Coombe Keynes church and village (lead author: JT)
SY 84253 84102; Lat/Long.50.656377, -2.2241226

Coombe Keynes  is a hamlet and parish some five miles west-south-west of Wareham, on the Wool to West Lulworth road. “Coombe” means “a place in the valley”, while the manorial addition of “Keynes” (pronounced “kaynes”) is derived from the Norman family de Cahaignes who held the manor, together with that of Tarrant Keyneston, in the twelfth century.

Thatched cottage. Photo: JT

Clay from the Reading Beds in Coombe Keynes was used for brickmaking until the 1950’s, and the ironstone nodules were used, with Purbeck limestone, for the church and other buildings in the village.

Cottage with local Purbeck limestone and brick on first storey. Photo: JT.

The 13th century tower of Coombe Keynes church (SY8426 8410) is a mix of ironstone, Purbeck limestone and flint. The remainder of the church was rebuilt in 1861, with the same mix, though the wall next to the tower is all ironstone. Photos: JT

West Coombe Farm has footings of ironstone and Purbeck limestone, with the local brick above. Photo: JT.