Easy hikes and walks around Woodlands

If you enjoy a bit of architectural time-travel with a spooky twist, Knowlton Church & EarthworksClick to open side panel for more information is one of the most atmospheric spots in Dorset. It is essentially a "history sandwich" where a 12th-century Christian church was built directly inside a much older Neolithic henge. The Ultimate Mash-up: It is a rare example of "reusing" a sacred site. The Normans built their church right in the middle of a pagan ceremonial circle, creating a visual timeline that spans thousands of years. Ghostly Vibes: Because of its lonely location and ruined state, it is a legendary hotspot for local ghost stories. Whether you believe in the "Face in the Window" or not, the silence of the surrounding fields makes it feel incredibly mysterious. The Henge High-Ground: You can still walk along the massive circular earthwork banks. From the top, you get a great view of the ruined flint walls of the church standing defiantly in the center of the ring. Picnic with the Past: Unlike many tourist spots, it is completely open and free to wander. It’s a perfect place to spread a blanket, grab a sandwich, and wonder what the original builders were thinking 4,000 years ago.

nice stopping off point, too the many bridleways and tracks in this area..

Knowlton Circles/earthworks The henge enclosing Knowlton Church is only one of three henges (known as Knowlton Circles) and associated earthworks. However, Church Henge is the best preserved, and is maintained by English Heritage. Nearby is Great Barrow, the largest round barrow in Dorset. Aerial photographs reveal a large number of ploughed-out barrows in the immediate vicinity.

The Paranormal occurrences of Knowlton Chruch Today, despite the picturesque surroundings, a certain aura of melancholy hangs heavy over the site and the spirits of some who have passed this way in the last 4,000 years are still said to linger here. A phantom horse and rider are said to gallop across the site in the dead of night. They then proceed to pass straight through the church as though it wasn’t there. Elsewhere, a ghostly face has been witnessed peering from the top window of the tower. Then there is the shade of a weeping woman, whom some accounts describe as a nun, that has been seen kneeling outside the church, although what sin or transgression she is trying to purge herself of is not known. Paranormal groups investigating the site have found themselves enveloped in swirling white mists and have heard ethereal voices chattering around them, although no source of for voices can ever be traced. A lady and her two children who were visiting the site during daylight hours were startled by a tall figure dressed in black that suddenly appeared from nowhere. It proceeded to walk right across their path and then promptly vanished. Others have reported sightings of the same figure in the dead of night and have commented on a truly menacing aura that seems to emanate from it.

Knowlton Church is a ruined building of unknown dedication standing near the centre of Church Henge. The earliest parts of the building are the 12th-century chancel and nave and there are 15th and 18th century additions and alterations. The church was in use in 1550, however lack of use led to calls to demolish it in 1659. But it saw a revival after this time, and a north aisle was built in 1730. Later in the 18th century the roof fell in and the church was abandoned.[2] The church is a Grade II* listed building. The nearby Victorian-built Church of the Ascension at Woodlands has a 12th-century circular stone font originally from Knowlton Church. Early Christian activity at Knowlton is indicated by a mid-to-late Anglo-Saxon inhumation cemetery which was discovered to the east of Church Henge in 1958. Excavations located sixteen burials within chalk-cut graves, some aligned east-west. Knowlton is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086–87 as Chenoltone. Winfrith Newburgh, East or West Lulworth, "Wintreborne" and Knowlton were held by King William; they were previously held by King Edward. The Domesday Book also records two hides of the land of the Count of Mortain in Knowlton, named as Chenoltune in the book, held by Ansgar, which was held by Æthelmær in the time of King Edward. This land paid geld, was enough for one plough with one slave and one bordar, a mill paying 12s6d, and was worth 25s. The site of the ancient village of Knowlton (as opposed to the present day hamlet) is located 500 metres west of Knowlton Church along Lumber Lane at the banks of the River Allen. There is little to be seen on the ground, but aerial photos do show the village layout.

This hand operated water pump was "The Gift of W.H.Carter AD 1909". The pump is located on the edge of the village and does not now pump water.

In the year 1401 the Parish Church of Horton was built upon the site of the Priory Church. It appears to have consisted of Chancel, North Transept and Nave. It was dedicated to Saint Wolfrida in honour of Wolfrida, once abbess of Horton Abbey. By 1720 the once fine church had, through misuse and neglect, been reduced to a ruinous state. What part of it remained appeared to be very ancient and a part of the original Priory Church. In 1722 it was almost totally rebuilt. THE TOWER with five bells which stood between the body and the chancel was pulled down, and all but one of the bells, together with other materials of the old building, were disposed of to pay for the restoration, and the present tower was built. The remaining one bell is inscribed; :Love God - 1684”. The architecture of the present tower is interesting. Professor H.V. Colvin has drawn attention to the fact that the general design, and especially the pointed roof and heavy cornice, bear a remarkable resemblance to the plans drawn by the famous 18th century architect Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726) for the unfinished Eastbury Manor House at Tarrant Gunville. The resemblance is so striking and so numerous that it leads to the conclusion that the tower of Horton Church was designed by the famous Vanbrugh, or else the tower was built by a master-mason who worked under Vanbrugh and had therefore imbibed much of his master’s style. Memorials which have survived are two grave slabs on the South side “without altar rails”. One, the inscription of which is almost unreadable, has, according to the historian John Hutchins, the words :-“Here liveth the body of Mr Daniel Debreau, minister of this Parish, who departs this life October 15th, aged 84 years, 1719”. The other grave slab is to a young woman aged 23, Ann Hopper; it bears the inscription;- “Here liveth interred the body of Ann Hopper, daughter and cohere of Mr Thomas Hopper, and Ann his wife, of the parish of St Botolph, Bishopsgate, London, who departed this life the 7th of April AD. 1680 acetate 23” THE CLOCK is the work of J Smith & Sons of Derby, it was a gift of Mr W.J Carter (who also gave the Village Pump) and was placed in the tower in 1900.

Verwood is a relatively small town in East Dorset, which is famous for the potteries which used the local clays. At the height of the town's pottery industry, there were over 30 kilns, however the last commercial pottery closed in 1952.