Church of St. Martin, Broadmayne. Grade II*, NGR: SY72844 86645. Lead Author: PS
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Broadmayne is entered into the Domesday Book as 'Brademaene', a Celtic spelling. The settlement was well established by Anglo-Saxon times as it had the advantage a reliable water source from a Chalk spring which still feeds into the Tadnoll Brook, a tributary of the river Frome. During the 18th and 19th centuries brickmaking was the main source of employment using clay from the nearby Palaeocene Reading Beds.
The present church (1) was built in the 13th century and still has a rare example of a south tower. There are some alterations dating to the late 15th century at the west end of the nave and a major refurbishment in the 19th century (architect Hicks) included an extension to provide a north aisle. |
1. The church from the south
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The Exterior
The roof of the church is covered with Victorian red clay tiles with two rows of Purbeck stone slabs at eaves level (see Photo 8).
The south tower
The tower has original stonework dating to the 13th century. The top stage is a 15th century addition. The east and west walls are mainly coursed roughly regular small blocks of Portland limestone, probably from the Ridgeway quarries (2). The Portland ashlar quoins have been more resistant to weathering over the centuries and are probably Inland Freestone from the Isle of Purbeck. At some point the nave roof has been lowered. The original height is marked on the east side of the tower (2). The main entrance to the church is in the south wall of the tower. The walling around main entrance is ashlar Portland stone, probably from the Isle of Purbeck (3). There are also occasional large greensand blocks to be seen.
The roof of the church is covered with Victorian red clay tiles with two rows of Purbeck stone slabs at eaves level (see Photo 8).
The south tower
The tower has original stonework dating to the 13th century. The top stage is a 15th century addition. The east and west walls are mainly coursed roughly regular small blocks of Portland limestone, probably from the Ridgeway quarries (2). The Portland ashlar quoins have been more resistant to weathering over the centuries and are probably Inland Freestone from the Isle of Purbeck. At some point the nave roof has been lowered. The original height is marked on the east side of the tower (2). The main entrance to the church is in the south wall of the tower. The walling around main entrance is ashlar Portland stone, probably from the Isle of Purbeck (3). There are also occasional large greensand blocks to be seen.
2. The east wall of the tower
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3. The main entrance in the south tower
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The nave
The south and west walls of the nave date to the 13th century and are small blocks of Portland limestone matching the tower. The nave windows and the west doorway are replacements (4). The west doorway is Portland limestone with more recent repairs using Portland stone from the Isle of Portland (5a, 5b). The 15th century west window above also appears to be Portland stone but was too high to inspect closely.
The south and west walls of the nave date to the 13th century and are small blocks of Portland limestone matching the tower. The nave windows and the west doorway are replacements (4). The west doorway is Portland limestone with more recent repairs using Portland stone from the Isle of Portland (5a, 5b). The 15th century west window above also appears to be Portland stone but was too high to inspect closely.
4. The west end
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5a. The west doorway
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5b. Loupe of the Portland Limestone repair
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The south wall has two windows. The 15th century square headed window west of the tower is Portland stone with a replacement central mullion of Ham Hill stone (6).
The window east of the tower (7a) was replaced in the 1984 (dated plaque on the window interior). This postdates published descriptions of the church which state that the window is 14th century and the stone is 'greensand'. The original matched another 14th century window re-sited at the east end of the north wall of the north aisle in the 19th century. The replacement window is Bath stone (7b).
The window east of the tower (7a) was replaced in the 1984 (dated plaque on the window interior). This postdates published descriptions of the church which state that the window is 14th century and the stone is 'greensand'. The original matched another 14th century window re-sited at the east end of the north wall of the north aisle in the 19th century. The replacement window is Bath stone (7b).
6. The window west of the tower
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7a. Nave window east of the Tower
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7b. Loupe of Nave window
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The chancel (8)
The chancel plinth is random Portland stone without a decorative string line. The walls were re-built in the 19th century, probably using the original stone, but the lower part of the south wall has not been rebuilt and is original to the 13th century. Again, the Portland stonework in that area matches that of the tower. The 13th century lancet windows and quoins are also Portland limestone (probably from Purbeck). The upper part of the south wall has some small blocks of Ham Hill stone incorporated in it. The east wall above the upper part of the three light lancet window also has some Ham Hill stone (9).
