Tarrant Crawford

Tarrant Crawford is a small village at the end of the Tarrant Valley in Dorset, England. It is mainly a farm with a few houses. OS maps show it at the position of Tarrant Abbey, an even smaller village with only three houses. Although still part of the farm, it is referred to by the locals as a separate village. It is famous for its cross that reads -

"THIS WAYSIDE CROSS WAS RESTORED & SET ON NEW STEPS ON THE OLD SITE BY MANY FRIENDS OF TARRANT CRAWFORD ANNO DOM MDCCCCXIV"

Tarrant Abbey Farm was in medieval times the site of Tarrant Abbey, founded in the 12th century by Ralph de Kahaines (of nearby Tarrant Keyneston) as a Cistercian nunnery, later supposedly the richest in England.

Two famous people are associated with the abbey. The first is Queen Joan, the wife of Alexander II of Scotland and daughter of King John of England (Richard I's brother and successor) who is buried in the grave yard (supposedly in a golden coffin). The second is Bishop Richard Poore, builder of Salisbury Cathedral, who was baptised in the abbey church and later (in 1237) buried in the abbey, which he founded. He was at one time Dean of the old cathedral at Old Sarum, and later became bishop of first Chichester, then Salisbury and finally Durham.

The 1881 census says - No. of households/schedules 11, Uninhabited houses 0, Males 31, Females 30, Total 61

St Mary's church

Saint Mary's Church, near Tarrant Abbey Farm, is known for its 13th and 14th century wall paintings, many of which are in a remarkable state of preservation.

References

• Miller, Alan. Monasteries of Dorset. Albemarle Books 1999. ISBN 0-9535263-0-5

External links

Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Tarrant_Crawford Tarrant Crawford] at Wikimedia Commons

• Personal interest site with information about Tarrant Crawford
• Photographs and Information on St Mary's Church etc. from Strolling Guides