The best walks and hikes around Woodlands

If you enjoy a bit of architectural time-travel with a spooky twist, Knowlton Church & EarthworksClick to open side panel for more information is one of the most atmospheric spots in Dorset. It is essentially a "history sandwich" where a 12th-century Christian church was built directly inside a much older Neolithic henge. The Ultimate Mash-up: It is a rare example of "reusing" a sacred site. The Normans built their church right in the middle of a pagan ceremonial circle, creating a visual timeline that spans thousands of years. Ghostly Vibes: Because of its lonely location and ruined state, it is a legendary hotspot for local ghost stories. Whether you believe in the "Face in the Window" or not, the silence of the surrounding fields makes it feel incredibly mysterious. The Henge High-Ground: You can still walk along the massive circular earthwork banks. From the top, you get a great view of the ruined flint walls of the church standing defiantly in the center of the ring. Picnic with the Past: Unlike many tourist spots, it is completely open and free to wander. It’s a perfect place to spread a blanket, grab a sandwich, and wonder what the original builders were thinking 4,000 years ago.

St. Giles Church is known for its numerous monuments, particularly those dedicated to the Earls of Shaftesbury. Sir Anthony Ashley's Tomb: A historic highlight is the spectacular gilded tomb of Sir Anthony Ashley, dating to 1628. The tomb features intricate classical columns and symbolism. A curious detail is a sphere at his feet, which has been the subject of various theories, including that it represents a globe, a jewel, or even a cabbage. Ashley-Cooper Family Memorials: The church houses several other memorials to the Ashley-Cooper family, including tombs for the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 7th, and 9th Earls. The 1st Earl's memorial includes a bust by Rysbrack, and the 3rd Earl's is a grand wall monument by Scheemakers. Crusader Effigy: There is a much-restored 14th-century effigy of a crusading knight, believed to be Sir John de Plecy. Comper's Work: The interior is almost entirely a result of Sir Ninian Comper's restoration. This includes the highly decorated screen separating the nave and chancel, new stained glass windows, and the gilded tester over the altar.

19th-Century Gothic Revival: In the 19th century, the church was remodeled twice. The most significant work was in 1887, a Gothic Revival-style memorial to the 8th Earl of Shaftesbury. The 1908 Fire and Comper's Restoration: A catastrophic fire in 1908 destroyed most of the church's interior, leaving only the walls standing. The 9th Earl of Shaftesbury commissioned the renowned Gothic Revival architect Sir Ninian Comper to restore and rebuild the church. Comper's work, completed between 1908 and 1910, is considered one of his masterpieces. He kept the 18th-century external walls but completely redesigned the interior, adding a new north aisle and a lady chapel. His intricate work, including stained glass, a wooden screen, and numerous sculptures, makes the church a "treasure-house of Comper work," as described by Sir John Betjeman.

St. Giles Church is the parish church for the village of Wimborne St Giles in Dorset. It has a rich and complex history, marked by several rebuilds, a major fire, and the patronage of the Ashley-Cooper family, the Earls of Shaftesbury. The church's origins date back to at least the 13th century, with the first recorded rector in 1207. The current building is a fascinating mix of architectural styles due to its turbulent history. 18th-Century Georgian: The church was almost entirely rebuilt in 1732 by the Dorset architects John and William Bastard, who were also responsible for much of the reconstruction of the town of Blandford Forum after a fire. The exterior of the church, with its greensand and flint walls, still largely reflects this Early Georgian design.

Knowlton Circles/earthworks The henge enclosing Knowlton Church is only one of three henges (known as Knowlton Circles) and associated earthworks. However, Church Henge is the best preserved, and is maintained by English Heritage. Nearby is Great Barrow, the largest round barrow in Dorset. Aerial photographs reveal a large number of ploughed-out barrows in the immediate vicinity.

The Paranormal occurrences of Knowlton Chruch Today, despite the picturesque surroundings, a certain aura of melancholy hangs heavy over the site and the spirits of some who have passed this way in the last 4,000 years are still said to linger here. A phantom horse and rider are said to gallop across the site in the dead of night. They then proceed to pass straight through the church as though it wasn’t there. Elsewhere, a ghostly face has been witnessed peering from the top window of the tower. Then there is the shade of a weeping woman, whom some accounts describe as a nun, that has been seen kneeling outside the church, although what sin or transgression she is trying to purge herself of is not known. Paranormal groups investigating the site have found themselves enveloped in swirling white mists and have heard ethereal voices chattering around them, although no source of for voices can ever be traced. A lady and her two children who were visiting the site during daylight hours were startled by a tall figure dressed in black that suddenly appeared from nowhere. It proceeded to walk right across their path and then promptly vanished. Others have reported sightings of the same figure in the dead of night and have commented on a truly menacing aura that seems to emanate from it.

Knowlton Church is a ruined building of unknown dedication standing near the centre of Church Henge. The earliest parts of the building are the 12th-century chancel and nave and there are 15th and 18th century additions and alterations. The church was in use in 1550, however lack of use led to calls to demolish it in 1659. But it saw a revival after this time, and a north aisle was built in 1730. Later in the 18th century the roof fell in and the church was abandoned.[2] The church is a Grade II* listed building. The nearby Victorian-built Church of the Ascension at Woodlands has a 12th-century circular stone font originally from Knowlton Church. Early Christian activity at Knowlton is indicated by a mid-to-late Anglo-Saxon inhumation cemetery which was discovered to the east of Church Henge in 1958. Excavations located sixteen burials within chalk-cut graves, some aligned east-west. Knowlton is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086–87 as Chenoltone. Winfrith Newburgh, East or West Lulworth, "Wintreborne" and Knowlton were held by King William; they were previously held by King Edward. The Domesday Book also records two hides of the land of the Count of Mortain in Knowlton, named as Chenoltune in the book, held by Ansgar, which was held by Æthelmær in the time of King Edward. This land paid geld, was enough for one plough with one slave and one bordar, a mill paying 12s6d, and was worth 25s. The site of the ancient village of Knowlton (as opposed to the present day hamlet) is located 500 metres west of Knowlton Church along Lumber Lane at the banks of the River Allen. There is little to be seen on the ground, but aerial photos do show the village layout.

For the small size of the village and church, it has numerous monuments, mostly dedicated to the various Earls of Shaftesbury. These monuments are a small fraction of what the church previously contained, many were destroyed by the fire of 1908 and the rest were severely damaged. The surviving monuments, much restored by Comper, include a reconstructed 14th century effigy of a knight, the memorials to the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Earls of Shaftesbury, the Shaftesbury family pew, and the Ashley Monument. The Ashley Monument is a large and ornate memorial to Sir Anthony Ashley, grandfather to the 1st Earl, who provided much of the money to have the church rebuilt in the 17th century. The monument, much damaged in the fire, was extensively restored by Comper and as such has been described as "a riot of colour, unmatched in Dorset".[10] The memorial, which includes effigies of Anthony and his wife, also features a hexagonal orb. This orb has alluded many researchers as to its purpose, with various theories proposed, including that it represents a cabbage. Anthony was believed by diarist John Evely to have introduced the now-common vegetable to England. There is also a Georgian font, located underneath the western gallery. The font, which survives almost unaltered, was built by the Bastard brothers in 1732. It is a strapwork marble font, topped by an ornate gilded cover in the shape of a steeple, again by Comper.