Parish church [3]

Image: © Michael Dibb Taken: 11 Dec 2020

This probably 19th century cross, surrounded by cast iron railings is located in the churchyard of the church of St Mary. Listed, grade II, with details at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1119089 The Anglican parish church of St Mary has fragments of the 12th century, and was rebuilt and enlarged between the 13th and 16th centuries. Restored and extended in 1910. Built in flint and rubble stone with ashlar dressings. There are some very fine monuments and furnishings from the 12th to the 17th centuries. Listed, grade I, with details at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1154532 The village of Puddletown, earlier known as Piddletown is located alongside the River Piddle some 4½ miles north east of Dorchester and is now essentially a commuter village. There is evidence of occupation from prehistoric times in the form of some 30 round barrows. The use of watermeadows in Dorset was first developed in Puddletown in the 17th century. The village was the inspiration for the fictional settlement of Weatherbury in the novel Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy.

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0