Listed Building record MDO3735 - Church of St Mary at East Compton, Compton Abbas
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Summary
Only the fifteenth-century tower and the west wall of the nave of the former parish church remain standing, built in rough greensand ashlar.
The record for this monument has been enhanced with support from Wessex Water.
Map
Type and Period (1)
Full Description
ST 87561880 The ruined Church of St Mary stands in East Compton. Only the late 15th century west tower and the west wall of the former nave remain. A stone cross stands in the churchyard some 10 paces south east of the tower. It has a square stepped base, lower step with hollow-chamfered capping, chamfered square pedestal, and lower part of octagonal shaft with pyramidal stops. Probably 15th century. <2>
15th century tower of the old Church, grade I. (3)
The church tower and cross remain as described by RCHM <2> though in very poor condition. Revised at 1:2500 on AM. <4>
Tower of the former Church of St Mary. Grade I. <5>
Compton Abbas provides a good example of the population shift in this case caused by the construction of the Blandford and Shaftsbury Turnpike circa 1820 which reorientated communities on a North-South axis. The new Church of St Mary's (1866) was built near to the new road while the old church fell into decay. <6>
Sources/Archives (7)
- <1> SWX1540 Map: Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey Map 6in. 6 inch to 1 mile. 1962.
- <2> SDO99 Monograph: Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England). 1972. An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North). 13-14.
- <3> SDO17584 Scheduling record: DOE (HHR). Oct 1951. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Shaftesbury RD.
- <4> SDO17369 Unpublished document: Barrett, G. Various. Field Investigators Comments GB. F1 GB 09-JAN-78.
- <5> SDO17666 Scheduling record: DOE (HHR). List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: North Dorset. 13-14.
- <6> SWX1569 Monograph: Good, R. 1979. Lost Villages of Dorset.
- <7> SDO14739 Digital archive: National Record of the Historic Environment. 205880.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Location
| Grid reference | Centred ST 87556 18803 (8m by 9m) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | ST81NE |
| Civil Parish | Compton Abbas; Dorset |
| Unitary Authority | Dorset |
Protected Status/Designation
Other Statuses/References
- Legacy UID: Dorset Sites and Monuments Record: 2 012 002
- Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: ST 81 NE 11
- Legacy UID: National Record of the Historic Environment: 205880
- Royal Commission Inventory Reference: Compton Abbas 2
Record last edited
Dec 21 2022 7:09PM