Church of St Wolfrida is a Grade I listed building in the Dorset local planning authority area, England. First listed on 18 March 1955. Church. 2 related planning applications.

Church of St Wolfrida

WRENN ID
tangled-stronghold-yew
Grade
I
Local Planning Authority
Dorset
Constituency
Mid Dorset and North Poole MP: Vikki Slade (LD)
Country
England
Date first listed
18 March 1955
Type
Church
Address
Church of St Wolfrida, Horton, BH21 7JA
OS grid reference
SU 030 074
Coordinates
50.86651, -1.95852
Source
Historic England listing

Also on this page: sale history · EPC · related consents · flood risk · radon risk · weather exposure · detailed attributes ↓

Description

The Church of St Wolfrida is a parish church, likely originating in the 12th or 13th century, but significantly remodelled in the 18th century and restored in 1869 and around 1900. The tower's design was either by or influenced by John Vanbrugh, who was working at Eastbury Park at the same time. The church is constructed of greensand ashlar, Flemish bond brickwork, and rendered sections. The building plan includes a nave, chancel, a north transept, and a north tower. It features 18th century round-headed windows with stone keystones and impost blocks. The north tower has two stages, a pyramidal ashlar spire, a plat band at the first floor, a modillioned cornice, a north-facing clock face, and contains louvred dormers with pediments. The north doorway has a moulded segmental hood and plain pilaster architraves bearing an entablature. Internally, the chancel is accessed via an 18th century semi-circular arch with plain responds. The nave and transept have 19th century tie beam and king post roofs with braces. A barrel vault covers the chancel, and the church contains 18th century panelled oak box pews and a fielded panelled pulpit on an octagonal pedestal with 19th century cast iron steps. A carved and painted 18th century reredos is present, featuring cherub heads and an irradiated dove. In the transept are effigies of Sir Giles and Dorothy de Braose, dating to around 1300, along with various 17th century monuments.

Local climate

Church of St Wolfrida receives an average of 800 mm of rain a year. This makes it drier than 54% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is greater than that of 70% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 21 freeze-thaw cycles a year, fewer than 78% of listed buildings. Of these, 8 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.

Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.

More on this building

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  • Full EPC report — heating system, energy costs, size, glazing, construction etc.
  • Sale history — 2 transactions since 2002
  • Related listed building consents — 2 applications
  • Detailed attributes — period, style, materials, features
  • Flood risk assessment
  • Radon risk assessment
  • Weather exposure and heating demand — rain and frost month by month and year by year, wind direction, solar and humidity
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