Christchurch Priory

Saturday
Before leaving the Dorchester area to head up to Bristol, we decided to visit the town of Christchurch, notably the Priory. Reputedly the longest parish church in England, with a nave 311 feet long, the current building dates back to 1094. However, a church has stood on this spot for 1300 years. Building work on the church occurred in stages, the last major components being the west tower, complete about 1480, by which time the priory was part of a traditional monastic complex also including cloisters and various subsidiary buildings, on the south side. All these were demolished after the 1539 Dissolution of the Monasteries, but fortunately the church was spared. We didn’t get to spend quite as long as we’d have liked, as there was some event about to take place - I’m guessing a wedding - and so we were asked to leave. However, as you can see, I managed to get a few shots in the meantime. Having seen the priory, we went for a walk along the river, and then a walk in town, stopping for a coffee and a bite to eat. We continued our journey to Bristol, arriving late afternoon. We were staying in a hotel on the dockside.