Building record MDO44667 - St Mary's Church, Mosterton

A chapel of ease (no dedication given) situated to the west of Chapel Court, was mentioned in 1307 and 1650 and in 1750 a faculty was procured for burying in the churchyard.

The chapel was a small building containing nothing of note. It is traditionally said that the greater part of the dwelling-houses stood close to the chapel, and it is reported that foundations and large stones have been dug up in an adjoining area called Chapel Close. <1>

The name (Authority 1) applies to the site of a chapel of ease situated in a graveyard a short distance west of Chapel Court. It was pulled down in 1833 when a new chapel was erected on another site in the village.

The date of erection of the original is not known, but it is stated to have been in the Perpendicular style with traces of earlier work, so was probably 14th or 15th century. The graveyard is still used occasionally. <2>

The calender of Inquisition post-mortum, 1468 records 'Chappell' here. (See ST 40 SE 18 for possible Medieval earthwork at Chapel Court Farm). <4>

The site falls in a graveyard where many old tombstones remain. It is covered in lank vegetation and no remains of the church or of any area of depopulation could be found. <6>

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1863, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 2, 167 (Monograph). SWX1269.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1928, Ordnance Survey Object Name Book reference revision 1928, 28 (Unpublished document). SWX1205.

(ST 45510635) St Mary's Church (NR) (Site of)

<2.1> Stroud, Rev J, Oral: Rev J Stroud, Mosterton (Verbal communication). SDO18780.

<2.2> Pulman, George P R, 1875, The Book of the Axe, 152-3 (Monograph). SDO17923.

<3> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1928 (Map). SWX1540.

<4> Fagersten, A, 1933, Place-names of Dorset (Monograph). SDO17521.

<5> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 170 (Monograph). SDO97.

<6> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 23-MAY-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 192863 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 14 2022 10:01AM