TYNEHAM

St. Mary

This church is deconsecrated and houses a museum of the village of Tyneham, which is now part the Lulworth firing range.  Nevertheless, it is one of only two buildings left intact by the army, who have sensitively restored it.

This incredibly beautiful area was evacuated in 1943 and nobody has been able to live there since.  However, it is open to the public on most weekends of the year and makes an exceedingly interesting visit.

The church itself is in the plan of a Greek cross with parts of the nave and north transept medieval.  It is otherwise Victorian with a Gothic south transept built before 1852 by the Bond family who lived nearby in the now wrecked Tyneham House.  One of the family was the incumbent for 57 years until his death, aged 95, in 1852.

The original 17c pulpit is now at Bovingdon army camp and the plate at Kimmeridge.