England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Burton Bradstock St Mary

The Parish

The Church

St Mary's church stands towards the southeast of the village, very close to the course of the Bride, at the junction of Church Street and Mill Street. Most churches show a plethora of ages as they change and mutate over the centuries, St Mary is an exception with the majority of the church limited to a short period corresponding totally with the period when Perpendicular styling was the vogue. It is perhaps tenable that the church was largely built in a single phase beginning with the nave in the late 14th century. The transepts and central tower completed this phase in the early 15th century. The only significant change came in the following, 16th, century when the chancel was rebuilt again utilising the same styling. There matters rested until 1894 when a 3-year period of restoration in typical Victorian fashion began. Besides restoring and refreshing the church the restoration replaced the southern aisle in a manner characteristic of its architect (E. S. Prior) who had done similar work at nearby Bothenhampton. Church Street is well-used by locals and visitors for on-street parking outside the churchyard which is walled in the local limestone topped in post and rail fencing. The church is rather cramped from the south and, in particular, the west but has fine views from the north, sunny days are best avoided until the evening.