Dorset Churches-St Mary's, Puddletown

This church is closely associated with Thomas Hardy, and in fact Puddletown features as Wetherbury of Hardy's novels. It was here that many of his relations worshipped and left their mark as graffiti in the church.

Dating from the late Middle Ages, the church's atmospheric interior houses a set of box pews complete with hooks for top hats, wall paintings which were whitewashed by the Puritans. There is also a wonderful group of marble tombs belonging to the the Martyns of Athelhampton, dating from the 14th century; recently the subject of an extensive renovation project.
The church door was obviously the subject of potshots in the Civil war: lead pellets were dug out of it during conservation and are on display.

Finally, hanging inconspicuously in the gloom, are two items which demonstrate the pleasing eccentricity of church contents: canvas fire buckets dating from 1805 and printed boldly with the name of their provider: Sun Insurance.