Knowlton Church and Earthworks

The ruined church of Knowlton was built in the 12th century to serve a small (and now displaced) rural community of Christians. The land the church was built upon however, was believed to be used for ancient pagan ceremonial worship. These earthworks have been extensively studied by archaeologists and, more recently, by those in the field of geomancy. Ley Lines, earth energies and astronomical alignments have all been suggested as reasons as to why Knowlton remains both sacred and spiritual to people throughout the centuries. The nave and chancel of the church date to between the 12th and 15th century and many modifications have been added over the subsequent years. There are beliefs that the megaliths that once stood within the earthworks, were reused in the very fabric of the church. This could very well explain further some of the extraordinary earth energies that can be felt within the church and earthworks. In the late 15th century, the village of Knowlton succumbed to the Black Death and sadly, most of the churches congregation passed away. This left the church to fall into a state of ruin and by the 18th century, the roof had completely fallen in. Knowlton church found itself exposed to the elements which secured its decay. However, the ruin that still stands today has become an exciting location for paranormal investigators. The ruin is eerie and incredibly atmospheric on a crisp, foggy morning. and at night, a hollow shell filled with shadows. The earthworks are certainly better preserved than the poor crumbling church. Oval in shape, the earthworks (or henge) measures 350ft by 310ft. It's banks are a lofty 6ft at it's highest point, and encircle wide ditches measuring 35ft in width and 4ft in depth. The fact that the ditches are inside the banks, is what leads archaeologists to believe that the earthworks were built for ceremony rather than defence by our prehistoric ancestors. In a similar story to Stonehenge, Knowlton Henge is just part of a vast and sacred landscape full of bronze age barrows, and neolithic earthen circles. Why did early man choose this site for ritual and burials? Theories suggest solstice alignments and ley lines may very well have been contributing factors, but it seems much like the mysteries of Stonehenge and Avebury Stone Circle, we likely will never really know. In terms of hauntings, Knowlton Church and Earthworks has become a popular paranormal hotspot for the people of Dorset. Reported hauntings include a shadowy priest-like figure (is it Christian or pagan?) a large black dog that prowls the nearby country lanes, audio phenomena and a possible UFO encounter experienced by one Bournemouth resident. Knowlton Church and Earthworks remains both spiritual and spooky to its visitors and is today managed and maintained by English Heritage.