Church of St Mary

CHURCH OF ST MARY, MAIN STREET

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1305327
Date first listed:
14-Jul-1955
List Entry Name:
Church of St Mary
Statutory Address:
CHURCH OF ST MARY, MAIN STREET
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Location

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Date:
2002-08-26
Reference:
IOE01/07270/01
Rights:
© Mr Alan Fitzgerald. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1305327
Date first listed:
14-Jul-1955
List Entry Name:
Church of St Mary
Statutory Address 1:
CHURCH OF ST MARY, MAIN STREET

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
CHURCH OF ST MARY, MAIN STREET

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
Dorset (Unitary Authority)
Parish:
Iwerne Courtney or Shroton
National Grid Reference:
ST8598912424

Details

ST 8512 IWERNE COURTNEY OR SHROTON MAIN STREET
(West Side)
11/102
14-7-55 Church of St Mary
GV
I

Church, C14 chancel, C15 tower, nave, north aisle, south chapel and general
remodelling. C17 south aisle and south porch 1871, chancel remodelled 1872,
vestry late C19/early C20. 1610 work for Sir Thomas Freke. Greensand ashlar
walls with tiled roofs having end stone copings with C17 finials. Moulded
cornice. Plan: nave, chancel, north aisle, south aisle and chapel. west tower,
north vestry. Tower: 3 stages separated by weathered strings diagonal
buttresses to first stage has corner pilaster strips; pointed 2-light west
window with stopped labels, rectangular loops to north and south second stage;
2-light, pointed belfrey windows with stopped labels. North aisle and south
chapel windows are C17 of 3 graduated lancets under a pointed head with returned
labels, that to the south aisle is aC19 copy. North and south chancel walls
have C14 2-light windows with ogee quatrefoils. C14 pointed door to south
chancel wall. East chancel window of 3-lights with rose tracery. South
porch has diagonal buttresses and pointed arch.

Interior: North aisle has C17, 3 bay, segmented pointed arcade on piers with
4 attached shafts separated by a continuous hollow chamfer. The chancel arch
and arch from south chapel to nave are of a similar form. The C19,2 bay
south arcade has pointed arches and pier with 4 attached shafts. The tower
arch is pointed of 3 straight chamfered orders the outermost of which is continuous
and inner two of which die into flat jambs Roofs to nave and north and south
aisles are C19 ribbed barrel vaults of semi-circular profile. Those to the nave
and south aisle have carved bosses and the nave roof has carved angles at the
springing point of the ribs. The south chapel has a 3-bay arch-braced collar
beam roof with carved bosses. The chancel has a 2-bay, arch braced collar
beam roof with king post and struts. There are carved bosses and the
wall plate bears paterae. The principals spring from C19 foliage carved corbels.
North aisle partitioned with C17 screen to form Freke chapel. Screen has 2
levels of panelling over which is a range of colonnettes with open lattice
work. Above is an enriched entablature with carved heads surmounted by a
strapwork cresting. C19 piscina. C19 terracotta reredos to the design of Lady Baker.
Octagonal font, probably C12 but retoolled C17; C17, C18 and C19 monuments and
floor slabs notably that to Sir Thomas Freke and his wife Elizabeth, 1633. This
has open segmental pediment, sculptured pediment and carved putti, angels, doves
etc. Other fittings and furnishings largely Cl9. The church is an interesting
example of C17 Gothic work with affinities with the chapel at Higher Melcombe
House, also for Sir Thomas Freke. It is, however, stylistically unlike the
series of C17 north Dorset Churches including Folke, Ryme Intrinsica and
Leweston (RCHM Dorset, vol III, p 126/7, no 1 Newman and Pevsner N. The Buildings
of England: Dorset, Penguin 19?2j p 236/7).


Listing NGR: ST8598912424

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
103190
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Inventory of Dorset, (1970)
Pevsner, N, Newman, J, The Buildings of England: Dorset, (1972), 236-237

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Church of St Mary

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 10-Jun-2026 at 09:14:15.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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