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

The Parish

The parish of Charminster lies in southern central Dorset roughly 2 miles northwest of the county town of Dorchester. Charminster sits on and mostly east of the A352 road which links Dorchester through to Sherborne. Charminster has grown in recent times, the original village sat entirely west of the River Cerne but nowadays a larger modern development lies to the east of the river. Charminster was a crossroads village with the A352 forming its north to south axis and the majority of properties sitting either side or eastwards to the parish church on West Hill. Charminster's position on the banks of the Cerne gave it a mixed economy, away from the river what were once extensive sheep runs on the chalk downs became much more arable in recent times, the riverside pastures were lusher and suitable for cattle, in addition the power provided by the river powered several mills to grind the barley needed by Dorchester's brewing trade. Today there is a much more commuter-lead employment with both Dorchester and the nearby coastal towns a source of employment. Charminster is drained by the Cerne for only a short distance before it reaches the Frome, here water turns eastwards to pass through Wareham and into Poole Harbour and the English Channel. Charminster is sited at around 70 metres at the Cerne's bridge rising to almost 90 metres in the newer developments to the east, land rises onto classic chalk downland to the northeast reaching 169 metres on nearby Charlton High Down and 171 metres to the west on Knowle Hill in rolling countryside. Charminster parish was extensive, covering almost 4,100 acres it would have supported a population of close to 800 parishioners. Even by Domesday times Charminster was just large enough to make it into the top 20% by population, held by the Bishop of Salisbury the manor offered 1o ploughs, meadows, pastures & woodland and there was already a mill.

The Church

St Mary's church stands almost on the banks of the River Cerne on the northern side of West Hill. Whilst the church today has ancient fabric it is not the earliest recorded version on the site, there is believed to have been a Saxon minster before today's church. Nevertheless the core of the church, its substantial nave is early Norman with Pevsner estimating its date of construction as c1100, the early stonework is seen best in the eastern wall. During the 12th century and in the Norman Romanesque style aisle arcades were added which show the characteristic round piers with square abaci. Pevsner speculates that the clerestory may actually precede these arcades as its windows differ from those of the arcades. Matters rested from the late 12th century through to the end of the 14th when Perpendicular styling became fashionable and capital from the wool trade gave merchants the means to finance new build. The late 14th century saw the southern aisle widened and extended into a chantry chapel for one such benefactor, the local Trenchard family. It was, however, around 1600 that Sir Thomas Trenchard finance the construction of the impressive western tower in 3-stages and complete with an embattled parapet and gargoyles, the two vestries and the southern porch were also added in this period. Pevsner records 3 periods of 19th century work, in 1837 the northern aisle was expanded outwards shortly followed in 1838 by the demolishing and rebuilding of the chancel, a more general restoration was completed in 1895. West Hill is used for local parking for the church but is narrow so consideration is required. Apart from scattered trees in the northeastern quadrant there are no significant obstacles for the photographer.