MANSTON

St. Nicholas

St. Nicholas is another of Dorset's churches that is rather hidden away and one needs to know roughly where it is in order to find it.  The building is found via a private drive that leads past a lodge to Manston House, which looks early 19c, but is actually a reconstruction of 1857.

Outside, the church, which is part of a manorial group with the house, is difficult to photograph properly because it is impossible to get far enough away to capture the whole building.  The impressive tower was built in 1534 and the nave of 14c has an attractive barrel roof and 17c windows.  There is a most intriguing organ in white with exposed pipes. 

There is a family (Hanham) mausoleum complete with a cupola, outside, also built in 1857.  Captain Hanham carried out cremations of relatives and was himself cremated in 1883, although there is some doubt as to whether this was actually legal at the time!