Shroton (St. Mary)

St. Mary's Church, Shroton (Iwerne Courney), Dorset (2021)

Perpendicular tower, much of the rest being rebuilt in 'Gothic survival' style by Sir Thomas Freke in 1610. His monument can be found in the north chapel (Freke Chapel), described by Pevsner as, "too large for the church and especially for the chapel in which it stands." Slightly extended (south aisle) in the 1870s, when the chancel was also reordered (including a new terracotta reredos). The church interior has been reordered recently (2012), with new stone flooring and adjustable seating.

In August 1645, Shroton church was used as an impromptu prison for several hundred Clubmen captured by Oliver Cromwell's troops after their defeat on nearby Hambledon Hill.

Sources:

Michael Hill, John Newman, and Nikolaus Pevsner, The buildings of England: Dorset. New Haven, CT. and London: Yale University Press, 2018, pp. 330-331.
John Hutchins, The history and antiquities of the County of Dorset, 3rd ed., edited by William Shipp and James Whitworth Hodson, Westminster: J.B. Nichols and Sons, 1861-1873.
Arthur Mee, ed., Dorset: Thomas Hardy's country. The King's England. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1939, pp. 226-227.
John Newman and Nikolaus Pevsner, The buildings of England: Dorset. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1972, pp. 236-237.
Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), An inventory of historical monuments in the County of Dorset, Vol. 3, Central Dorset. London: HMSO, 1970, pt. 1, pp. 126-127.
Old Dorset Historic Churches Trust page; via Internet Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20071027003118/http://www.dorsethistoricchurchestrust.co.uk/iwerne_courtney.htm
Current Dorset Historic Churches Trust page: https://www.dhct.org.uk/m/church.php?ref=180f2aed2adaae019a4fae93ad373836
Church of England page: http://www.achurchnearyou.com/iwerne-courtney-or-shroton-st-mary/

Bells:

6, 9-2-25 in G.

St. Mary's Church, Shroton (Iwerne Courtney), Dorset (2013)

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Maintained by Michael Day, Last updated: 22 July 2022.