Church Heritage Record 634223

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Core DetailsLocationBuildingInteriorChurchyardSignificanceEnvironmentForumAudit

Charborough: St Mary

Name:

This is the church’s legal name as given by the Church Commissioners.

Charborough: St Mary
Record Type:

A classification of the current status of the building

Closed Church
Church code:

This is a unique identification number supplied to each church building by the Church Commissioners.

634223
Diocese:

Name of diocese in which the church building is located at the time of entry.

Salisbury
Archdeaconry:

Name of archdeaconry in which the church building is located at the time of entry

Unattached or Closed Church
Parish:

This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.

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Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?

The decision to put a church building on the National Heritage List for England and assign it a listing grade is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is normally based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on the historic environment.

This is a Grade II* Listed Building
View more information about this Listed Building on the National Heritage List for England web site
Scheduled Monument?

The decision to schedule a feature (building, monument, archaeological remains, etc.) located within the church building’s precinct or churchyard is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on cultural heritage.

There is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

National Parks are areas of countryside that include villages and towns, which are protected because of their beautiful countryside, wildlife and cultural heritage. In England, National Parks are designated by Natural England, the government’s advisor on the natural environment.

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Conservation Area

Conservation areas are places of special architectural or historic interest where it is desirable to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of such areas. Conservation Areas are designated by the Local Council.

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Heritage At Risk Status

On Heritage At Risk Register?

The Heritage at Risk programme is run and managed by Historic England, the government’s advisor on cultural heritage. It aims to protect and manage the historic environment, so that the number of ‘at risk’ historic places and sites across England are reduced.

This church is not on the Heritage at Risk Register
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Approximate Date

Approximate Date:

Selecting a single date for the construction of a church building can sometimes be very difficult as most CoE buildings have seen many phases of development over time. The CHR allows you to record a time period rather than a specific date.

The CHR records the time period for the building’s predominant fabric as opposed to the date of the earliest fabric or the church’s foundation date.

Post Medieval

Exterior Image

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Summary Description

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The mediaeval church here was rebuilt by Thomas Erle Drax in 1775, as an inscription on the west gable records. In 1837, as a tablet inside the church records, the building was remodelled by John Sawbridge Erle Drax who put on a new roof, installed new glass and filled the church with fittings incorporating many continental wood carvings.

Visiting and Facilities

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The church is closed for worship.
Date closed for worship:
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Church Website

Church Website:

www.holytrinitylyonsdown.org.uk

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Sources and Further Information

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
James Miles (2018) Closed Churches [Digital Archive/Data]
Historic England (2021) Heritage List https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1120553 [Bibliography/Index]
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/

If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: SY 925 978

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Administrative Area

County:

The administrative area within which the church is located.

Dorset County

Location and Setting

This field describes the setting of the church building, i.e. the surroundings in which the church building is experienced, and whether or not it makes a positive or negative contribution to the significance of the building.

Charborough House lies amidst an extensive park south of the A31 about halfway between Wimborne Minster and Bere Regis in the south-east part of the county. The main front of the house faces north-east across the rolling park planted with fine stands of trees and populated by herds of deer. The entrance is on the north-west side. The church, which is more or less orientated, stands on a grassy slope thirty yards behind the house and is approached across lawns dotted with fine trees and shrubs.

Church Plan

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Ground Plan Description and Dimensions

Ground Plan

Provide as written description of the ground plan of the church building and well as its dimensions.

Simply a rectangle with nave and chancel under one roof. At the west end a small open porch shelters the only door and on the gable is a small bell-cote.

Dimensions

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Footprint of Church buildings (m2):

Small (<199m2)

Medium (200-599m2)

Large (600m-999m2)

Very Large (>1000m2)

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Description of Archaeology and History

This field aims to record the archaeological potential of the wider area around the building and churchyard, as well as the history of site.

The mediaeval church here was rebuilt by Thomas Erle Drax in 1775, as an inscription on the west gable records. In 1837, as a tablet inside the church records, the building was remodelled by John Sawbridge Erle Drax who put on a new roof, installed new glass and filled the church with fittings incorporating many continental wood carvings. No architect is known for either stage of the building's history.

Exterior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the exterior of the church building and the churchyard.

Charborough church is a small but interesting example of a late Georgian church in the romantic gothic taste of the period. Its tall, narrow proportions are combined with a use of classical forms dressed in gothic details, and the smooth stucco walls give the appearance of a model made of cardboard. The chancel and nave are under one roof and are externally divided into two equal bays by pilaster strips. Similar pilasters occur at the east and west angles and the moulded base of the parapet extends round them to give an almost wholly clasical feeling to the framework of the building. Each bays is pierced by a single two light window (the cusped Y-tracery probably of 1837) and there is a plain plinth at the base of the walls. The parapets have recessed quatrefoils in each merlon and these also appear on the square blocks which form the bases of octagonal pinnacles at each corner of the building. The east gable is capped by a similar pinnacle and the west gable has a much larger pinnacle of the same spire-like design rising above a bell-stage of tiny dimensions with a plain arch in each face. The east and west walls ere pierced by three-light windows within continuous hollow mouldings, with tracery which clearly dates from 1837.

