Winterborne St Martinalias Martinstown |
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Winterborne St Martin is a tranquil village situated some
7 miles from the coast at Weymouth and 4 miles south-west of Dorchester, beside pre-
historic Maiden Castle. The name is derived from the winter stream that runs through
the village between the road and the cottages and from the dedication of the church.
Originally there appear to have been three settlements in the parish: Martinstown in
the centre, Ashton in the east and Rew in the west. |
Like the Romans, once the Normans had conquered England they built
monumental religious edifices. The Parish church of St Martin (above) sits in the centre of
Martinstown village. The original building was 12th century, but was refashioned in the
perpendicular style when the tower was added in the 15th century and finally 'restored'
in 1905. Inside there is a square Norman font (c1125) of Purbeck marble. A Chantry was
founded here in 1367, probably in the north aisle where the Lady Chapel is now sited.
There are the remains of a Jacobean pulpit, cut down from its original three decks, and
a very rare George II hatchment (died 1760). The 18th century bells were sold to defray
debts, but after a hundred years of silence, chimes rang out again in 1947 when five
new bells were hung in memory of the war dead. |
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Census |
1841 Census [Mari Viertel] 1841 Census [Wanda Garrett] 1851 Census John Ridout] 1861 Census [Wanda Garrett] 1871 Census [Wanda Garrett] 1891 Census 1901 Census |
Parish Registers |
Baptisms
1653-1812 [Kim Parker] Marriages 1655-1812 [Kim Parker] Burials 1653-1812 [Kim Parker] |
Trade & Postal Directories | |
Other Records |
Militia List 1756 [Caryl
Parsons] Martinstown Village Website [External] |
Photographs | Church Photographs [Interior] [Jan Hibberd] |
Monumental Inscriptions | |
Maps | |
Records held at the Dorset History Centre |
Registers Christenings 1653-1992. Marriages 1655-1671, 1677-1998. Burials 1653-1672, 1679-1992. |
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