles. In the E. wall is a window uniform with the S. window of the nave. In the N. wall are five windows, the two easternmost uniform with that in the E. wall; the third window is of three cinquefoiled ogee lights with quartrefoiled tracery in a four-centred head with moulded reveals; the two westernmost windows are of three cinquefoiled ogee lights with vertical tracery in a two-centred head with moulded reveals; below the middle window is a blocked doorway; with the outer face cut away. In the W. wall is a window, uniform with that in the E. wall, but with modern mullions.

The South Chapel (22½ ft. by 11 ft.) is of mid 15th century date with an embattled parapet continued along the walls of the porch and nave. In the E. wall is a window opening into the vestry; it is of four cinquefoiled ogee lights with tracery in a square head with moulded reveals. In the S. wall are three windows, the easternmost of late 14th century date reset and of two trefoiled ogee lights in a two-centred head with moulded reveals; the other two windows are uniform with the S. window in the nave.

The South Porch is of the same date and character as the S. chapel. The outer archway is similar in detail to the S. arcade of the nave, but on a smaller scale; above it is a niche with a carved bracket and a partly defaced crocketed canopy; the low-pitched gable is embattled.

The West Tower (12 ft. by 11¼ ft.) is of mid 15th century date and of three stages (Plate 81) and four storeys with octagonal angle-turrets, a moulded plinth and an embattled parapet; this has pinnacles at three angles and an octagonal N.E. turret carried up above the parapet and finished with an embattled parapet with a crocketed pinnacle on each merlon and a larger pinnacle above the central newel. The tower-arch is two-centred and moulded and springs from moulded and shafted responds with foliated caps to the shafts; the reveals and soffit have one row of trefoil-headed panels. The W. doorway forms a shallow porch in the thickness of the wall; the inner doorway has moulded jambs and two-centred arch; the outer doorway has moulded jambs and septfoiled two-centred arch in an ogee head with side-shafts, crockets and finial; the spandrels of the cusps and head are carved with foliage; the porch has a pointed vault and a recessed seat on each side; flanking the doorway are pairs of niches with side-shafts and two-sided crocketed canopies; the W. window is of four cinquefoiled lights with vertical tracery in a two-centred head with moulded reveals and label; flanking it are large niches with moulded brackets, side-shafts and three-sided crocketed canopies, vaulting and pyramidal cappings finished with finials; flanking the head of the window are similar niches, but with no pyramidal capping. The second stage has, in the N. wall, a window of one trefoiled light in a square head. On the face of the W. wall are three large niches (Plate 10) generally similar to the lower ones flanking the W. window and with foliated brackets; two contain seated statues apparently of lay persons, one holding a book; flanking each niche are panels with trefoiled ogee crocketed heads and enclosing shields, paterae and a banner. The bell-chamber has in each wall a pair of windows, each of two tre-foiled lights with tracery in a two centred head with moulded reveals and label; the lights of the N., S and W. windows are filled with elaborately pierced stone slabs.

The Roof of the Nave is of the 15th century considerably restored; it is of rather low pitch and of six bays with moulded principals, purlins, brattished plates and moulded stone cornices; each bay is divided into thirty-two panels, with foliated bosses; at the base of the principals are carved angels holding shields or scrolls; some of the figure have been renewed and all have been repainted; the shields bear the following repainted arms: N. side, (a) modern coat of Kerr. Marquis of Lothian; (b to d) modern coats of Clayton, Bridge and Horsey; (e) Courtenay impaling Hunderford; (f) modern; S. side (a) See of Salisbury, modern; (b) See of Winchester, modern; (c) Abbey of Sherborne, also a figure of St. Michael and the Dragon. Three of the figures are now in the N. aisle, having been replaced by modern work; one of these, replaced by (f), bears the arms of Browning impaling Ledred. Some of the timbers retain their original painted decoration in bands and the fourth bay has nineteen panels painted with red and white roses alternately. The 15th century pent-roof of the N. aisle is of nine bays with moulded principals, purlins and subsidiary rafters; the three western bays have foliage bosses at the intersections and small figures holding shields at the base of the principals. The Vestry has a 16th and 17th century roof with chamfered timbers. The 15th century pent-roof (Plate 26) of the S. chapel is of four bays and is generally similar to that of the N. aisle; there are large foliage bosses at the intersections and at the base of the principals are angels holding shields with repainted devices; the initials I.S. (perhaps for John Saunder, Abbot of Sherborne 1459-75), cross of St. George and a merchant's mark; seven panels in the E. bay are painted with square panels of arms in a broad nebuly border; the arms are St. George (three times), argent a fesse gules, argent a griffin gules (perhaps for Malmesbury Abbey), a quartered coat and a panel made up of three boards with the arms of (a) Montagu (b) Ulster quartering Mortimer and impaling France and England quarterly for Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, but reversed, and (c) St. George. The 15th century ceiling of the ground stage of the tower has moulded beams and foliage-bosses at the junction of the main beams and the wall plates.

