80 THE PURBECK SOCIETY 



a barrier in rough weather, and that thence, or from Worbarrow 

 bay, a road proceeded to join their main one at Salisbury, and 

 not at Badbury. But now, supposing this supposition to be cor- 

 rect, we then ask, what the Isle of Purbeck afforded, so valuable 

 to the Romans, as to induce them to form this second road? 



Tlie Architectural riches of the Island are confined to Corfe 

 Castle; Studland, Worth, and Arne Churches; and the St. 

 Adhelm's head Chapel. 



In tracing out the Antiquities of a district, the present names 

 of places, and even of fields, will frequently suggest to the 

 Antiquary their probable original occupiers. We have, for 

 instance, in the Parish of Langton, a farm named Knitson, 

 or Knight's town; we suppose at once that it was held by a 

 Knight under service to the Castle. In its immediate vicinity 

 is another, named Knave's well, where a clear spring runs 

 from the chalk. The term Knave, you are doubtless aware, 

 meant, originally, a servant. Here are also remnants of eccle- 

 siastical buildings. In the neighbourhood of Wimborne Minster 

 there is also a hamlet by the name of Knighton, which, I conceive, 

 might in like manner, have been held under service to the castle, 

 as it contains a field still called Hyde's ham; a family of the 

 name of Hyde were ancient possessors of lands in the neighbour- 

 hood of the castle. We have Woody Hyde, in Purbeck ; and 

 near Blandford is a farai still called Hyde fann, the present owner 

 of which continues to pay five shillings yearly to Mr. Bankes, in 

 lieu of sending a man in armour, when required, to the defence 

 of Corfe Castle. The possessor of the Castle, up to 1755, had 

 the power of raising Militia. These things may, individually, ap- 

 pear frivolous ; but I think they are not so in reality, since they 

 lead to more interesting results ; in fact they are the first steps 

 in our researches into the history of that noble castle and its 

 ancient owners, of which we know so little. 



The peculiar customs of a locality may be considered worthy 

 of attention, being in most instances, the remnants of ancient 

 usages ; those of the Quarriers are especially so. These are a 

 people whose origin, as a society or company, is of very early date. 

 From time immemorial, they have continued to the present, as a 

 company. Their ancient records were I believe, destroyed 

 by fire at Corfe ; but they still hold their yearly meetings on 

 Shrove Tuesday, at Corfe, for the purpose of appointing 



