Church of St. Peter, Winterbourne Came. Grade: I, NGR: SY7047 388398. Lead author: PS
The church is now in the care of the Historic Churches Trust. Winterbourne Came is one of three lost villages in the immediate area all listed in the Domesday Book. These were Winterbourne Farringdon, now completely deserted, Winterborne Came, now only represented by Came House and modern estate houses, and Cripton, on the site of the present Came Home Farm.
During the early Middle Ages Winterbourne Came was part of the possessions of the Abbey of St. Etienne at Caen, of which the name Came is a corruption. Later it was one of the estates belonging to the College of St. Stephen at Westminster. During the 16th century Came was acquired by the Earl of Pembroke, and in 1561 was purchased by the Meller family in whose hands it remained until the early 18th century when it was sold to the Damer family.
Came House (1754–62) which is a private residence was built of Portland stone for John Damer by Francis Cartwright of Blandford Forum. It can only be viewed from a distance.
On the south side of the church is the grave of William Barnes the Dorset dialect poet. The headstone is a large Celtic cross (1) decorated with intertwined dragons and beasts. The cross is Portland stone (2).
During the early Middle Ages Winterbourne Came was part of the possessions of the Abbey of St. Etienne at Caen, of which the name Came is a corruption. Later it was one of the estates belonging to the College of St. Stephen at Westminster. During the 16th century Came was acquired by the Earl of Pembroke, and in 1561 was purchased by the Meller family in whose hands it remained until the early 18th century when it was sold to the Damer family.
Came House (1754–62) which is a private residence was built of Portland stone for John Damer by Francis Cartwright of Blandford Forum. It can only be viewed from a distance.
On the south side of the church is the grave of William Barnes the Dorset dialect poet. The headstone is a large Celtic cross (1) decorated with intertwined dragons and beasts. The cross is Portland stone (2).
1. The Barnes memorial
|
2. Loupe of the Portland stone in the Barnes cross
|
The exterior (3, 4)
The building stone used is almost entirely Cypris Freestone. The occasional block of Ham Hill Stone can be seen scattered in the walls. The roof is slate tiles. The 14th and 15th century windows are all of Ham Hill Stone, some considerably restored. The nave was built in the 14th century. In the early 15th century the chancel was widened. Later in the century the west tower was added and new windows inserted in the nave walls.
The building stone used is almost entirely Cypris Freestone. The occasional block of Ham Hill Stone can be seen scattered in the walls. The roof is slate tiles. The 14th and 15th century windows are all of Ham Hill Stone, some considerably restored. The nave was built in the 14th century. In the early 15th century the chancel was widened. Later in the century the west tower was added and new windows inserted in the nave walls.
3. View from the south
|
4. View from the north
|
Although the tower walls are rubble Cypris Freestone there are several blocks of Purbeck Marble in the south wall (5, 6). On the N. side is an unusual feature, a separate porch of for the access of bell ringers, added probably in the early 19th century (7). Like the 17th century north porch it is Cypris Freestone (9).
5. Purbeck Marble in the south wall of the tower
|
6. Loupe of the Purbeck Marble seen in the tower south wall
|
