Worle is a setlement in N Somerset adjacent to Weston-super-Mare. Although it predates its famous neighbour by many centuries, it is now hardly distinguishable from the Weston conurbation. The church of St Martin stands, with remnants of the village, on the fairly steep S flank of Milton Hill (limestone and a westerly extension of the Mendips), at about 16m above sea-level at the junction between Keuper Marl and Goblin Combe Oolite. There is quite a fine view S from the church across to Bleadon Hill. St Martin's church consists of nave, N aisle, chancel, S porch and W tower. It is believed to have been built in 1125 and rebuilt during the 14thc and 15thc, with major restoration and extension work in 1870. It apparently incorporates misericords from Woodspring Priory. The Romanesque elements include the S doorway, a reset window in the S porch, a corbel at the SW corner of the nave and a possible font.

Asgar held the manor in 1066; in 1086 it was held by Walter of Douai. Accoding to Aston and Costen, Worle seems to have been part of the Banwell parochia.

Font

The font is described as 'octagonal Norman' in the official listing text, although this seems very unlikely. There are no typical Romanesque sculptural motifs such as round-headed interlaced or blank arcading or rope-edge carving, nor any characteristic parallel tooling marks. Indeed, it may well be closer in date to 1400 than 1100 (the font at Ivychurch, Kent is broadly similar in appearance but is dated to the 15thc). Readers are urged to exercise caution before assuming that this font is any earlier in date.

S doorway

The scallop shield details on the W side of the S doorway resemble the roundels favoured by Roger of Salisbury and his school of masons, and found at Old Sarum and Malmesbury Abbey, Wiltshire; St Nicholas, Kenilworth, Warwickshire; Lullington, Somerset; Portchester Priory, Hampshire; Bishop Alexander of Lincoln’s castle at Newark, Nottinghamshire; Llandaff and Hereford Cathedrals and Forthampton, Gloucestershire. Stalley attributes the distribution of these roundels to the family and political connections of Bishop Roger of Salisbury.

The work on the E capital looks not so happy: not enough room has been left for complete rings at the mouths on either face. The W face of the E capital is arguably spoilt by an unsuccessful (and possibly misjudged) attempt to interlink the (incomplete) beaded rings.

The arch of the second order and the hoodmould look like minimalist replacements of possibly decorated originals - though the form of the hoodmould is exactly the same as the abaci below.

The size of the shaft rolls and the presence of central rings on the bases instead of the usual Romanesque scotia are reminiscent of the Anglo-Saxon style of column bases. It is a notable feature worthy of further consideration.