Monument record MDO625 - Pinford Manor House and Chapel of St James, Pinford Farm, Castleton

A modern house occupying the site of a medieval manor house. The remains of a chapel of Saint James are thought to be incorporated in one of the barns.

Pinford F.Y Pinford Manor And St James Chapel
Modern house occupying the site of a Medieval manor house. The remains of a chapel of Saint James (mentioned 1405) are thought to be incorporated in one of the barns. <1, 4>

The existing house appears to be entirely modern. According to Fowler (a), the barn containing the chapel remains is the one 70 yards north east of the house; but this, though of stone, is oriented north south with loop lights at each end. It bears no resemblance to a chapel, nor could any evidence of a chapel be found among the other farm buildings. West of the farm, in the area ST 663172, there are irregularities in a field suggestive of Medieval desertion. <5>

Indications on air photos of former buildings south-west of the house. <6>

No change to previous field report. The disturbed ground to the west of the farmhouse has the appearance of being the site of a building or buildings. No building material is, however, visible and there are no other traces of desertion. <7>

The Chapel at Pinford was founded in honour of St Thomas the Martyr. In 1405 it was a `capella curata' and Peter Pinford and his heirs were patrons. It had 25 acres of arable and one acre of meadow, in glebe. <3>

Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch 1, Somerset LXXXIV.10 Surveyed: 1886, Published: 1888 (Map). SDO10239.

'Pinford site of Pinford Manor'

<1> John Hutchins, edited by Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W, 1873, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 4, 297-8 (Monograph). SDO10245.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch 3, Dorset VI.10 Revised: 1927, Published: 1928 (Map). SDO11595.

(ST 66451723) Pinford (NAT) on site of Pinford Manor (NR)

<3> Fowler, J, 1951, Mediaeval Sherborne (Monograph). SDO10392.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 70 (Monograph). SDO97.

<5> Quinnell, N V, Various, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator's Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 18-JUL-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<5.1> Fowler, J, 1951, Mediaeval Sherborne (Monograph). SDO10392.

<6> Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, R1 CDA 09-JUN-76 (Unpublished document). SWX999.

<6.1> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-47, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 2148-9 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18656.

<7> Phillips, A S, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator's Comments ASP, F2 ASP 24-NOV-77 (Unpublished document). SWX3817.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 199309 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 16 2025 1:30PM