England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
West Knighton St Peter

The Parish

The parish of West Knighton lies in southern Dorset not too far from its English Channel coast. West Knighton is located about 4 miles southeast of the county town of Dorchester. West Knighton is a mid-sized village which lies just under a mile north of the A352 road which connects Dorchester through to Wareham. West Knighton sits midway between the broad valley of the River Frome and the higher chalk downland fringing the Dorset coastline but sits on poor soils rich in chalk and gravel, despite these disadvantages it was largely an arable farming community. In recent times it has grown with a few modern developments given its proximity to Dorchester. West Knighton is drained westwards by a tributary of the Frome which is joined to the west of Wool, the latter reaching the English Channel through Poole Harbour. West Knighton is sited at around 60 metres above the sea but land rises steadily onto the chalk hills to the south reaching close to 160 metres on White Horse Hill. West Knighton parish was fairly typically sized for its area, if somewhat unusually shaped being formed into an inverted "Y" shape with two southern-ward extensions from the main body, it covered close to 2,200 acres and would have supported a population of just over 250 parishioners. In Domesday Book West Knighton was a small place held directly by the King and offering just 3 ploughs as well as the usual meadows and pastures.

The Church

St Peter's church sits at the heart of the village just to the east of the loop of lanes that runs to and from the village from the A352.The church has its origins at the turn of 12th into 13th century when Norman Romanesque style was being replaced by the Early English Gothic. The chancel arch, often the earliest part of the main build, dates from the late 12th century and shows the former style whilst much else, albeit subject to later changes, shows the Early English Gothic and was built in the 13th century. Lancet windows characteristic of that period occur throughout the building in the western tower and in the transepts in particular. That western tower received a major rebuild in the 14th century with a Perpendicular style top added or replacing the original. A further restoration, by the Victorians, occurred in 1894 to result in today's church. The street is narrow but there is a small parking area to the east of the site, the church is an elevated position relative to the road, the churchyard banked by a local stone wall is entered through an archway over a flight of steps. Whilst the churchyard is relatively tight to the church the better views are often from outwith the churchyard.