| St Aldhelm's Chapel | |
|---|---|
 St Aldhelm's Chapel (2005) | |
  St Aldhelm's Chapel Location in Dorset | |
| 50°34′47″N 2°03′24″W / 50.5797°N 2.0568°W | |
| Location | St Aldhelm's Head, Dorset |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 13th century |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I Listed building |
| Designated | 18 March 1955 |
| Style | Norman |
| Administration | |
| Province | Canterbury |
| Diocese | Diocese of Salisbury |
| Parish | Worth Matravers |
St Aldhelm's Chapel is a Norman chapel on St Aldhelm's Head in the parish of Worth Matravers, Swanage, Dorset. It stands close to the cliffs, 108 metres (354 ft) above sea level.[1] It is a Grade I listed building.[2]
The square stone chapel stands within a low circular earthwork, which may be the remains of a pre-Conquest Christian enclosure.[1] The building has several architectural features which are unusual for a chapel; the square shape, the orientation of the corners of the building towards the cardinal points, and the division and restriction of the interior space by a large central column.[3]
The lack of evidence for an altar or a piscina suggests that the building may not have been built as a chapel.[4] It may have originally been built as a watchtower for Corfe Castle, covering the sea approaches to the south.[3] Its identification as a purpose-built chapel rests on records of payments to a chaplain in the reign of King Henry III (1216–1272).[1][4]
The interior of the chapel is approximately 7.7 metres (25 ft) square.[1] In the centre is a square pier supporting four square rib vaults, with the heavy ribs leading to transverse arches, all stop-chamfered.[4] In the north-west side is a Norman round-arched doorway. A small window is contemporary with the doorway. The corners of the chapel are orientated towards the cardinal points. The interior of the chapel contains a 12th-century groin vault, supported by a central column. Evidence uncovered during 20th century repairs to the chapel roof suggest that it may have been topped with a beacon at some time.[3] The roof now bears a stone cross erected in 1873.[5]
In 1957 a monumental slab of Purbeck stone was uncovered by ploughing in a field 400 metres (1,300 ft) NNE of the chapel.[3] The slab, about 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) long and 0.75 metres (2 ft 6 in) wide at the head, was carved with a Celtic-style cross in relief.[3] Below the slab was a grave containing the skeleton of a woman with arms crossed, placed within a row of upright stones.[3] Eight pieces of iron, with traces of wood, were also found in the grave.[3] The woman's age was estimated at 30 to 40 years, and the grave dated to the late 13th century.[3] Nearby were the foundations of a building 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) square.[3] The slab is now in the porch of St Nicholas' Church, Worth Matravers.[3]