Christchurch Priory (Lead authors PS and JT)
SZ16030 92525; Lat./Long. 50.732123, -1.7742302
The Saxon church at Twynham was replaced by Ranulf de Flambard using the Quarr Stone and its contemporary
Binstead Limestone from his land in the Isle of Wight for the great Priory church that led to the renaming of Christchurch. Other buildings in the Norman Priory complex were built of Purbeck Limestones from Swanage and a lesser amount of the local Heathstones, the ironstone from Hengistbury Head and Bed G from the Barton Cliffs.
By the time that the west tower and north porch were built, the resources of Quarr Stone had been exhausted, but the Broken Shell Limestone (Burr) from Swanage was an almost perfect match.
Damage during the 16th and 17th centuries was repaired with individual blocks of stone including Purbeck Limestone, Upper Greensand and the local Heathstones. Weathering in the 18th and 19th was repaired with Purbeck Limestone and Wardour Main Building Stone, with the addition of some Poole Formation Heathstone brought round by boat from Redhorn Quay in Poole Harbour.
In the late 19th century weathered Quarr Stone on the north transept was removed inside and replaced with Purbeck-Portland stone from the cliff quarries in the Isle of Purbeck. This was also used for restoration in the north porch.
Bath Stone that can be found in the porch and an interior wall-seating arrangement would have reached Christchurch on the newly built railway. .
In the 20th century a large area of the south wall was replaced with French limestone* (see note below). The latest restoration was been completed with stones that match the original where possible.
*The most recent conservator, Jennie Schillig, found an archived file for the church, which indicated that this particular patch of wall was added in 1972, and the stone came from either St. Maximin or Courteraie. St. Maximin may be in Provence, and the stone may be Jurassic
Binstead Limestone from his land in the Isle of Wight for the great Priory church that led to the renaming of Christchurch. Other buildings in the Norman Priory complex were built of Purbeck Limestones from Swanage and a lesser amount of the local Heathstones, the ironstone from Hengistbury Head and Bed G from the Barton Cliffs.
By the time that the west tower and north porch were built, the resources of Quarr Stone had been exhausted, but the Broken Shell Limestone (Burr) from Swanage was an almost perfect match.
Damage during the 16th and 17th centuries was repaired with individual blocks of stone including Purbeck Limestone, Upper Greensand and the local Heathstones. Weathering in the 18th and 19th was repaired with Purbeck Limestone and Wardour Main Building Stone, with the addition of some Poole Formation Heathstone brought round by boat from Redhorn Quay in Poole Harbour.
In the late 19th century weathered Quarr Stone on the north transept was removed inside and replaced with Purbeck-Portland stone from the cliff quarries in the Isle of Purbeck. This was also used for restoration in the north porch.
Bath Stone that can be found in the porch and an interior wall-seating arrangement would have reached Christchurch on the newly built railway. .
In the 20th century a large area of the south wall was replaced with French limestone* (see note below). The latest restoration was been completed with stones that match the original where possible.
*The most recent conservator, Jennie Schillig, found an archived file for the church, which indicated that this particular patch of wall was added in 1972, and the stone came from either St. Maximin or Courteraie. St. Maximin may be in Provence, and the stone may be Jurassic
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Virtual Tour of Christchurch Priory
A comprehensive presentation on Christchurch Priory has been designed and produced by Pat Snelgrove. Other folk who were involved in the collaborative research were drawn from the DGAG and OUGS. The presentation is available to download by clicking the button below. This is a large file so you may have to be patient! The link will open in a new window. Alternatively, download the presentation as a.pdf which is smaller and shouldn't trigger a security message on your computer! 
Replaced pinnacles Photo:AH
Close-up of Caen Stone Photo:AH
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Red Purbeck Marble Photo: AH
Priory Plan West
A shelly block of Barton Bed G - (the stone band) - in the Eastern Old Priory- (now Garden) wall. Photo: PB
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Priory Plan East
North Transept. The arcading on the north transept was originally Quarr Stone from the Isle of Wight. It was replaced in the 19th century with Purbeck-Portland from the cliff quarries on the Isle of Purbeck. Photo: JT
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