St. Andrew’s Church, Kinson NGR: SZ06794 96929, Lat: 50.7749, Long -1.9050. (Lead author: JT)

Kinson is an ancient settlement on the south bank of the river Stour, and it is thought that the church may have Saxon origins. The tower is Norman (c 1100), built entirely of local Heathstone, from the Poole Formation, the higher part being 14th or 15th century. 

The 13th century chancel was built of Purbeck limestone, brought round by sea from Poole Harbour and up the Stour. The remainder of the church has been rebuilt several times.

2. Chancel from the east, Purbeck limestone. The walls are 13th century, the window 19th, of Monks Park Bath Stone.

3. Chancel from the north, Purbeck limestone walls, but heightened with Bath stone, also used for the 19th century window. The north wall of the nave has been rebuilt with dark Heathstone, but the quoins are of Bath stone. Note the different workmanship of medieval masons and 19th century ones.

5. St. Andrew’s tower arch of Heathstone.

7.The 13th century octagonal font of Purbeck Marble. (The church was being renovated when I visited –sorry about the bucket)

1. St. Andrew’s church from the south. Note the dark 12th century tower, and lighter 19th century south aisle.

The remainder of the church has been rebuilt several times. The present church was rebuilt in 1895, re-using much of the original Heathstone, though the addition on the south may have used fresh stone.  

The rebuild in 1895 was commissioned by the Fryer family, descendants of the smuggler, Isaac Gulliver. It is said that he used the church tower to hide his contraband, and that it is possible to see the marks of the ropes he used to lift them up into the bell-chamber. Bath Stone was used for the dressings in 1895, Monks Park on the outside and Corsham facings inside.

4. St. Andrews tower, Heathstone. Note the large Heathstone blocks used horizontally and then vertically in the quoins. This is said to be a Saxon method of strengthening the corners.

6. Detail of the Heathstone in the tower. Note the ‘sharp’ sand grains.

8. The ‘rusty’ looking blocks in the chancel are Purbeck Marble, which contains iron. This tends to weather badly and only survives outside if it can form a coating of iron-stained calcite. When the coating falls off you can see the Viviparus fossils inside.

Note: Kinson became part of Bournemouth in 1930.