Turner's Puddle

Turners Puddle Holy Trinity Church
© Kim Parker 2010

Turner's Puddle (also known as Toner's Puddle or Piddle) is a hamlet situated on the River Piddle in the Purbeck district, four miles North-North-West of Wool and seven miles North-West by West of Wareham. In the Domesday Book it appeared simply as "Pidele" from an Old English river-name meaning a marsh or fen, acquiring the manorial addition of "Toner" from the 13th century onwards in honour of Henry Toner, a redoubtable knight in the service of King Edward I. By the 19th century, the name of the village had evolved to Turners Puddle and the manor had passed to the Frampton family. At that time the parish consisted of 1,983 acres, with 19 dwellings and a population of 111. Today the village is an oasis of tranquillity with a handful of picturesque cottages along a narrow country lane and a population of 60 (2001 Census).

Holy Trinity Church, situated close to the river, is a predominantly sixteenth century structure built of flint and limestone rubble. The church underwent a tasteful restoration in the 18th century, after part of the tower and the roof blew off in a storm in 1758. Originally the tower housed two bells, a treble cast by Thomas Hey in the mid-fourteenth century and a tenor cast by Clement Tosier of the Salisbury Foundry in 1691. In the 19th century, the parish was united with that of neighbouring Affpuddle and the church was eventually closed. Various artefacts from Holy Trinity, including its late 12th century font, can now be found in the Church of St. Lawrence at Affpuddle. Meanwhile, the churchyard has been reclaimed by nature and is carpeted by wild flowers – snowdrops in late winter, bluebells in early spring, celandine in late spring and cow parsley in early summer.

Turners Puddle Holy Trinity Church
© Kim Parker 2010

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