222 PROCEEDINGS COTTESWOLD CLUB 1914 



by the Royalists in 1644 and by the Parliamentarians again in 1645. On 

 July 25th two-thirds of the place was burnt down. 



A few of the inhabitants participated in Monmouth's Rebellion, and six 

 of them were tried by Judge Jefferies at Dorchester, brought to Wareham 

 and executed on the part of the walls still called " Bloody Bank." Since then 

 little of historic interest has occurred. 



The Members then returned to the motors and went through the town to 

 the Saxon Church (Plate XXV., fig. i). 



This Church is forty-five feet long, and is supposed to have been erected 

 about the year 700 by Aldhelm, Bishop of Sherborne, who died 705, and was 

 the builder also of the sister church at Bradford-on-Avon. It may possibly 

 have been the first burial place of Bertric, King of the West Saxons, who died 

 in 800, and whose body was buried somewhere in Wareham, and afterwards 

 removed to Tewkesbury. The church has been lengthened westwards, and 

 the north side is of more recent date than the nave. The old beams supporting 

 the roof are still doing duty. When the walls were partially cleaned in 1887, 

 frescoes and inscriptions were discovered. Time did not permit of a visit to 

 St. Mary's Church — a patchwork building, containing some very ancient and 

 interesting work. The original building, which was a small chapel attached 

 to the Priory (at the present time a private house), is now used as a vestry. 

 As King Edward the Martyr, who was stabbed at Corfe Castle in 978, is said 

 to have been buried here, it is generally called " King Edward's Chapel." 

 His marble coffin may be seen near the old font of the church. A few years 

 after its burial in Wareham the body was removed to Shaftesbury. 



A short run brought the Members to Corfe, which figures conspicuously 

 in Hardy's " The Hand of Ethelberta." Some of the Members, however, 

 who had seen Corfe before, got off the car about half-way, and spent the time 

 until the main party returned doing botanical work. 



Corfe Castle (Plate XXV., fig. 2) is situated on a remarkable knoll of 

 chalk in a gap in the Purbeck Hills, and dominates the little old-world village 

 of Corfe. In Alfred's days the knoll was fortified with earth-works, but 

 it is generally supposed that Edgar (959-975) built the first stronghold. It 

 was here — in 978 — that Edgar's wife murdered her step-son Edward while the 

 boy was drinking a stirrup-cup. He was dragged by his horse along the road, 

 where he was found dead on the following day. He was buried at Wareham, 

 and subsequently rcinterrcd at Shaftesbury. Stephen attempted to destroy 

 Corfe Castle as he had done Wareham, but was unable to do so. King John 

 used the castle as a royal residence, and kept his regalia here for safety. In 

 Edward II. 's reign the castle was strengthened and in parts re-built. Suc- 

 cessive sovereigns resided here, and Henry VIII. added to the fortifications. 

 Queen Elizabeth granted the castle to Sir Christopher Hatton. After his 

 death it was sold (1635) to Attorney-General Sir John Bankes. Lady Bankes, 

 in the absence of her husband, defended Corfe Castle tigainst various attacks 

 by the Parliamentarians, although the garrison consisted of a few retainers 

 and servants, until Prince Maurice brought help. Later on Sir Walter Erie, 

 with a strong force, attempted to rush the castle with a simultaneous attack 

 on all sides. Then it was that the careful labour of centuries aided the 

 defenders, and the attack utterly failed. In 1646 Corfe was again besieged. 

 The attacking force obtained by treachery what they could not take by 

 storm. An officer named Pitman secretly admitted the enemy and the 

 famous pile fell into the hands of the destroyers, who exploded hundreds of 

 barrels of gunpowder in overthrowing the twelve-feet-thick walls. 



At I p.m., after a light lunch, the journey was resumed. The main party 

 motored to Lulworth Cove via Wool, but two took the road via Creech Grange, 

 along the summit of the Purbeck Hills (655 feet) and so to East Lulworth. 

 Here the main party was caught up. 