In the apex of the west gable is a recessed stone roundel with the inscription "This Chapel was Rebuilt in the Year of Our Lord 1775", and both the east and west gables have moulded cornices giving almost the effect of open pediments. Below the west window there is an open porch, square on plan, with a quatrefoil pillar at each corner and an embattled parapet within which is a flat lead roof. The spandrels of four-centred arches on each side are recessed and the paving under the porch is continued all round the church.

Architects, Artists and Associated People/Organisations

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Building Fabric and Features

This field is an index of the building and its major components

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Collapse Building Fabric and FeaturesBuilding Fabric and Features
STAINED GLASS (1837)
STAINED GLASS (1837)
STAINED GLASS (1837)

Building Materials

This field is an index of the building’s material composition

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Interior Image

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Interior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the interior of the church building.

The atmosphere of the interior is almost entirely the result of the fittings with which it is filled, for the architecture is very simple. The floor is paved with stone flags set squarely in the western part but diagonally beyond a step roughly halfway towards the east end. The entrance to a burial vault is by the pulpit. Within the sanctuary, marked by another step, the floor is of black and white marble paviours. The walls are plastered and lined out to resemble ashlar and in their simplicity (without any ornament round the windows or doorway, for example) form an ideal background for the carved furnishings and family monuments. The east and west windows are filled with stained glass of 1837 and the roof was also renewed at this time. It is divided into twency-one bays by moulded rafters, the spaces between being boarded and subdivided by two plain purlins into three rows of panels each enriched by a central boss carved with foliage or a fret. On alternative rafters are applied twenty coloured shields of arms giving the various bearings of the Ernle Erle Drax family and its marriages with other families (a complete list is given by the Royal Commission). There are two iron ties spanning the church.

Internal Fixtures and Fittings

This field is an index of the building’s internal, architectural components. This includes its internal spaces and those areas’ fixtures and fittings (building components which are securely fixed to the church or cathedral).

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Collapse Internal Fixtures and FittingsInternal Fixtures and Fittings
ALTAR
LECTERN
PULPIT (1837)
RAIL (Mid 17th Century)
REREDOS (c.17th Century)

Portable Furnishings and Artworks

This field is an index of the building’s movable, non-fixed furnishings and artworks.

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If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: SY 925 978

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Ecology

This field aims to record a description of the ecology of the churchyard and surrounding setting.

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Ecological Designations

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The everyday wildlife of burial grounds means much to those who visit and cherish them but many burial grounds are so rich in wildlife that they should be designated and specially protected. Few have the legal protection of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or, in the case of local authority owned cemeteries, Local Nature Reserve. This makes it even more important that they are cared for and protected by the people looking after them.

Many have a non-statutory designation as a recognition of their importance. These non-statutory designations have a variety of names in different regions including Local Wildlife Site, County Wildlife Site, Site of Importance for Nature Conservation or Site of Nature Conservation Importance (Local Wildlife Site is the most common name). Their selection is based on records of the most important, distinctive and threatened species and habitats within a national, regional and local context. This makes them some of our most valuable wildlife areas.

For example, many burial grounds which are designated as Local Wildlife Sites contain species-rich meadow, rich in wildflowers, native grasses and grassland fungi managed by only occasional mowing plus raking. When this is the case, many animals may be present too, insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. This type of grassland was once widespread and has been almost entirely lost from the UK with approximately 3% remaining, so burial grounds with species-rich meadow managed in this way are extremely important for wildlife.

These designations should be considered when planning management or change.

If you think that this or any other burial ground should be designated please contact Caring for God’s Acre (info@cfga.org.uk) to discuss. Many eligible sites have not yet received a designation and can be surveyed and then submitted for consideration.

There are no SSSIs within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

There are no Local nature reserves within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

There are no Local Wildlife sites within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

Evidence of the Presence of Bats

This field aims to record any evidence of the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.

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Burial and War Grave Information

This field records basic information about the presence of a churchyard and its use as a burial ground.

It is unknown whether the church or churchyard is consecrated. Work in progress - can you help?
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It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
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It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
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It is unknown whether the churchyard is closed for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
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The churchyard does not have war graves.

National Heritage List for England Designations

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There are no Listed Buildings within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

There are no Scheduled Monuments within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees

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Churchyards are home to fantastic trees, in particular ancient and veteran trees which can be the oldest indication of a sacred space and be features of extraordinary individuality. The UK holds a globally important population of ancient and veteran yew trees of which three-quarters are found in the churchyards of England and Wales.

There are more than 1,000 ancient and veteran yews aged at least 500 years in these churchyards.

To put this in context, the only other part of western Europe with a known significant yew population is Normandy in northern France, where more than 100 ancient or veteran churchyard yews have been recorded.

