Description
Critchell-Moore, a parish in Dorsetshire, on the Roman road from Old Sarum, 6 miles SW of Cranborne, and 6 from Wimborne station on the L. & S.W.R. It includes the hamlet of Manswood, and has a post office under Wimborne ; money order and telegraph office, Witchampton. Acreage, 1991; population, 407. Critchell-Moore House is the seat of Lord Alington. The living is a rectory, united with the rectory of Long Critchell, in the diocese of Salisbury; joint net value, £174: with residence. Patron, Lord Alington. The church has monuments of the Uredales and others, and is good.
Parish Church
The church of St. Mary, situated in the north-east corner of Critchel House, is of stone in the Italian style, and was entirely rebuilt in 1850 by the late H.C. Sturt esq. at a cost of upwards of £10,000: it consists of chancel, nave and transepts, the north transept being occupied by Lord Alington's household; adjoining the vestry is the family vault of the Sturt family; there are some ancient tombs, one of which, on the north side of the chancel, is to William Cyfrewast, d. May 26, 1581: there is also a fine brass, removed from the old church, some modern brasses, stained windows, a brass choir screen, Caen stone pulpit, and a reredos of carved and gilded mahogany: the church was decorated and furnished by Lord Alington at a cost of £2,000, and affords 200 sittings.
The register dates from the year 1664.
Villages, Hamlets, &c.
Manswood, a hamlet in Critchell parish, Dorsetshire, 5 1/2 miles NNW of Wimborne Minster.
