North Wootton offers two distinct starting points for planning a trip: historic architecture and a clearly named walking route. At the northern edge of the settlement are the remains of the Old Church of St Mary Magdalene and its churchyard; from there, the view extends to a tributary of The Cam. Magdalene Lodge and Chantry Cottage also offer specific historical points of reference. The route “Sherborne to North Wootten & Sherborne Park” can be assessed by its stated length. This lets you decide, before looking for a holiday rental, whether architecture or walking should play a greater part in your stay.
Church Tower and Building History
The west tower of the former parish church is all that remains of the Old Church of St Mary Magdalene. It dates from the early 15th century and has three storeys, a low pyramidal roof and diagonal buttresses on the west side. These features describe the tower in several specific ways: its structure, roofline and the shape of its supports. Together with its location on the northern edge of the settlement and the view of a tributary of The Cam, they give a clear picture of this historic site. Those interested in church architecture will find more here than a date: the tower’s surviving form is also part of the history of the former parish church.
Magdalene Lodge combines a 19th-century construction date with older architectural elements. Carpenter and Ingelow built the property in 1883; it also incorporates reused architectural elements from the 15th century. The construction date of the building and the age of these elements therefore represent different periods. Magdalene Lodge is a former parish church and is now a private house. This combination of architectural history and present-day status makes it a subject in its own right for anyone interested in historic buildings.
Chantry Cottage adds another aspect to the architectural history of the area: this private residence dates from the late 16th century. Later alterations are also part of its architectural history. When compared with the early-15th-century tower and the 15th-century elements in Magdalene Lodge, it provides a timeline spanning several centuries. The three buildings differ not only in their dates but also in their individual histories: a surviving church tower, a former parish church and a private residence.
Walk through Deer Park and the Surrounding Area
The 6.3-mile “Sherborne to North Wootten & Sherborne Park” walking route starts at the Culverhays car park. It passes through Deer Park to Haydon and North Wootton. The name, length, starting point and places mentioned give you specific information for planning this route. The distance is a useful measure for planning your day; the route also shows which places and areas it connects. Note the spelling “North Wootten” in the route name; the destination is called North Wootton.
A notice about a walk in North Wootton, published on 1 October 2020, names The Elms car park as the starting point. If you want to use this starting point, check the information locally before setting out. This way, you can account separately for the Culverhays car park information for the named 6.3-mile route and the dated reference to The Elms in your plans.
Choosing Accommodation to Match Your Travel Plans
If you are looking for a holiday rental in North Wootton, first decide what you want your stay to focus on: the historic buildings or the walk. If the named route is an important part of your plans, factor its length and its starting point at Culverhays car park into your preparations. If architectural history is your priority, the tower, Magdalene Lodge and Chantry Cottage offer different historical points of reference. Compare specific places to stay based on their stated location and conditions, so your choice suits your own travel plans.
Discover more destinations: Minchington, Iwerne Minster, Buckhorn Weston, Toller Porcorum, Dorchester, Gillingham, Shaftesbury, Marnhull
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