IXXIV. ST. JELDHELM'S HEAD. 



parish church, aud these probably represent all that remains of the previous 

 chapel. The oldest inhabitants of the viUage 30 years ago told him that there 

 was a staircase outside that old chapel which led to a west gallery for the 

 accommodation of a church baud, and the baud performed for a time after the 

 new church had been built on the spot. The band was superseded by a barrel or 

 grind organ. When he came into the Isle of Purbeck 30 years ago there were 

 five barrel organs in Purbeck ; and when a person wrote to the Guardian asking 

 if any were still in existence in England, he was able to say that there were five 

 in Purbeck alone at Kingston, Steeple, Tyneham, Creech Grange, and Bushey 

 (a little place not far from Corfe Castle). At the foot of the mural tablet to the 

 first Lord Eldon was a fine medallion profile by Chantrey of the great Chancellor. 

 The new church, opened about 30 years ago, was built by Lord Eldon from the 

 designs of George Edmund Street, and is a most beautiful and costly example of 

 that great architect's work and favourite style. All the stone and marble came 

 from close by, except the steps at the altar rails, which were of Dublin marble, 

 which was also composed of shells. The bed of Purbeck marble ran all down 

 this valley, from Swanage to Tyneham. All the Purbeck marble in England, 

 wherever one saw it in the Temple Church and most of the cathedrals came 

 from this valley. In geologic time it was an estuary of the sea ; the shells of 

 which the marble was composed were deposited and eventually pressed into 

 marble. The outside staircase turret, which was introduced by Mr. Street at 

 Lord Eldon's request, was a copy of that at Christchurch Prioiy. All the glass 

 windows were put in by Messrs. Clayton and Bell. Mr. Street was very 

 particular about the windows. The best artists were employed, and therefore 

 the drawing was good and the colouring fine. The figures in the south aisle were 

 all Christian saints and in the north aisle Old Testament saints. The organ, by 

 Young aud Oldknow, was very flue, although it became rather easily affected by 

 damp. There was also in the tower a very fine peal of eight bells, by Taylor, of 

 Loughborough, the tenor weighing about SOcwt., and their ringing, for a village, 

 was good. 



The ACTING PRESIDENT having expressed the hearty thanks of 

 the Club to the Vicar, the party made an inspection of the 

 church and then walked on to the old church, at which a few 

 glances sufficed. The Norman arch is the most interesting 

 thing here, and the most beautiful the exquisite medallion by 

 Chantrey if we except the extensive and glorious view from a 

 particular point in the churchyard, close to the burial vault of the 

 Eldon family. The frowning towers of Corfe Castle, flanked by 

 swelling hills, form the central feature, framed in an expanse of 

 brown heath, fringes of shaggy wood, and stretches of the 

 shimmering water of Poole Harbour. 



