St. Mary's Church, Puddletown (Lead Author : SA)

St. Mary’s Church in Puddletown (SY7587 9435) started as a Norman building, but has been altered and enlarged several times. The fabric is therefore of a mixture of stones. The predominant stones are the Lower Purbeck Cypris Freestones from the Ridgeway quarries, Poxwell being nearest, and flint which would be available from the Chalk fields to the north of the river Piddle (or Trent). There are occasional blocks of Portland Freestone, an ‘orange’ slab that could be Corallian limestone, (see below) and a sarsen at the base of the north side of the tower.

“Orange” highly fossiliferous Corallian block in west side of porch. Photo: IH

A Roman villa was excavated on the northern hill leading down to the River Piddle in 2014, and it is probable that stone from the villa has been used in the church. It has certainly been used in Waterston Manor, within sight of the villa. Only the foundations and piles of roof tiles remain in the villa.

Puddletown church tower from the south side showing some Heathstone (dark brown), Ham Hill Stone (at top of turret but mostly flint) ,Purbeck Cypris Freestone and some Portland Stone. Photo: IH

Photograph showing tower and illustrating the stages of its building using different stone in each phase. Photo: IH

Porch from the east showing roof of Purbeck stone and some blocks of Corallian sandstone( yellow). Photo: IH

The bulk of the wall is Purbeck Cypris mainly, but the darker pieces are probably Ham Hill Stone, as well as the window and the parapet. Photo: IH

Detail of Ham Hill Stone effigies in the Martin Tomb. (the oldest in the church). Photo: IH

View of whole Church from the north. Photo: IH

The tower also includes brick, and the arrangement of the stones shows clearly the three stages in which it was built. Ham Hill Stone from Somerset  has also been used outside in the window tracery as well as inside. The interior has a south chapel with magnificent tombs that are made of alabaster, Purbeck Marble and Caen stone (see below). These are the Martin tombs, the Martin family having owned Puddletown and Athelhampton for centuries. The oldest tombs are of Ham Hill Stone.

The Chapel with an alabaster tomb in centre.The upper tomb in the corner is Caen Stone whilst the lower is Ham Hill Stone. Photo: JT.

Interior of Puddletown church showing the use of Ham Hill Stone. Photo: IH

Close-up of Sarsens in base of tower plus brick, Purbeck Cypris Freestone. Photo: IH

Use of carved stone from elsewhere in the fabric of the wall. Mainly Purbeck Cypris Freestone whilst the darker pieces are Ham Hill Stone. Photo: IH

View of church from the south side showing clerestory with Ham Hill Stone and the buttress of Portland Stone is on the south transept, which is otherwise known as the south chapel. Photo: IH

Alabaster effigy with Purbeck Marble in the Martin chapel,Puddletown church. Photo: IH

Norman Font of Caen Stone and floor tiles of Purbeck stone. Photo: IH.