Fittings - Bells: recast; bell-frame old. Chair: In chancel - with turned front-legs, shaped arms, carved and panelled back with cresting, largely modern but incorporating 17th century material. Chests: In tower - (1) rectangular dug-out with three hasps, ends rebated for former supports, replaced by modern legs, three internal grooves for partitions, probably mediaeval. In vestry - (2) with panelled front, enriched styles and rails, 17th century. Churchyard Cross (Plate 12): octagonal tapering shaft with weathered figures on E. and W. faces, of the Virgin and Child and a man, on brackets with trefoiled canopies, dowel-holes on N. and S. faces, with remains of canopy on S. face; octagonal base with angle-piers, moulded edge and quarterfoiled panels in four main faces, enclosing shields, patera and angel with scroll; two high-stepped plinths with moulded edges, late 15th century. Doors: In turret-staircase in vestry - of boards with strap-hinges, 15th century. In S. doorway - of two leaves with hollow-chamfered ribs and nail-studded battens. 15th century, iron fittings, 17th century. In turret-staircase of tower - panelled, with strap-hinges, 17th century. Font (Plate 85): octagonal bowl with moulded cornice carved with running foliage and band of quartrefoils enclosing paterae or shields below, panelled concave underside and stem with trefoil-headed panel in each face; diagonal angles of bowl brought forward and supported on free-standing piers with trefoil-headed panels below and trefoil-headed niches containing figures of St. John the Baptist and three bishops or abbots, moulded base, 15th century. Glass: In chancel - in E. window, small 15th century head of Christ and two panels of 17th century German or Swiss heraldic glass; in S. window, suns in splendour, rose, crowns and part of head of a saint, 15th century. In S. window of vestry - two shields with chalice and wafer and Trinity symbol, rose and various fragments including chalice, crowns, flowers, foliage, etc., 15th century, partly in situ. In N. aisle - in fifth window, two rosettes etc. early 16th century. Locker: In chancel - in S. wall, rectangular recess with rebated reveals, probably 14th century. Monuments and Floor-slabs. Monuments: In chancel - on N. wall, (1) to Michael Harvey, 1711-12, white and veined marble wall-monument with Doric side-pilasters, entablatures, lamps and achievement-of-arms; on S. wall, (2) a similar monument (Plate 69) to Agnes, wife of Michael Harvey, 1716-7. In S. chapel - on S. wall, (3) to Robert George Grant, 1835, white marble wall-monument; on W. wall, (4) to Frances Mary Grant, 1840, black and white marble sarcophagus-shaped wall-monument. In tower - on S. wall, (5) to Rev. William Preston 1742, wall-slab. In churchyard - S. of porch, (6) to Henry ,,uson, 1728, table-tomb incorporating slab and quartrefoiled panelling from 15th century tomb; S.W. of nave, (7) to Thomas Punfold, 1597, and John Punfold, later, table-tomb; S.W. of tower, (8) with date 1631, table-tomb; and N.W. of tower, (9) 17th century table-tomb, with later inscription . Floor-slabs: In chancel - (1) to Susanna (Underwood), wife of William Harvey, 1663, with lozenge-of-arms; (2) to William Harvey, 1685, with achievements-of-arms; (3) to Margaret, wife of William Harvey, 1704, with lozenge-of-arms. In W. tower - (4) to Abigail, daughter of William Acourt, 1698, and to John her brother, 1699. Niches: In responds of tower-arch - two, with trefoiled ogee and crocketed heads and moulded brackets, 15th century. Piscinae: In chancel - in sill of S. window, square octofoiled drain in projection, 14th century. In vestry - in S. wall, recess with trefoiled head and octagonal drain, 15th century. In S. chapel - in sill of middle window, rounded drain, partly cut back, 15th century. In N. aisle - in E. respond of arcade, recess with trefoiled head, no drain, 15th century. Plate: includes a late 16th century cup, inscribed W.B., R.D. 1683, a stand-paten given by Annis Somers, 1646, and a cup, a paten, two flagons and two alms-dishes given to Clifton Maybank parish church, now demolished in 1733. Pulpit: of oak, hexagonal, of three stages with enriched cornice and rails, lowest stage with plain panels, middle stage with carved arched panels and top stage with conventional carved panels and console-brackets, on middle panel date and initials, 1632, P.G., R.M. side of S.E. made up with work from elsewhere. Sounding-board, with enriched panels and entablature, made up as table in vestry. Screen (Plate 34): Under chancel-arch - of stone with moulded cornice returned down at sides, doorway with septfoiled head and trefoiled spandrels, side-bays each of four cinquefoiled lights with cusped spandrels, 15th century. Seating (Plates 32, 33): In nave - twenty-seven bench-ends and two pewbacks, ends with moulded edges, rectangular tops and panels, carved with tracery, foliage, vine-plant, hop-plant, oak-tree with birds and pig; pew-backs with linen-fold panels and trefoils or quatrefoils; three bench-ends with traceried panels and foliage incorporated in pews in S. chapel; in N.E. corner of nave parson's pew made up of two bench-ends as before with griffin and figure, probably of St. Paul, with sword and book, and two ends with ogee tops, poppy-heads and panels carved with elaborate vine and ivy-foliage, elbow rests and back posts carved with beasts and an owl; late 15th century or early 16th century. In tower - two coffin-stools with turned legs, 17th century. Sundials: On S.W. buttress of porch - two scratch-dials. Weathervane (Plate 54): On tower - metal cock, probably 18th century. Miscellanea: In W. tower - on N. wall, tablet commemorating foundation of Charity School, 1781. In churchyard - S. of chancel, traceried head of 15th century window. On S.E. buttress of porch - carved hand raised in blessing - mediaeval.' (1

<2> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24453 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of St Mary's Church, Blandford Abbas, from the north-west

<3> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24495 (Index). SDO14738.

Interior view of St Mary's Church, Bradford Abbas, showing a dividing wall with arched openings

<4> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24496 (Index). SDO14738.

Interior view of St Mary's Church, Bradford Abbas, looking towards the altar and screen

<5> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB43/01814 (Index). SDO14738.

Interior view of St Mary's Church, Bradford Abbas, looking towards the altar and screen

<6> Newman, J, and Pevsner, N, 1972, The Buildings of England: Dorset, 106 (Monograph). SWX1290.

<7> Ordnance Survey, 1:2500 scale, 1974 (Map). SWX1197.

(ST 58731428) St Mary's Church [NAT]

Record last edited

May 1 2025 11:06AM