84 



The earliest building on the site of the Church was non- 

 ecclesiastical, probably a Saxon Keep or look-out post held in 

 connection with Corfe Castle or Wareham. Of this building- 

 some massive stone steps and the keystone of an arch have been 

 found. 



A Church building dates from early Saxon times and takes 

 us back to a group of churches which are among the oldest in 

 the country of which any substantial remains exist. St. Martin's 

 at Wareham, and St. Nicholas at Worth Matravers are other 

 Churches belonging to this group. So is the Church built by St. 

 Aldheim in the Seventh Century, though where this stood is un- 

 certain ; it may have been at Corfe Castle, or, more doubtfullv, on 

 St. Aldhelm's'Head. 



In Studland Church we have clear proof of pre-Norman work 

 belonging to an earlier and a later stage. The foundations of 

 the nave were originally laid so as to give the " twist " which was 

 intended to indicate our Saviour's head on the Cross leaning to 

 one side. This old foundation is i8ins. from the plinth at the N.W. 

 outside corner, tapering off to nothing at the middle buttress of 

 the tower. At the S.W. corner of the interior there is a similar 

 divergence. In the present building there is no twist and the 

 lines run straight to the end of the chancel, showing a change 

 on the earlier design. But the main walls erected in accordance 

 with this later design were in the first instance Saxon rubble work, 

 and in them we have later insertions of Norman ashlar. The 

 Norman work is apparently a little earlier than that of the Church 

 at Iffley, with which, and with the one at Stewkley, it may be com- 

 pared. If its date is approximately fixed for 1180, and that of the 

 Saxon rubble work at shortly before the Norman conquest, which 

 seems as near as we can get to the facts, then the earlier Saxon 

 centuries afford ample time for the earlier constructions which 

 appear to have taken place. 



Extensive repairs were undertaken in 1880, and much was 

 then discovered. It appeared that the ashlar, both inside and out, 

 is a thin facing, 6-c)ins. thick, with no bond into the wall beyond. 

 In many cases the interior rubble ran out as loose sand as soon 

 as it had a chance. The clay on which part of the Church was 

 founded had proved a favourite habitat for worms, and was 

 perforated through and through by their burrowing s. An added 

 buttress was dragging down the wall it was meant to support, 

 and on being taken down was found to be resting on a lead coffin 

 whose sanctity had proved unequal to supporting the weight. 

 Vaults and graves had been dug dangerously near, and even 

 below, the level of the foundations of the chancel. The work of 

 restoration was skilfully done, and has left us a buildmg in which 

 we can still trace the stages of construction. 



In the eastern wall of the chancel there was probably no 

 window of Saxon date, though a small Norman window, without 

 decoration, was at some time inserted in the gable. The present 

 Gothic window probably dates from Jacobean times. In the north 



