The best MTB trails around Hinton

Visitor centre not very well signposted

Most people who pass by such a war memorial commemorating the victims will not have experienced the horrors of war firsthand. A dialogue invented by the writer Paul Harding might help. It is from a medieval detective novel, and the following exchange takes place: "Tell me, brother, when you went to war in France with your little brother, were you happy?" Athelstan felt his heart leap. "Of course." He smiled thinly. "I was young then. My blood was boiling, and I longed for great adventures." "And when you found your brother dead and cold as ice on the battlefield and returned to England... what was there?" Athelstan looked out into the courtyard; it was slowly getting dark. "In the Gospel, Sir John, Christ says that at the end of the world, the heavens will shake, and the planets will fall to earth in blazing fire." Athelstan closed his eyes. He felt Francis's spirit very clearly. "When I found my brother dead in the field," he continued, "it was like heaven falling to earth for me." (Source: "The House of the Red Butcher" by Paul Harding)

A church at Tarrant Keyneston is known to have existed as early as the 14th century, with the first known rector recorded in 1317.

"bastard graves" refers to the table tombs in the churchyard of All Saints' Church in Tarrant Keyneston, Dorset, specifically those of the Bastard and Barfoot families. These tombs are Grade II listed monuments and are a significant part of the churchyard's history. The "Bastard" part of the name comes from the fact that the notable architects Thomas Bastard (d. 1731) and John Bastard (d. 1778) were buried in these tombs, along with other members of their family. The tombs are known to have been rebuilt after the Blandford fire of 1731.

* On the north wall, there are more fragmentary paintings, including depictions of St Michael weighing souls and St Christopher carrying the Christ Child. * A 13th-century painting in the chancel features a simple masonry pattern with a flower stencil. * There is also a 14th-century depiction of the Annunciation.

Medieval Wall Paintings: One of the most significant features of St Mary the Virgin is its extensive and relatively well-preserved 14th-century wall paintings that cover much of the nave. These paintings were intended to instruct and inspire parishioners.    * Scenes include the life of St Margaret of Antioch (said to have been swallowed by a dragon).    * A morality tale depicting three animated skeletons warning three princes about the emptiness of earthly wealth.

Queen Joan of Scotland: Another notable figure associated with the Abbey and church is Queen Joan, daughter of King John and wife of Alexander II of Scotland. She was also buried at Tarrant Crawford shortly after Bishop Poore's death, and her reputed coffin lid is also found in the church. Architecture and Features: * Dating and Materials: The church's chancel dates to the 12th century, with the nave and tower having 13th-century elements. The upper part of the tower and the porch are 15th-century, and the nave roof is early 16th-century. The construction primarily uses flint, with dressings of Upper Greensand, Tertiary heathstone, and Wardour Portland white oolite.

Abbey Origins: The church was likely a lay chapel to Tarrant Abbey, which was founded in the late 11th century by Ralph de Kahaines and refounded in 1228 (or 1230/1233) as a Cistercian nunnery by Bishop Richard Poore. * Bishop Richard Poore: A prominent figure, Bishop Richard Poore was baptized in Tarrant Crawford and went on to become Bishop of Chichester, Salisbury, and Durham. He is credited with planning and building Salisbury Cathedral from 1219. He was buried in Tarrant Crawford in 1237, and his coffin lid, made of Purbeck Marble and bearing a cross, is still within the church.