Church Of St Martin

The Church of St Martin is a building with a history spanning from the pre-Conquest period, likely the 11th century, with substantial alterations and additions through the 16th and 18th centuries, and a restoration in 1935-6. Constructed primarily of Purbeck rubble with long and short quoins, the roof is covered in pitched Purbeck stone slates.

The church’s principal features include a semi-circular chancel arch with a roll-moulded soffit and a half-circular hood mould, which may originally have extended to ground level. The north arcade originally featured four detached Purbeck shafts, which were replaced in the 18th century by a single pier with four attached polygonal shafts at the corners. The responds have two detached Purbeck shafts with crocket capitals, and semi-circular arches. A south window in the nave, dating to approximately 1330, has two lights with cusped reticulated tracery. The south tower has saddleback roofs, bearing a 1712 inscription over the south door, reading "Richard Coole Edward Benet Chorch Ward Ans 1712."

Significant wall paintings are present, with remarkable 12th-century paintings on the north wall of the chancel, alongside 13th-century painted decoration on the north wall of the chancel and the chancel arch. Visible also are 16th and 17th century black letter biblical text, and 15th century painted decoration on the east wall of the chancel. A 16th/17th century black letter inscription citing Romans and portions of the Decalogue are on the east wall of the nave, alongside 15th century painted decoration. An achievement of Royal Arms and another Decalogue (dated 1713) overlie these earlier features. The north arcade bears a painted inscription commemorating Mr Robert Carruthers (1799) and his family. A fragment of a 15th century black letter inscription appears on the west wall, and a painted Creed, dating to the early 18th century, is on the south wall. The church also contains an effigy of T.E. Lawrence, sculpted by Eric Kennington. The church is situated within a group context with the Lord Nelson Public House and number 54.