BROWNSEA ISLAND 145 



the " Chappel " is mentioned ; it was dedicated to 

 St. Andrew. 



The Island in early days seems to have been a 

 convenient place of retreat for the Danes after 

 raiding and pillaging along the coast. 



In an old MS. Life of St. Ethel wold (brother of 

 King Edmund), the monkish chronicler writes : 

 " Canutus, having spoiled the church and monastery 

 of Cerne, took to the haven, and sailed thence to 

 Branksey, i.e., Brank's Island : which is two miles 

 from Poole ; having in it no buildings save a 

 chapel only." 



The wreck of the sea at Brownsea was granted 

 to the Abbot of Cerne by Henry II., showing that 

 the Island at that date was still in the hands of 

 the monks. It continued to be so till the dissolu- 

 tion of the monasteries by Henry VIII., who had a 

 square tower built, as a block-house, on the Island, 

 to protect the harbour of Poole, that town agreeing 

 to send six men to " watch " it. Afterwards this 

 was construed into their providing a garrison and 

 also repairing the fort, on which the inhabitants of 

 Poole had to spend large sums of money. 



John de Vere, Earl of Oxford, was the first 

 private possessor of Brownsea, Henry VIII. grant- 

 ing him the "Island and water surrounding" it. 

 He, however, soon passed the gift on, having 

 gained permission to dispose of it to Richard Duke, 

 and his heirs. 