The chancel plinth is random Portland stone without a decorative string line. The walls were re-built in the 19th century, probably using the original stone, but the lower part of the south wall has not been rebuilt and is original to the 13th century. Again, the Portland stonework in that area matches that of the tower. The 13th century lancet windows and quoins are also Portland limestone (probably from Purbeck). The upper part of the south wall has some small blocks of Ham Hill stone incorporated in it. The east wall above the upper part of the three light lancet window also has some Ham Hill stone (9).
8. Chancel south wall
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9. Chancel east wall
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The stonework in the east and north walls is more random with some larger blocks and some 'Greensand' blocks incorporated in it (10a, 10b).
10a. Greensand in the north wall of the chancel
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10b. Greensand loupe
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An examination of the Portland limestone in the north wall of the chancel and east wall of the north aisle with magnifiers showed that it consists of mainly lime mudstone containing occasional areas of broken shell debris and is typical of the stone quarried in the past on the South Dorset Ridgeway (11a, 11b).
11a. North aisle east wall
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11b. Shelly Portland limestone
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The north aisle (12)
The land drops steeply away on the north side of the church and the north aisle wall abuts onto private land. Unlike the nave and chancel, there is a decorative string line in Ham Hill stone on the east and north walls. The window in the east wall is Portland limestone. The windows on the north side were examined from the inside of the church (see later). |
12. North wall
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The Interior
The porch is paved with Purbeck limestone slabs. The lintel arch above the interior doorway is an impressive single block of Upper Greensand (13). The sides are Portland limestone.
The porch is paved with Purbeck limestone slabs. The lintel arch above the interior doorway is an impressive single block of Upper Greensand (13). The sides are Portland limestone.
13. The inner doorway
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14. The north arcade
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The Victorian north arcade (14) and the chancel arch (15a) are both identified as being Bath stone. The honey-coloured stone, part of the Jurassic Great Oolite group is a freestone and recognisable by its characteristic oolitic texture (15b).
15a. The chancel arch
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15b. Loupe of Bath stone
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Each arm of the chancel arch has a decorative shaft of Purbeck marble (16a, 16b). The original 13th century chancel arch has been re-set at the east end of the north aisle and is Portland stone (17).
16a. Purbeck marble shaft
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16b. Purbeck Marble
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The north aisle windows
The 14th century window at the east end of the north wall is Upper Greensand identified under loupe magnification by its sandy texture and the presence of glauconite (18). The decorative stonework around each window recess is Bath Stone. The two 19th century windows in the north wall and the window in the west wall, are Bath Stone.
The 14th century window at the east end of the north wall is Upper Greensand identified under loupe magnification by its sandy texture and the presence of glauconite (18). The decorative stonework around each window recess is Bath Stone. The two 19th century windows in the north wall and the window in the west wall, are Bath Stone.
17. The old chancel arch
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18. Loupe of greensand in the north aisle window
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The font
The 15th century font is Portland stone (19a). As is often the case with identifying font stone, examination under magnification was hampered by historic whitewashing. A tentative identification is Portland stone from the Vale of Wardour in Somerset (19b) as the stone appears to contain glauconite. The 19th century pedestal and base are Bath stone.
The piscina (circa 1300) in the south wall of the chancel (20) is Portland stone.
The 15th century font is Portland stone (19a). As is often the case with identifying font stone, examination under magnification was hampered by historic whitewashing. A tentative identification is Portland stone from the Vale of Wardour in Somerset (19b) as the stone appears to contain glauconite. The 19th century pedestal and base are Bath stone.
The piscina (circa 1300) in the south wall of the chancel (20) is Portland stone.
19a. The font
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19b Loupe of the font stone
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20. Piscina
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References
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/dorset/vol2/p30-33
Pitfield, F.P. Dorset Churches A-D, p. 188, Dorset Publishing Co. 1981
PAS 2024
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/dorset/vol2/p30-33
Pitfield, F.P. Dorset Churches A-D, p. 188, Dorset Publishing Co. 1981
PAS 2024
