Toller Fratrum
Encyclopedia
Toller Fratrum is a very small village in West Dorset
, England, near Maiden Newton
, anciently in Tollerford hundred
.
The name is taken from the village's situation on the brook formerly known as the Toller, now called the Hooke
. The addition Fratrum is the Latin
for brothers and refers to the mediaeval ownership of the manor by the Knights Hospitallers, which distinguishes it from the other Tollers, namely Toller Porcorum
and Toller Whelme. It is often referred to as Little Toller.
The village has a notable 16th century farm house, Little Toller Farm, built largely by John Samways, who acquired the estate in 1540 and later occupied by the Fulford family. The church of Saint Basil was rebuilt in the 19th century but possesses not only an unusual Norman
font
, carved with archaic figures, but also a relief
of Saint Mary Magdalene
of the same period.
West Dorset
West Dorset is a local government district and parliamentary constituency in Dorset, England. Its council is based in Dorchester. The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, and was a merger of the boroughs of Bridport, Dorchester and Lyme Regis, along with...
, England, near Maiden Newton
Maiden Newton
Maiden Newton is a village and civil parish in west Dorset, England, north of Dorchester. Located on the River Frome, the village has a population of 952 , of whom 29.7% are retired. Maiden Newton railway station, which serves the village, is situated on the Heart of Wessex Line...
, anciently in Tollerford hundred
Tollerford (hundred)
Tollerford Hundred was a hundred in the county of Dorset, England, containing the following parishes:*Chilfrome*East Chelborough*Evershot*Frome St Quintin*Frome Vauchurch*Maiden Newton*Melbury Sampford*Rampisham*Toller Fratrum*Toller Porcorum...
.
The name is taken from the village's situation on the brook formerly known as the Toller, now called the Hooke
River Hooke
The River Hooke in Dorset, England, runs from its source at Toller Whelme through the villages of Hooke, Kingcombe, Toller Porcorum, and Toller Fratrum to join the Frome at Maiden Newton, a course of some 6 miles...
. The addition Fratrum is the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for brothers and refers to the mediaeval ownership of the manor by the Knights Hospitallers, which distinguishes it from the other Tollers, namely Toller Porcorum
Toller Porcorum
Toller Porcorum is a village and civil parish in West Dorset, England, situated in the Toller valley ten miles north west of Dorchester. The village has a population of 292 ....
and Toller Whelme. It is often referred to as Little Toller.
The village has a notable 16th century farm house, Little Toller Farm, built largely by John Samways, who acquired the estate in 1540 and later occupied by the Fulford family. The church of Saint Basil was rebuilt in the 19th century but possesses not only an unusual Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
, carved with archaic figures, but also a relief
Relief
Relief is a sculptural technique. The term relief is from the Latin verb levo, to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is thus to give the impression that the sculpted material has been raised above the background plane...
of Saint Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most celebrated disciples, and the most important woman disciple in the movement of Jesus. Jesus cleansed her of "seven demons", conventionally interpreted as referring to complex illnesses...
of the same period.