St. Edward the Martyr, Corfe Castle. Grade: 2*.
NGR: SY96056 82050. Lead author: PS
The town of Corfe Castle on the Isle of Purbeck takes its name from the castle, now ruins, which is a prominent landmark on the hill opposite the town. The older houses are in general built of stone, obtained from the neighbouring quarries which once provided employment for the inhabitants.
The history of the church is closely tied with the Castle. The present church (1a, 1b) was completely renovated in the 19th century (architect T.H. Wyatt). Only the early 15th century tower remains. The earliest known incumbent is recorded in 1280 so a church existed by that time. The church was named after St. Edward the Martyr who was murdered on 18th March in the year 978 on the orders of Queen Alfthryth, his stepmother. During the Civil War (1642-1646), Parliamentary troops used the church to stable their horses.
The history of the church is closely tied with the Castle. The present church (1a, 1b) was completely renovated in the 19th century (architect T.H. Wyatt). Only the early 15th century tower remains. The earliest known incumbent is recorded in 1280 so a church existed by that time. The church was named after St. Edward the Martyr who was murdered on 18th March in the year 978 on the orders of Queen Alfthryth, his stepmother. During the Civil War (1642-1646), Parliamentary troops used the church to stable their horses.
1a.The church from the north
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1b.The church from the south
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The exterior
Like the Castle, the majority of the stonework, both inside and out, is Upper Purbeck Broken Shell Limestone (Purbeck Burr). Purbeck Burr has a distinctive texture resulting from dissolution of small bivalve shells, leaving densely packed shell moulds strongly cemented by sparite, a crystalline form of calcium carbonate (2a, 2b, 2c). The roof has slate tiles.
Like the Castle, the majority of the stonework, both inside and out, is Upper Purbeck Broken Shell Limestone (Purbeck Burr). Purbeck Burr has a distinctive texture resulting from dissolution of small bivalve shells, leaving densely packed shell moulds strongly cemented by sparite, a crystalline form of calcium carbonate (2a, 2b, 2c). The roof has slate tiles.
2a. Purbeck Burr
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2b. Purbeck Burr magnified
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2c. A Purbeck Burr trefoil vent in the north wall
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The north porch is a reconstruction of the 12th century original structure. When rebuilding took place in the 19th century, the stones of the porch were taken down, marked, numbered and later reinstated. Either side of the entrance are shafts (3a, 3b) reported to be Saxon in date (F.P. Pitfield, Purbeck Parish Churches, p.24). They are also Purbeck Burr. Some of the 13th century lancet windows were also incorporated into the 19th century building.
3a. The Saxon shaft on the east side of the north porch
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3b.The Saxon shaft on the west side of the north porch
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A notable exception on the exterior are the niches either side of the west doorway (4) which have been identified as Cliff stone (ID T. Haysom, Purbeck Stone P. 104), an Upper Jurassic Portland limestone, which in the past was quarried on the coast between Durlston Head and St. Adhelm’s Head and today quarried inland as Purbeck Pond Freestone.
A statuette of St. Edward, designed by Francis Newbery and carved by Walter Haysom, was erected on the eastern gable of the church in 1931 (5). Information about the stone used has not been found.
A statuette of St. Edward, designed by Francis Newbery and carved by Walter Haysom, was erected on the eastern gable of the church in 1931 (5). Information about the stone used has not been found.
4. The niches by the west doorway
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5. The Newbery statuette
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The paving slabs around the church are of interest as they are made up of a number of Middle Purbeck limestones (6a, 6b, 6c).
6a. Some of the paving slabs
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6b. Close up of a Purbeck paving slab
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6c. Close up of a Purbeck paving slab
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The interior (7)
The main stone used for the interior (the nave arcades, chancel arch and tower arch) is Purbeck Burr. The carvings for the capitals on the arcades are all 19th century except one. The capital on the SE pillar in the south arcade belongs to the 13th century (8a). The other capitals were carved by J.H. Margeston of Bristol in Purbeck Pond Freestone (8b). |
7. The interior from the west
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8a. The 13th century capital
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8b. The 13th century capital
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The chancel arch is embellished either side with a colonette of Purbeck Marble (9a) supported by a fine carving of an angel head in Purbeck Pond Freestone (9b, 9c).
9a. A colonette on the chancel arch
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9b. The angel carving
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9c. Loupe of Purbeck Pond Freestone
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In the chancel there is a side chapel either side of the sanctuary separated by an arcade. These but have polished columns of Purbeck Marble cluster colonettes, not Purbeck Burr (10a, 10b, 10c). They may have been reused from the original Nave arcades in the 19th century.
10a.The sanctuary north arcade
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10b. A cluster colonette
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10c. Loupe of the Purbeck Marble
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On the south side, there is a narrow archway in Purbeck Burr which is 13th century in date (11) reclaimed from the earlier church.
The piscina in the north chapel is thought to be 13th or 14th century and is Purbeck Marble (12). This was given to the church in 1942 and was rumoured to have been found in the village.
The piscina in the north chapel is thought to be 13th or 14th century and is Purbeck Marble (12). This was given to the church in 1942 and was rumoured to have been found in the village.
11. The 13th century archway
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12. The piscina
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The 15th century font is of Purbeck marble (13). In the north chapel is a child's coffin base in very weathered Purbeck Marble (14). It was rescued in 2011 having spent the last 80 years outside, but was originally in the SW corner of the church interior.
13. The Purbeck Marble font
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14. The child's coffin
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