Church of St. Mary, Puncknowle. Grade: 1. NGR: SY5350188646, Lead author: PS
Puncknowle (pronounced Punnel) is situated on the southern slopes of the Bride Valley approximately 5 miles to the east of Bridport off the B3157 coast road. The church (1a,1b) dates back to the 12th century but much was rebuilt in the 17th and 19th centuries (1891).
The chancel-arch dates from the 12th century, and the West Tower was built about the same time. The South Chapel was added in 1660, and the tower seems to have been partly rebuilt in 1678. The Chancel and Nave were largely or entirely rebuilt at various dates in the 19th century. The North Aisle was added in 1891.
The chancel-arch dates from the 12th century, and the West Tower was built about the same time. The South Chapel was added in 1660, and the tower seems to have been partly rebuilt in 1678. The Chancel and Nave were largely or entirely rebuilt at various dates in the 19th century. The North Aisle was added in 1891.
1. The church from the north- east
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2. The church from the south east
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The exterior
The walls are of coursed Forest Marble blocks, a very shelly limestone which was widely quarried in the area in the past (3a,3b). There is also Ham Hill Stone from Somerset, mainly in the windows, and Purbeck Cypris Freestone and Portland stone from quarries on the Ridgeway at Portesham, 6 miles away or Upwey 11 miles distant. A few random Corallian Osmington Oolite blocks can also be seen, also widely quarried in the area. The roof is made of Forest Marble stone slabs (3c). Click on the image to enlarge it.
The walls are of coursed Forest Marble blocks, a very shelly limestone which was widely quarried in the area in the past (3a,3b). There is also Ham Hill Stone from Somerset, mainly in the windows, and Purbeck Cypris Freestone and Portland stone from quarries on the Ridgeway at Portesham, 6 miles away or Upwey 11 miles distant. A few random Corallian Osmington Oolite blocks can also be seen, also widely quarried in the area. The roof is made of Forest Marble stone slabs (3c). Click on the image to enlarge it.
3a. Forest Marble walling
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3b. Loupe of Forest Marble
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3c. The roof
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North aisle west wall (3d)
The window is Ham Hill Stone. The stonework above window sill height is coursed regular blocks of Forest Marble. Below, several random larger blocks have been incorporated into the wall such as Forest Marble sandstone (4), Corallian Osmington Oolite (5a, 5b), Ham Hill Stone (6) and several whitish blocks, very lichen covered, which are probably Purbeck Cypris Freestone.
The window is Ham Hill Stone. The stonework above window sill height is coursed regular blocks of Forest Marble. Below, several random larger blocks have been incorporated into the wall such as Forest Marble sandstone (4), Corallian Osmington Oolite (5a, 5b), Ham Hill Stone (6) and several whitish blocks, very lichen covered, which are probably Purbeck Cypris Freestone.
3d. The west wall of the north aisle
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4. Forest Marble Sandstone
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5a. Corallian Limestone
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5b. Loupe of Corallian limestone
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6. The north wall of the north aisle
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North aisle north wall (6)
All the window masonry has either a render, masonry paint applied or is very lichen covered which has weathered back to the stone at the lower edge and sill where the stone was identified as Ham Hill Stone (7a, 7b). The voussoir was too high to be examined. The buttresses are Ham Hill Stone with Forest Marble inset. The first and second bays west have some Corallian limestone and/or and Cypris Freestone below the window level. The eastern bay has a large block of Cypris Freestone below the window (7a, 7c).
All the window masonry has either a render, masonry paint applied or is very lichen covered which has weathered back to the stone at the lower edge and sill where the stone was identified as Ham Hill Stone (7a, 7b). The voussoir was too high to be examined. The buttresses are Ham Hill Stone with Forest Marble inset. The first and second bays west have some Corallian limestone and/or and Cypris Freestone below the window level. The eastern bay has a large block of Cypris Freestone below the window (7a, 7c).
7a. North aisle window
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7b. Loupe of Ham Hill Stone
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7c. Loupe of the Cypris Freestone
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North aisle east wall (8)
This has an arch of Cypris Freestone and protruding Forest Marble stonework where an organ loft and vestry were planned but never built in the 19th century. A crack in the centre of the wall has been repaired with both Forest Marble and Ham Hill Stone.
