The two Holy Trinity churches at Bothenhampton, Bridport  (Lead author: PS)

Holy Trinity Old Church was built in the 14th Century and is now a redundant church in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. The chancel and the 15th century tower are the only parts to survive after the nave was demolished in1889 when the new church was built. Subsequently it was used as a mortuary chapel until it finally became redundant in 1972. Like the new church it was built of Forest Marble limestone from the local quarries.

Bothenhampton village and the old quarries. Additional material PAS.

The church stands on a chamfered plinth of Blue Lias limestone. The stonework is rough hewn Forest Marble, a Middle Jurassic sparite cemented shell brash limestone. The stone is widely used in the Bridport area and withstands weathering well.

A weathered block from the church wall showing holes where shell fragments have weathered out. Photo: PS

The interior. Photo: PS.

The roof is supported internally by three stone arches made of Bath Stone blocks supporting a timber ceiling. They spring at 2ft 6in above floor level and rise to a ridge 30ft high. They are buttressed externally, the buttresses rising through the eaves.
All the inner walls are of rough-axed faced Forest Marble.
The windows  are dressed Bath stone with sills of Keinton stone (not shown)

Holy Trinity Old Church Grade 1 O.S. Grid Reference: SY 481 917 Old Church Rd, Bothenhampton Photo:PS

Exterior 1 – the south wall
The church stands on a chamfered plinth of Blue Lias limestone. The stonework is rough hewn Forest Marble, a Middle Jurassic sparite cemented shell brash limestone. The stone is widely used in the Bridport area and withstands weathering well.

South wall with lancet window of dressed Ham Hill stone. Photo: PS

Exterior 2 – the south porch. The pointed arch of the porch is dressed Ham Hill stone that springs from stone shafts either side. The pillars are Blue Lias but they appear to have been cement rendered probably due to weathering  but visible where the render has flaked. The eight internal steps leading up to the door are also Blue Lias slabs, some very worn and some obvious replacements. The steps are probably Keinton limestone, a Blue Lias limestone from Keinton Mandeville in Somerset which is used internally in the building.

Exterior 2 – the south porch (cont) and church roof. The Porch is lit by three trefoil windows of Ham Hill stone on each side.
The original, badly weathered, York stone roof of the church and porch was replaced in 1956 by Purbeck limestone roofing slabs. The local Forest Marble, often used for roofing locally was by this time not available as the quarries had long since closed.

Detail of the polished Forest Marble showing fragments of shell in the limestone matrix. Photo: PS

New Holy Trinity parish church was designed by the architect Edward Schroder Prior. It was built between 1887-9 in the Arts &Crafts style, one of the earliest in this style and reminiscent of an early English 13th century church. There is no tower but a simple bell cote above the chancel arch.
Like its predecessor, the building stone was locally sourced from the nearby Forest Marble quarries, a new quarry being opened to supply the stone required. More information on these quarries can be found on the Dorset’s Important Geological sites web site http://dorsetrigs.org.uk/

New Holy Trinity Church Grade: II*O.S. Grid eference: SY470 919 Crock Lane, Bothenhampton, Dorset DT6 4BJ

Rough Forest Marble. Photo: PS

The South Porch. Photo: PS

Blue Lias steps detail with fossil shells visible. Photo: PS

The font is carved golden alabaster supported by pillars of polished Forest Marble on an alabaster plinth which itself stands on a base of Keinton Blue Lias limestone.

Interior 1- the font. Photo: PS