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Holy Cross, Weston Bampfylde, Somerset

Location
(51°1′19″N, 2°33′21″W)
Weston Bampfylde
ST 611 249
pre-1974 traditional (England and Wales) Somerset
now Somerset
medieval Wells
now Bath & Wells
  • Robin Downes
  • Robin Downes
5 Dec 2005

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Feature Sets
Description

Weston Bampfylde lies 5 miles SSW of Castle Cary in S Cadbury, Somerset. Its name derives from the medieval owners of the manor. The church of Holy Cross is centrally located in the village at a height of 50m OD; its octagonal tower is architecturally significant. The church of Holy Cross is built of local grey lias stone cut and squared, with Ham stone dressings and consists of a W tower, nave with NW vestry, S porch and chancel. The present building dates from the 13thc., but the font is stylistically Romanesque.

History

There are three entries for Weston Bampfylde in DB; the first manor was held by Beorhtwig in 1066 and by the Count of Mortain in 1086. The second manor was held in 1086 by Turstin FitzRolf with the larger part added to Turstin's manor of North Cadbury, a smaller element with Alwine as a tenant in 1086 and as owner in 1066 was not held as part of North Cadbury.

Features

Furnishings

Fonts

Comments/Opinions

This is one of many churches in the region where the font appears to pre-date the rest of the building. However, it is described as 'possibly 12thc' in the listing text, which leaves some room for uncertainty. Given the presence of what appears to be claw-tooling on the inside surface of the font, it could be of Transitional date (ie. c.1200 or so) and therefore roughly contemporary with the church's construction.

Bibliography
  1. F. Arnold-Forster, Studies in Church Dedications (London, 1899), III, 301.

P. Connor, Weston Bampfylde (Weston Bampfylde, 1979).

Historic England listing 1243568.

N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England: South and West Somerset (Harmondsworth, 1958), 340.

M. Siraut et al. (eds), Victoria County History of Somerset Vol XI (London, 2015), 200-215.