Church of St. James, Lewcombe. East Chelborough, Grade: I, NGR: ST 55813 07386. Lead author: PS
Although just 1 mile from Melbury Osmond, the location of this small church (12 x 5 metres) seems remote as it is situated at the end of a long driveway leading to Lewcombe Manor House, formerly the rectory. A church has stood on the site since the 12th century, but the present church (1, 2) was rebuilt on the original footprint in the early 16th century. The west wall was rebuilt in the 18th century. The walls are Middle Jurassic Forest Marble with windows and doorway of Ham Hill stone from Somerset. The roof is slate.
1. The church from the south-west
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2. The west doorway
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The interior (3) is also very simple. The 18th century font (4) appears to be Ham Hill Stone.
3. The interior
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4. The font
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References:
1) https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101119286-parish-church-of-st-james-east-chelborough
2) Hill M., Newman J., Pevsner N. (2018), The Buildings of England, Dorset, Yale U. Press, p.352
1) https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101119286-parish-church-of-st-james-east-chelborough
2) Hill M., Newman J., Pevsner N. (2018), The Buildings of England, Dorset, Yale U. Press, p.352
Church of St. Andrew, West Chelborough. Grade: II, NGR: ST 54166 05447 Lead author: PS
This church (1) is also fairly remote, standing in a small hamlet at the end of a long single-track lane with few passing places. The main building stones are rubble Middle Jurassic Forest Marble with Ham Hill Stone dressings for doorways and windows. The roof is tiled with Forest Marble slabs. The south tower, which is also the main entrance, was added in 1638. A plaque (2) in Ham Hill stone high up on the parapet south wall records this date and lists the two church wardens at the time "William Lardar Esq. Thomas Horsford Warden 1638".
1. View of the church from the south
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2. The parapet inscription
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The nave was rebuilt in the 15th century (3). In the south wall at the west end of the nave are two very large Ham Hill Stone slabs (4). One is plain but the other has an inscription recording the deaths of Alexander Wellman, 1678, and Christian, his wife, 1682–3.
3. Inscription in the south wall of the nave
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4. The west end of the nave
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The quoins on the south-west and north-west corners of the nave include some large Portland Limestone blocks and several Ham Hill blocks with tool marks (5, 6).
5. The south-west corner of the nave
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6. The north-west corner of the nave
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The lower parts of the east and south walls of the chancel (1753) are a mix of flints and Forest Marble but the upper part is all Ham Hill stone (7, 8). They appear to be repairs carried out when the late 19th century vestry was built against the north wall. The vestry is all Ham Hill Stone.
7. The chancel south wall
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8. The chancel east wall
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The church was not open to examine the interior.
References:
1) https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101303553-parish-church-of-st-andrew-west-chelborough
2) https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101303553-parish-church-of-st-andrew-west-chelborough
Hill M., Newman J., Pevsner N. (2018), The Buildings of England, Dorset, Yale U. Press, p.634
1) https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101303553-parish-church-of-st-andrew-west-chelborough
2) https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101303553-parish-church-of-st-andrew-west-chelborough
Hill M., Newman J., Pevsner N. (2018), The Buildings of England, Dorset, Yale U. Press, p.634