This has an arch of Cypris Freestone and protruding Forest Marble stonework where an organ loft and vestry were planned but never built in the 19th century. A crack in the centre of the wall has been repaired with both Forest Marble and Ham Hill Stone.
8. The east wall of the north aisle
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9a. The east wall of the chancel
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9b. The south wall of the chancel
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Chancel (9a, 9b) and South Chapel (10a,10b)
The walls of the Chancel were largely rebuilt in the 17th century when the South Chapel was built. The windows and Chapel doorway (12b), both of Ham Hill Stone, are 1891 replacements. The quoin stones of the Chancel are a mix of stone (Ham Hill, Cypris Freestone and Corallian limestone).
The walls of the Chancel were largely rebuilt in the 17th century when the South Chapel was built. The windows and Chapel doorway (12b), both of Ham Hill Stone, are 1891 replacements. The quoin stones of the Chancel are a mix of stone (Ham Hill, Cypris Freestone and Corallian limestone).
10a. The south wall of the Chapel
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10b. Doorway in the south wall of the Chapel
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South wall of the Nave (11b, 11a)
Both the windows and the 18th century south doorway are heavily coated with lichen. The eastern window is 18th century and the western late 14th century. The limestone is probably Cypris Freestone. There is a replacement mullion in the 14th century window (11b) which is Cypris Freestone (11c).
Both the windows and the 18th century south doorway are heavily coated with lichen. The eastern window is 18th century and the western late 14th century. The limestone is probably Cypris Freestone. There is a replacement mullion in the 14th century window (11b) which is Cypris Freestone (11c).
11a. The south wall of the nave
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11b. 14th century window
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14c. Loupe of the Cypress Freestone in replacement mullion
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West Tower (12a,12b)
The original 12th century structure, with a stairway to the bell chamber on the south side, was partly rebuilt in 1678. It is of three storeys with a pyramidal slate roof. The Cypris Freestone doorway in the north wall is the main entrance to the church. The west window (12c) surround, mainly of Cypris Freestone, also has 2 blocks of Corallian Osmington Oolite.
The original 12th century structure, with a stairway to the bell chamber on the south side, was partly rebuilt in 1678. It is of three storeys with a pyramidal slate roof. The Cypris Freestone doorway in the north wall is the main entrance to the church. The west window (12c) surround, mainly of Cypris Freestone, also has 2 blocks of Corallian Osmington Oolite.
12a. The north side of the tower
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12b. The south side of the tower
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12c. The west window
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The interior (13)
Positive identification of the interior stone was problematic due to extensive use of whitewash. The north arcade dates to 1891 (14a, 14b).
Positive identification of the interior stone was problematic due to extensive use of whitewash. The north arcade dates to 1891 (14a, 14b).
13. View of the nave from the west
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14a. A pillar in the arcade
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14b. Loupe of the pillar stone
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The chancel arch is probably Cypris Freestone but again no positive identification was possible (15a, 15b). The blocks in the arch have diagonal hatching typical of Norman stonework. The wall above has wall paintings from the late 14th century discovered when plaster was chipped away to build the north aisle.
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Similarly, the stone in the 12th century double font could not be identified (16a, 16b, 16c). It is believed that the upturned lower font came from a chapel in West Bexington destroyed in a raid on the coast in the mid-fifteenth century.
16a. The double font
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16b. Loupe of the upper font
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16c. Loupe of the lower font
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The one item where the stone was readily identified was the late 19th century pulpit (17a, 17b) free of whitewash. The oolitic limestone is Corallian, either Todber Freestone or Osmington Oolite.
17a. The pulpit
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17b. Loupe of the Corallian limestone in the pulpit.
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In the south chapel, on the east wall is a memorial to William Napper and date 1620 (18a). The upper tablet, which has brass insets, is Purbeck Marble (18b); the lower tablet, with the inscription, is Corallian Osmington Oolite (18c).
18a. Monument to William Napper
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18b. Loupe of Purbeck Marble in the upper slab
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18c. Loupe of Osmington Oolite in the lower slab
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In the churchyard is the shaft of a 15th century cross made of Osmington Oolite (19a, 19b).
19a. The shaft of the 15th century cross.
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19b. Loupe of Osmington Oolite in the shaft.
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