Knowlton, Dorset

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Knowlton
Knowlton church dorset march2008.JPG
Knowlton Church
Dorset UK location map.svg
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Knowlton
Location within Dorset
OS grid reference SU022103
Civil parish
District
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town WIMBORNE
Postcode district BH21 5AE
Police Dorset
Fire Dorset and Wiltshire
Ambulance South Western
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Dorset
50°53′31″N1°58′03″W / 50.891972°N 1.967389°W / 50.891972; -1.967389 Coordinates: 50°53′31″N1°58′03″W / 50.891972°N 1.967389°W / 50.891972; -1.967389

Knowlton is a hamlet in the civil parish of Woodlands, Dorset, England. It is about 6 miles north of town Wimborne Minster, and about 1 mile south of the village of Wimborne St Giles. Its most recognizable features are a ruined Norman church built within a neolithic henge monument.

Contents

Knowlton Circles

The henge enclosing Knowlton Church is only one of three henges (known as Knowlton Circles) and associated earthworks. However, Church Henge is the best preserved, and is maintained by English Heritage. [1] Nearby is Great Barrow, the largest round barrow in Dorset. Aerial photographs reveal a large number of ploughed-out barrows in the immediate vicinity.

Knowlton Church

Knowlton Church is a ruined building of unknown dedication standing near the centre of Church Henge. The earliest parts of the building are the 12th-century chancel and nave and there are 15th and 18th century additions and alterations. [2] The church was in use in 1550, however lack of use led to calls to demolish it in 1659. [2] But it saw a revival after this time, and a north aisle was built in 1730. Later in the 18th century the roof fell in and the church was abandoned. [2] The church is a Grade II* listed building. [3] The nearby Victorian-built Church of the Ascension at Woodlands has a 12th-century circular stone font originally from Knowlton Church. [2]

History of Knowlton

Early Christian activity at Knowlton is indicated by a mid-to-late Anglo-Saxon inhumation cemetery which was discovered to the east of Church Henge in 1958. [4] Excavations located sixteen burials within chalk-cut graves, some aligned east-west. [4]

Knowlton is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086–87 as Chenoltone. Winfrith Newburgh, East or West Lulworth, "Wintreborne" and Knowlton were held by King William; they were previously held by King Edward. [5] The Domesday Book also records two hides of the land of the Count of Mortain in Knowlton, named as Chenoltune in the book, held by Ansgar, which was held by Æthelmær in the time of King Edward. This land paid geld, was enough for one plough with one slave and one bordar, a mill paying 12s6d, and was worth 25s. [6]

The site of the ancient village of Knowlton (as opposed to the present day hamlet) is located 500 metres west of Knowlton Church along Lumber Lane at the banks of the River Allen. [7] There is little to be seen on the ground, but aerial photos do show the village layout. [7]

Related Research Articles

Henge Type of Neolithic earthwork

There are three related types of Neolithic earthwork that are all sometimes loosely called henges. The essential characteristic of all three is that they feature a ring-shaped bank and ditch, with the ditch inside the bank. Because the internal ditches would have served defensive purposes poorly, henges are not considered to have been defensive constructions. The three henge types are as follows, with the figure in brackets being the approximate diameter of the central flat area:

  1. Henge (> 20 m). The word henge refers to a particular type of earthwork of the Neolithic period, typically consisting of a roughly circular or oval-shaped bank with an internal ditch surrounding a central flat area of more than 20 m (66 ft) in diameter. There is typically little if any evidence of occupation in a henge, although they may contain ritual structures such as stone circles, timber circles and coves. Henge monument is sometimes used as a synonym for henge. Henges sometimes, but by no means always, featured stone or timber circles, and circle henge is sometimes used to describe these structures. The three largest stone circles in Britain are each within a henge. Examples of henges without significant internal monuments are the three henges of Thornborough Henges. Although having given its name to the word henge, Stonehenge is atypical in that the ditch is outside the main earthwork bank.
  2. Hengiform monument (5 – 20 m). Like an ordinary henge, except the central flat area is between 5 and 20 m (16–66 ft) in diameter, they comprise a modest earthwork with a fairly wide outer bank. The terms Mini henge or Dorchester henge are sometimes used as synonyms for hengiform monument. An example is the Neolithic site at Wormy Hillock Henge.
  3. Henge enclosure (> 300 m). A Neolithic ring earthwork with the ditch inside the bank, with the central flat area having abundant evidence of occupation and usually being more than 300 m (980 ft) in diameter. Some true henges are as large as this, but lack evidence of domestic occupation. Super henge is sometimes used as a synonym for a henge enclosure. However, sometimes Super henge is used to indicate size alone rather than use, e.g. "Marden henge ... is the least understood of the four British 'superhenges' ".
Woodlands, Dorset Human settlement in England

Woodlands is a village and civil parish in the East Dorset district of Dorset, South-West England. It is five miles (8 km) north of Wimborne Minster. Horton Road is the main road going through the parish.

Ludgershall, Wiltshire Human settlement in England

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Leckhampstead, Berkshire Village in England

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Alkmonton Human settlement in England

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West Quantoxhead Human settlement in England

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Moggerhanger Human settlement in England

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Twyford and Stenson Human settlement in England

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Sutton Scarsdale Human settlement in England

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Brailsford Human settlement in England

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Elvaston, Derbyshire Human settlement in England

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Foremark Human settlement in England

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Fifield, Oxfordshire Human settlement in England

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Greasley Human settlement in England

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Cubley, Derbyshire Human settlement in England

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West Dean, West Sussex Human settlement in England

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Knowlton Circles

Knowlton Circles are a complex of henges and earthworks in Knowlton, Dorset, England. The henge enclosing Knowlton Church is the best known and best preserved, but there are at least two other henges in the vicinity as well as numerous round barrows.

References

  1. ↑ "Knowlton Church and Earthworks". English Heritage. 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 4 KNOWLTON CHURCH, Pastscape, retrieved 12 November 2013
  3. ↑ Historic England. "Ruins of Knowlton Church (Grade II*) (1120071)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  4. 1 2 MONUMENT NO. 213814, Pastscape, retrieved 12 November 2013
  5. ↑ Williams, Ann; G H Martin (2002). Domesday Book: A Complete Translation. London: Penguin. pp. 1367, 199. ISBN   978-0-14-143994-5.
  6. ↑ Williams, Ann; G H Martin (2002). Domesday Book: A Complete Translation. London: Penguin. pp. 1367, 212. ISBN   978-0-14-143994-5.
  7. 1 2 KNOWLTON, Pastscape, retrieved 12 November 2013
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