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

The Parish

The parish of Tarrant Rawston lies in eastern Dorset roughly 4 miles east of the market town of Blandford Forum. Tarrant Rawston sits a little under a mile north of the B3082 road which links Blandford Forum with Wimborne Minster. Tarrant Rawston is one of a number of tiny villages lining the valley of a chalk stream, The Tarrant, that grants its name to them. Tarrant Rawston. itself, is little more than hamlet consisting of a farmstead, church and a handful of cottages sitting on the Tarrant's western banks. The stream's valley gave rich grazing which supported cattle whilst on the surrounding Downs sheep were the main focus. Tarrant Rawston is drained southwards by The Tarrant which soon meets the Stour and turning east, the Stour eventually reaches the nearby English Channel through Christchurch Harbour. Tarrant Rawston is sited at around 45 metres above the sea, outside the valley rolling downland rises to local high spots of 105 metres on nearby Keynston Down. Tarrant Rawston parish was one of the smaller in its county, covering only 696 acres within which it would only have supported a population of around 50 parishioners. Tarrant Rawston is not mentioned in Domesday Book.

The Church

St Mary's church was declared redundant by the Church of England but remains a private chapel with limited public access. From the main lane following The Tarrant one passes through the farm building to find the former church to the rear. This small church is largely a product of the Decorated style's era of the early 14th century, this simple church of flint & stone was extended in the 16th century by the addition of both northern and southern transeptal chapels of a hipped-roof style. Restoration came early to St Mary being largely the work of 18th century Georgians rather than the typical Victorian work. As the church is now private visits should be from the roadside whilst also making good use of the farm shop at the neighbouring farm.