English Heritage sites near Moreton Parish
JORDAN HILL ROMAN TEMPLE
8 miles from Moreton Parish
The foundations of a 4th century Romano-Celtic temple with fine coastal views.
MAIDEN CASTLE
8 miles from Moreton Parish
Among the largest and most complex of Iron Age hillforts in Europe, Maiden Castle’s huge multiple ramparts enclose an area the size of 50 football pitches and once protected hundreds of residents.
THE NINE STONES
12 miles from Moreton Parish
Now in a wooded glade, this small prehistoric circle of nine standing stones was constructed around 4,000 years ago and is surrounded by a mysterious air. Winterbourne Poor Lot Barrows are nearby.
PORTLAND CASTLE
12 miles from Moreton Parish
Built by Henry VIII to defend England, the castle also played a part in the First and Second World Wars. Attractions include the Tudor kitchen, great hall, gardens, sea views, tearooms and audio tour.
WINTERBOURNE POOR LOT BARROWS
13 miles from Moreton Parish
A 'cemetery' of 44 Bronze Age burial mounds of varying types and sizes, straddling the A35 main road.
KINGSTON RUSSELL STONE CIRCLE
14 miles from Moreton Parish
A late Neolithic or early Bronze Age circle of 18 fallen stones, on a hilltop overlooking Abbotsbury and the sea.
Churches in Moreton Parish
Moreton: St Nicholas
Moreton
Dorchester
0843 886 8668
http://www.stnicholasmoreton.org.uk
The church is open daily from 9am to 6pm (4pm in Winter).
Our main web site is http://www.stnicholasmoreton.org.uk
Our church contains the Unique Art of Sir Laurence Whistler.
People come from all over the world to see the amazing engraved glass windows by Sir Laurence Whistler, and the grave of Lawrence of Arabia in the churchyard.
On entering the church there is an immediate sense of unexpected light.
In 1940 a bomb blew out the Church’s north wall and windows: restora-tion took 10 years. Laurence Whistler, a new glass engraver, was com-missioned to design the apse windows. He completed 30 years’ work in 1990: uniquely, Moreton has all its 12 windows engraved.
The apse windows were engraved in London to Whistler’s design, on one side of the glass only. Each outer panel shows lit candle flames bearing towards the central dove, and the middle panel has emblems of the passion. He himself engraved on both sides of the glass to create the three dimensional effect - see the Four Seasons Window (1974); the Trinity Chapel Window (1982) in memory of an RAF pilot; and the Gal-axy Window above the west door (1984) with a spiral galaxy between Alpha and Omega containing stars turning into flowers, space walkers, chromosomes & sheaves of corn.
Whistler donated a 13th window, The Forgiveness Window, which was installed in 2014 after being display for many years in Dorchester Muse-um.
Lawrence of Arabia’s burial place is in the church graveyard: Lieutenant-Colonel T E Lawrence, C.B., D.S.O., was a British Army officer renowned especially for his liaison role during the Arab revolt against Ottoman Turkish rule of 1916–18. The extraordinary breadth and variety of his activities and associations, along with his ability to describe them vividly in writing, earned him international fame as Lawrence of Arabia. In 1935, he was killed whilst living at Clouds Hill. His funeral was held in Moreton Church, among dignitaries including Mr & Mrs Winston Churchill, Bernard Shaw and Augustus John.
Also in our picturesque village are many walks, the River Frome, a free entry garden and two tearooms, which all combine to make a unique village day out in Dorset that should not be missed!
Pubs in Moreton Parish
Frampton Arms
Hurst Road, Moreton, DT2 8BB
(01305) 852253
framptonarms.co.uk/