Church of St. Mary, Blandford St. Mary, Grade: II*. NGR: ST 89168 05271. Lead author: PS
The village is situated on the south bank of the River Stour opposite the larger town of Blandford Forum. The church (1, 2) is situated in Lower Blandford St Mary which is cut off from the main part of the village by the Blandford Bypass (A354).
1. View of the church from the south-east
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2. The Church from the south
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The church has stonework which date to the 14th, 15th and 19th century with some early 20th century alterations. The roofs of the north and south aisles are grey slate, those on the chancel and nave roofs are red clay tiles.
The main building stones used are knapped Flint, Heathstone and Upper Greensand Shaftesbury Sandstone. Corallian Todber Freestone has been used for windows and doorways. Portland Stone has also been used in some doorways.
The main building stones used are knapped Flint, Heathstone and Upper Greensand Shaftesbury Sandstone. Corallian Todber Freestone has been used for windows and doorways. Portland Stone has also been used in some doorways.
The tower
The 14th century tower is constructed of coursed Heathstone and Flint with occasional blocks of Shaftesbury Sandstone (3). The plinth courses are predominantly Shaftesbury Sandstone. Some tile and Corallian limestone can also be seen in the walls (4). The string line is Shaftesbury Sandstone. Photograph 4 shows a good view of the lime mortar. Amongst the mortar are numerous black specks. This is coal dust used as a 'pozzolan‘. Pozzolans were incorporated into the lime mortar so that it set more rapidly. Other pozzolans found in old mortar are brick dust and volcanic ash.
The 14th century tower is constructed of coursed Heathstone and Flint with occasional blocks of Shaftesbury Sandstone (3). The plinth courses are predominantly Shaftesbury Sandstone. Some tile and Corallian limestone can also be seen in the walls (4). The string line is Shaftesbury Sandstone. Photograph 4 shows a good view of the lime mortar. Amongst the mortar are numerous black specks. This is coal dust used as a 'pozzolan‘. Pozzolans were incorporated into the lime mortar so that it set more rapidly. Other pozzolans found in old mortar are brick dust and volcanic ash.
3. The tower from the south
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4. Part of the tower wall
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The tower is not buttressed on the west side but has substantial quoin stones consisting of very large blocks of Shaftesbury Sandstone and heathstone (5, 6).
5. Quoin stone in the N.E. corner of the tower
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6. South-west corner of the tower
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7. The north side of the tower and the parapet
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8. The doorway in the tower
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9. Loupe of the Portland Stone used in the tower doorway
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The west window (10), in the second stage, is probably of 14th-century origin but has been restored and now consists of different types of stone. The centre and top are Corallian limestone and the sides are mainly Heathstone with one block of Corallian limestone on the south side and one block of Shaftesbury Sandstone on the north side.
On the north side where the tower meets the north aisle the walls are a mixture of rubble stone. The half buttress in the angle of the tower and north aisle wall is made up of random blocks of all 4 building stones (11). Steps go down to the crypt at this point.
On the north side where the tower meets the north aisle the walls are a mixture of rubble stone. The half buttress in the angle of the tower and north aisle wall is made up of random blocks of all 4 building stones (11). Steps go down to the crypt at this point.
10. The west window
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11.The half buttress in the east wall of the north aisle
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The aisles and north transept
The south aisle was built in 1837 and the north aisle rebuilt in 1862. The walls are a chequer pattern of knapped Flint and Shaftesbury Sandstone blocks. The windows in both the north and south aisles and north transept are Corallian limestone. The north aisle windows are plain (12).The south aisle windows have labels and stops of Shaftesbury Sandstone and are topped by voussoirs of Heathstone, Shaftesbury Sandstone and Corallian limestone (13).
The south aisle was built in 1837 and the north aisle rebuilt in 1862. The walls are a chequer pattern of knapped Flint and Shaftesbury Sandstone blocks. The windows in both the north and south aisles and north transept are Corallian limestone. The north aisle windows are plain (12).The south aisle windows have labels and stops of Shaftesbury Sandstone and are topped by voussoirs of Heathstone, Shaftesbury Sandstone and Corallian limestone (13).
12. Window in the north aisle
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13. Window in the south aisle
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The chancel and vestry
The south wall of the 15th century chancel (14) is also predominantly a chequer pattern. It has one original Shaftesbury Sandstone window, a blocked doorway of Shaftesbury Sandstone and a modern window of Corallian limestone.
In contrast to the south wall, the stonework in the east wall of the chancel (15, 16) is arranged in a linear pattern of mainly Shaftesbury Sandstone in single lines with 4 or 5 rows of flints between. The lowest levels are all blocks of Shaftesbury Sandstone (15). The window is Corallian limestone.
A new vestry was built on the north side of the chancel in 1908. It incorporated the 15th century Shaftesbury Sandstone window from the north wall of the chancel into the north wall of the vestry.
The south wall of the 15th century chancel (14) is also predominantly a chequer pattern. It has one original Shaftesbury Sandstone window, a blocked doorway of Shaftesbury Sandstone and a modern window of Corallian limestone.
In contrast to the south wall, the stonework in the east wall of the chancel (15, 16) is arranged in a linear pattern of mainly Shaftesbury Sandstone in single lines with 4 or 5 rows of flints between. The lowest levels are all blocks of Shaftesbury Sandstone (15). The window is Corallian limestone.
A new vestry was built on the north side of the chancel in 1908. It incorporated the 15th century Shaftesbury Sandstone window from the north wall of the chancel into the north wall of the vestry.
14. The chancel south wall
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15.The chancel east wall
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The south porch
The main entrance to the church is the south porch (16) built at the same time as the south aisle (1837). The arch and label are Shaftesbury Sandstone but the uprights either side are Portland limestone (17).
The main entrance to the church is the south porch (16) built at the same time as the south aisle (1837). The arch and label are Shaftesbury Sandstone but the uprights either side are Portland limestone (17).
16. The south porch
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17. Junction of the porch arch with the uprights
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The voussoir is Shaftesbury Sandstone and Heathstone with a block of Corallian limestone either side of the lamp (18). The inner doorway is Corallian limestone (19).
18. Voussoir above porch
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19. The inner doorway
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The interior
The north (1862) and south aisles (1919), although built at different times, are structurally the same in design (20). The south arcade (21) replaced two iron pillars. Both arcades are Corallian Todber Freestone.
20. View of the interior from the west end
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21. The south arcade
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The font (22) is Bath Stone (23).
22. The font
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23. Loupe of Bath Stone
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References
1) Listed Buildings in Blandford St. Mary, North Dorset, Dorset (britishlistedbuildings.co.uk)
2) Blandford St. Mary | British History Online (british-history.ac.uk)
3) Hill M., Newman J., Pevsner N. (2018), The Buildings of England, Dorset, Yale U. Press, p.134
1) Listed Buildings in Blandford St. Mary, North Dorset, Dorset (britishlistedbuildings.co.uk)
2) Blandford St. Mary | British History Online (british-history.ac.uk)
3) Hill M., Newman J., Pevsner N. (2018), The Buildings of England, Dorset, Yale U. Press, p.134
