Listed Building record MDO9626 - Gateway to Former Almshouses, Church Lane, Blandford Forum

The front originally belonged to Almshouses built in 1736 to replace some destroyed by fire. The front is of the same greenish stone as the Church, It has a pedimented gable with a round window.

(ST 88560634) THE ALMSHOUSES, which were built on land that formerly belonged to the school have now disappeared except for the gateway or S. front. This is a triple archway of Greensand ashlar surmounted by a pediment with a central oculus. The round-headed middle arch is larger than the side openings, which have shallow segmental heads. Above each side arch is a recessed limestone plaque; that to the W. is inscribed "THE ALMSHOUSES AT THE WEST END OF THE CHURCH BEING DESTROYED BY THE FIRE, THE 4TH OF JUNE 1731, THIS WAS BUILT BY THE CORPORATION TO SUPPLY ITS LOSS 1736'. The E. plaque has an inscription of 1846. <1-2>

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 1, 23 (Monograph). SDO146.

<2> DOE (HHR), 1973, DOE (HHR) Blandford Forum RD Dorset September 1973, 5 (Scheduling record). SDO17703.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 205504 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 14 2024 5:08PM