Parish church [7]

Image: © Michael Dibb Taken: 10 Dec 2020

The churchyard wall to the west and south of the church is probably 19th century. It may have medieval origins as it includes many fragments of medieval masonry. Built in a mix of rubble, flint and ashlar with stone coping and ashlar buttresses. Listed, grade II, with details at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1110190 Built on the site of an earlier Saxon church, the Normans began building the present parish church of St Mary about 1100. Described by Historic England as ‘a building of considerable archaeological complexity’, there are parts from the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. Constructed in ashlar, banded flint and ashlar, chequer work flint and squared rubble with ashlar dressings. Restored in 1870 and 1880 at which time the height of the 13th century tower was considerably reduced. Inside is a 15th century font and a 17th century pulpit. Listed, grade I, with details at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1110192 Iwerne Minster is a small village on the edge of the Blackmore Vale, about 5 miles south of Shaftesbury and the same distance north of Blandford Forum. The village is within the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Down Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There is evidence of occupation since prehistoric times. The River Iwerne flows from a spring in the middle of the village. The original Minister is now St Mary's Church and was built by the Normans on the site of an earlier church.

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