Listed Building record MDO9381 - Church of Saint John, Tolpuddle

Parish church. The church was built in the twelfth century and enlarged in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The building was restored in 1855, to plans by the architect T H Wyatt.

Parish Church of St. John, Tolpuddle built of rubble and flint with ashlar dressings has an early 12th century nave which still retains the south doorway of that date. The remainder of the church consists of additions made between the 13th and 16th centuries with restorations of 1855 and 1885. (see plan for details). The church is notable for the 12th century carved effigy of Philip, a priest. <2>

The tympanum over the South doorway is a plain semi-circle as is that over the North doorway. Both early C12th. <5>

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1983, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1983, 152 (Serial). SDO83.

Le Pard, Gordon, 1998, Medieval sundials in Dorset. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society 119, 70 Fig 1.10, 83 (Article in serial). SDO21411.

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1902 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 79079449) St. John's Church (NAT)

<2> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 288-289 (Monograph). SDO136.

<3> Newman, J, and Pevsner, N, 1972, The Buildings of England: Dorset, 426 (Monograph). SWX1290.

<4> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1985, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1984, 13, 20 (Serial). SDO84.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 454922 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

May 1 2025 12:28PM