English Heritage sites near Charlton Marshall Parish
FIDDLEFORD MANOR
8 miles from Charlton Marshall Parish
The principal parts of a small stone manor house, probably begun about 1370 for William Latimer, Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset. The hall and solar chamber display outstandingly fine timber roofs.
KNOWLTON CHURCH AND EARTHWORKS
10 miles from Charlton Marshall Parish
The siting of this ruined medieval church at the centre of a Neolithic ritual henge earthwork symbolises the transition from pagan to Christian worship and creates an atmospheric scene.
OLD WARDOUR CASTLE
15 miles from Charlton Marshall Parish
Set in landscaped grounds beside a lake in peaceful Wiltshire countryside, these 14th century ruins provide a relaxed, romantic day out for couples, families and budding historians alike.
MAIDEN CASTLE
16 miles from Charlton Marshall Parish
Among the largest and most complex of Iron Age hillforts in Europe, Maiden Castle’s huge multiple ramparts enclose an area the size of 50 football pitches and once protected hundreds of residents.
SHERBORNE OLD CASTLE
17 miles from Charlton Marshall Parish
Built on a grand scale in the 12th century by the Bishop of Salisbury, Sherborne was coveted by churchmen and noblemen alike giving it a long, chequered history. Picnic, shop, light refreshments.
JORDAN HILL ROMAN TEMPLE
18 miles from Charlton Marshall Parish
The foundations of a 4th century Romano-Celtic temple with fine coastal views.
Churches in Charlton Marshall Parish
Charlton Marshall: St Mary the Virgin
Bournemouth Road (A350)
Charlton Marshall
Blandford Forum
DT119NQ
01258 858353
https://lowerstourchurches.org/
Brief history of the building.
The tower is medieval with Georgian additions. The nave probably has the same footprint as the medieval church which preceded the present building. There may well have been an earlier (Saxon?) church bearing in mind the proximity to the river and the present of an ancient yew.
There have been at least three major restorations of the building:-
In 1713 the church was in a sad state of disrepair - ‘in danger of falling' according to the churchwardens at the time - and the Rector, Dr Charles Sloper funded the rebuilding from his own pocket, giving us the superb building we have today which is often described as being ‘in the style of Wren' and ‘one of the best examples of a Georgian Church outside London'.
In 1895 the box pews that had been made in 1713 were taken out and made into the present pews; the north aisle was extended eastwards and today is occupied by the organ; an enormous amount of general refurbishment was also undertaken to adapt the building to the needs of the time. That work was done extremely sensitively, retaining and enhancing all that was best of the 1713 work.
Again in the 1980s large sums were spent restoring the church, especially the flat roof of the north aisle and the Georgian reredos at the east end. Today the village has a church building that is sound and cared for.
More recently a kitchen and toilet have been added.
Pubs in Charlton Marshall Parish
Charlton Inn
Bournemouth Road, Charlton Marshall, DT11 9NH
(01258) 453160
thecharltoninn.co.uk/