Burial grounds may contain veteran and ancient trees of other species such as sweet chestnut or small-leaved lime which, whilst maybe not so old as the yews, are still important for wildlife and may be home to many other species.

Specialist advice is needed when managing these wonderful trees. For more information or to seek advice please contact Caring for God’s Acre, The Ancient Yew Group and The Woodland Trust.

If you know of an ancient or veteran tree in a burial ground that is not listed here please contact Caring for God’s Acre.

There are currently no Ancient, Veteran or Notable trees connected to this Closed Church

Churchyard Structures

This field is an index of the churchyard’s components.

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Significance

Setting Significance Level:

Significance is the whole set of reasons why people value a church, whether as a place for worship and mission, as an historic building that is part of the national heritage, as a focus for the local community, as a familiar landmark or for any other reasons.

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Setting Significance Description:
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Fabric Significance Level:
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Fabric Significance Description:
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Interior Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
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Interior Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
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Community Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
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Community Significance Description:
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Church Renewables

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Open the map of church renewable installations
Solar PV Panels:

This information forms part of the Shrinking the Footprint project.

No
Solar Thermal Panels:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Bio Mass:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Air Source Heat Pump:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Ground Source Heat Pump:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Wind Turbine:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
EV Car Charging:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Unknown

Species Summary

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All of the species listed below have been recorded in close proximity to the Closed Church . A few species which are particularly threatened and affected by disturbance may not be listed here because their exact location cannot be shared.

NOTE: Be aware that this dataset is growing, and the species totals may change once the National Biodiversity Network has added further records. Species may be present but not recorded and still await discovery.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.

To learn more about all of the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.

‘Seek Advice’ Species

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If any of the following species have been seen close to the Closed Church, it is important to seek advice from an expert. You will need to know if they are present now, and to follow expert recommendations when planning works. All of these species have specific legal protection as a recognition of their rarity. All of them are rare or becoming increasingly endangered, so it is important to ensure that management and other works do not adversely affect them. In addition, there may be things you can do to help these special species. N.B. Swift and House Martin do not have specific legal protection but are included, as roof repair works often impact breeding swifts and house martins which is against the law.

This is not a complete list of protected species, there are many more, but these are ones that are more likely to be found. All wild birds, their nests and eggs are also protected by law, as are all bats and veteran trees. In a few cases, species are considered particularly prone to disturbance or destruction by people, so the exact location of where they were recorded is not publicly available but can be requested. These ‘blurred’ records are included here, and the accuracy is to 1km. This means that the species has been recorded in close proximity to the Closed Church, or a maximum of 1km away from it. As these ‘blurred’ species are quite mobile, there is a strong likelihood that they can occur close to the Closed Church. To learn about these special species, use the link provided for each species in the table below

One important species which is not included here is the Peregrine Falcon. This is protected and advice should be sought if peregrines are nesting on a church or cathedral. Peregrine records are ‘blurred’ to 10km, hence the decision not to include records here. Remember too that species not seriously threatened nationally may still be at risk in your region and be sensitive to works. You should check with local experts about this. You may also need to seek advice about invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed and aquatics colonising streams or pools, which can spread in churchyards.

N.B. If a species is not recorded this does not indicate absence. It is always good practice to survey.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre can help and support you in looking after the biodiversity present in this special place. If you know that any of these species occur close to the Closed Church and are not recorded here, please contact Caring for God’s Acre with details (info@cfga.org.uk).

To find out more about these and other species recorded against this Closed Church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas.

The church was the centre of many people’s lives and remains a guide to their cares and concerns. Glimpses into those lives have often come down to us in the stories we heard as children or old photographs discovered in tattered shoe boxes. Perhaps your ancestors even made it into local legend following some fantastic event? You can choose to share those memories with others and record them for future generations on this Forum.

Tell us the story of this building through the lives of those who experienced it. Tell us why this church is important to you and your community.

Upload your photographs, share your videos, or compose your story below using a Facebook, Twitter, Google or Disqus account.

Refresh
WhoActionWhen
Oliver LackModified asset data - Modified the Approximate DateFri 10 Mar 2023 12:08:05
Oliver LackModified asset data - Modified the Summary DescriptionFri 10 Mar 2023 12:08:01
Oliver LackAdded interior feature typeFri 10 Mar 2023 12:06:20
Oliver LackAdded fabric typeFri 10 Mar 2023 12:03:16
Oliver LackAdded fabric typeFri 10 Mar 2023 12:02:33
Oliver LackAdded fabric typeFri 10 Mar 2023 12:02:12
Oliver LackAdded interior feature typeFri 10 Mar 2023 11:59:00
Oliver LackAdded interior feature typeFri 10 Mar 2023 11:58:42
Oliver LackAdded interior feature typeFri 10 Mar 2023 11:57:55
Oliver LackAdded interior feature typeFri 10 Mar 2023 11:57:16
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