Winterborne Tomson is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Anderson, in the Dorset, district, in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England.[1] In 1931 the parish had a population of 35.[2] On 1 April 1933 the parish was abolished and merged with Anderson.[3]

Winterborne Tomson
Interior of St Andrew's Church at Winterborne Tomson
Winterborne Tomson is located in Dorset
Winterborne Tomson
Winterborne Tomson
Location within Dorset
Civil parish
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
List of places
UK
England
Dorset
50°46′34″N 2°09′54″W / 50.776°N 2.165°W / 50.776; -2.165

Overview

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The first name of "Winterborne" comes from the River Winterborne, which flows from west to east through the village.[4] The river only flows overground during the winter, hence the name. To the west is Anderson and to the east is Winterborne Zelston. The river flows through both these villages as well.[5]

St Andrew's Church

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Exterior view of St Andrew's Church at Winterborne Tomson.

This former parish church is named after St Andrew. It is a small twelfth century building, with flint and rubble stone walls and a chamfered plinth. The roof is tiled with stone eaves courses, and there is a small timber bell-cote at the west end. The oak door is heavily studded. Inside it has a vaulted roof, white-washed walls and a flag-stoned floor. There is a late medieval gallery with a panelled front at the west end. The box pews are eighteenth century, as are the other furnishings of the church which were given by Archbishop William Wake (1657–1737) of Canterbury.[6] According to Nikolaus Pevsner, it is "a gem of a village church, sufficiently different from others to arrest attention."[7] The church is a Grade I listed building. It fell into disrepair in the early twentieth century and was declared a redundant church, being placed in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust,[8] on 1 June 1972, and was vested in the Trust two years later.[9]

Tomson Farmhouse

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Tomson Farmhouse at Winterborne Tomson.

The picturesque stone Tomson Farmhouse dates from the early 17th century and is Grade II* listed. According to Pevsner, it is a building of "real architectural interest." The building is probably copied from Winterborne Clenston Manor.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Newman & Pevsner, pages 486–488
  2. ^ "Population statistics Winterborne Tomson CP/AP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Blandford Registration District". UKBMD. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Walking the River Winterborne" (pdf). www.dorsetaonb.org.uk. Dorset: Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 24 April 2009. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  5. ^ "Dorchester, Weymouth and surrounding area" (Map). Landranger 194. Ordnance Survey.
  6. ^ Newman & Pevsner, pages 28–29.
  7. ^ Newman & Pevsner, page 486
  8. ^ "St Andrew's Church, Winterborne Tomson, Dorset". Churches Conservation Trust. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  9. ^ Diocese of Salisbury: All Schemes (PDF), Church Commissioners/Statistics, Church of England, 2011, p. 12, retrieved 25 August 2016
  10. ^ Newman & Pevsner, page 487

Bibliography

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