St.Mary the Virgin Church, Piddlehinton, SY 71565 97160: 50.7733 -2.4046 
(lead authors Jo Thomas and Pat Snelgrove)

The main body of St. Mary’s Church is of flint banded with the Lower Purbeck Cypris Freestone that was quarried on the Ridgeway between Weymouth and Dorchester. Ham Hill Stone is used for quoins, windows and the porch. The south tower and south aisle are of the 15th century, The north colonnade of the nave and south porch are 18th century. During the 1867 enlargement of the nave and north porch the Dorset County Chronicle reported that the church was built of flint and Ridgeway stone. (JT)

The porch. For commentary see below. Photo: PS.

On the left side of the porch the walls are ashlar of Ridgeway stone (white) and Ham Hill Stone (brown/orange). The window and door frames are of Ham Hill Stone. The Ridgeway stone is Lower Purbeck Cypris Freestone which formed in shallow fresh or brackish water, and contains many ostracods, that can only be seen with a hand lens.(PS). The chancel roof is slate with two courses of Purbeck stone at the verge.

St. Mary’s Church. Photo: JT

St. Mary’s chancel. Photo: JT

A On the south-facing corner of the chancel the Ham Hill Stone and Ridgeway stone are banded. The south central tower is in shadow on the left of the photo. Photo: PS

Ridgeway stone and Ham Hill Stone are mixed in the southern Tower walls. The window mullions are of Portland stone, also from the Ridgeway. Photo: PS

St. Mary’s on left of porch. Photo: JT

The war memorial cross in Piddlehinton is of Ham Hill Stone, an iron- rich shelly limestone from Ham Hill in Montacute, Somerset. Photo: PS

A block of Ridgeway stone has several dates and letters carved into it. Photo: PS