West Knighton

St Peter's Church, West Knighton
© Kim Parker 2010

West Knighton is only 3 miles from Dorchester, but being situated well away from the main road, it is blessed with rustic tranquillity. John Hutchins, in his “History and Antiquities of Dorset”, made the romantic assertion that West Knighton was named for the Knights Templar or Hospitaller who held land in the parish from the late 13^th century, including at the now vanished hamlet of Friar’s Mayne, where they established a preceptory. However, an analysis of the name of the village through the ages reveals that ‘Knighton’ is a corruption of ‘Chenistetone’ – which is how it was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 and which is from the Old English for ‘farm of the thanes’.

At nearby Little Mayne, another hamlet within the parish, there was once a circle of megalithic stones said to be similar to those at Avebury, but sadly it was destroyed by an 18th century landowner by the name of Talbot – although some of the stones themselves have recently been dug up. There was a free chapel at Little Mayne dedicated to St. Stephen, which was in use until the end of the 15th century. Its bell was later removed to Fordington.

St. Peter’s Church sits on a raised mound opposite Manor Farm, which possibly explains the presence of an elaborate boot-scraper built into the wall lining the steps that lead up to it. Despite many alterations over the centuries, the Norman origins of the building are still very much in evidence, including the east window and the arch separating the chancel from the nave. High up above the level of the rafters on the nave side of the arch is a worn painting, known of old as “the crusader’s shield”. Symbolising God as light by rays of sunshine eminating from the centre, there is a triangle representing the Trinity superimposed, framing the name “Jehovah” written in Hebrew. The crusader theme is echoed in the stained glass windows, mostly of 19th and early 20th century origin, which depict scenes such as King Richard Lionheart asking that his sword be blessed and the works of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller.

In 1893 the Church again underwent a restoration, this time under the direction of Thomas Hardy, who was working simultaneously as an architect and novelist. Hardy approached the work with great care and he was responsible for replacing the gallery at the west end of the nave, new tracery in two windows in the north wall of the nave and a completely new window in the tower. Whilst engaged in this work, he was also writing his last published novel, ‘Jude the Obscure’, whose hero is a stonemason.

Old School House, West Knighton
© Kim Parker 2010

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West Knighton Cottages
© Kim Parker 2010

Disused Granary, West Knighton
© Kim Parker 2010

Old School House, West Knighton
© Kim Parker 2010