Building record MDO43540 - St Legers Church, Durweston

The original parish church of Durweston was dedicated to St. Leger (Patron saint of Farriers) and formerly stood in Water Lane where Mr. J. Hardy has his garden. After the demolition of the church circa 1381 the plot became glebe land and remained so until it changed hands in recent years. <1>

The list of Rectors of Durweston gives the first date known as 1309 <2>.

Centred ST 85990880. The traditional site of St. Leger's Church, a plot of land about 40.0m. square, was pointed out on the ground by Capt. Ratsey <3.1> whose land encloses part of Mr. J. Hardy's (see authy 1) allotment. The area is cultivated and inspection revealed much modern debris, tiles, pottery etc., but no early material or foundations. A floor tile and two moulded stones were seen at The Mill House and are definitely ecclesiastical. <3>

The present parish of Durweston formerly comprised two separate parishes of Knighton and Durweston which were united in 1381. The division between them is probably represented by the continuous line of field boundaries which bisects the present parish church of St. Nicholas (see ST 80 NW 59) was originally that of Knighton and the remains of Durweston church are said to have exited near Durweston Mill where a few moulded stones have been found. <4>

<1> Rosson, B T, Notice in St. Nicholas's Church (Rev B T Rosson) (Monograph). SDO17737.

<2> Hutchins, J, 1861, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. Volume 1. 3rd edition, 266 (Monograph). SDO12569.

<3> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 12-DEC-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<3.1> Ratsey, F, The Mill House Durweston, Capt F Ratsey (Monograph). SDO17738.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 1, 89 (Monograph). SDO146.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 205417 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:48PM