Studland

Studland is situated 3 miles north of Swanage and is bounded on the north by Poole Harbour, on the east by Studland Bay and on the south east by Swanage Bay. In 1851 the parish comprised of 3,800 acres consisting mainly of heathland, woodland, marsh and a large fresh-water lake all rich in plant and animal life. The four miles of sandy beaches are an attraction to local people and visitors each year. Situated on the Godlingston Heath is the Agglestone, a huge sandstone boulder which is 18ft high, 80ft round and weighs about 400 tons. Old Harry Rocks, a chalk stack separated from the coast, are an impressive coastal feature. The population of Studland in 1891 was 432. In 1991 it was 471.

Photo displayed with kind permission of Michael Day

The church of St Nicholas, dedicated to the patron saint of sailors, stands near the west side of the parish and although it has Saxon origins it is a nearly perfect specimen of the Norman period, being restored in 1883. During the building of the tower, work was abandoned so it remains unfinished. It was possibly thought that the foundations couldn't handle the intended height and so left it as we see it today. In John Hutchins 'History of Dorset' he states that 'it is a small but very ancient building and consists of a chancel and body tiled, and a low tower on two semi-circular arches, which intersect each other' and later 'the tower is covered with lead, and supported by three buttresses on the north and south, and has in it four bells. The loft of the tower and the chancel is arched work of stone. Under the eaves of the body without are small abutments of stone, some double, on which are carved the faces of men and animals.'

The Online Parish Clerk for Studland is Sue Mills

Any enquiries please contact by email at the following:

I am an unpaid volunteer willing to assist others with their genealogical research and should in no way be confused with the County Council appointed Parish Clerk.

I live in Western Australia.

*** My photo restoration service -  Mend My Memories  ***NEW***
Old photos digitally restored

 

 

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FOR RECORDS FROM

SWANAGE - LANGTON MATRAVERS - WORTH MATRAVERS
STUDLAND - CHURCH KNOWLE
AND MY PERSONAL RESEARCH

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17th Century Records -

• Protestation Returns

• Hearth Tax

 

Parish Registers - Lookups available for the following years.*

• Baptisms - 1581 - 1841 - Name Index *
  
  On-line Transcription - Donated by Barry Chinchen

1581 - 1749 , 1750 - 1841

• Marriages - 1637 - 1841 - Name Index *
  
  On-line Transcription - Donated by Barry Chinchen
  
  1637 - 1841
   

• Burials - 1636 - 1841 - Name Index *

On-line Transcription - Donated by Barry Chinchen

1636 - 1841

• List of Rectors - 1300 - 1853

 

Militia List -

• Some Purbeck Militia Lists

 

Census Returns -

• Full transcription of 1803 list of names of inhabitants in preparation for a French Invasion -

Page 1 - Page 2

• Full transcription of 1841 census -

Page 1 - Page 2

• Full transcription of 1851 census -

Page 1 - Page 2

• Full transcription of 1861 census -

Page 1 - Page 2 - Page 3

• Full transcription of 1871 census -

                Page 1 - Page 2 - Page 3

• 1881 census. - Free transcription or pay per image http://www.ancestry.co.uk/
   

• Full transcription of 1891 census -

Page 1 - Page 2

• 1901 census. - Free transcription or pay per image http://www.ancestry.co.uk/

 

Wills -

• Index of PCC Wills from the period 1599-1851 on DocumentsOnline

• Calendar of Wills and Administrations
  - Archdeaconry and Consistory Court - 1661 - 1857

• Abstracts of Archdeaconry Court of Dorset Wills - Page 1

 

Directories -

• Hunts - 1851

• Post Office Directory - 1867

• Kelly's Directory - 1895

• Kelly's Directory - 1915

Maps -

• Saxon Estates in Purbeck

• Domesday Map

• Tresswell's Map C 1586

• Tresswell's Map of Studland 1586

• Braye's Map - 1890

• Modern Map

 

Photos -

• St Nicholas Church - 1

• Images of Studland

• Studland of Olde

• Memorial Inscriptions - 1 - 2 - 3

• Purbeck Folk  - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 *** NEW

 

Suggested Reading -

• Purbeck -  Books, Newspapers & Documents 

 

Researchers -    

• List of those researching in Purbeck
  To be added to the list contact
  

 

Links -

 

• Dorchester Gaol Registers - 1782 - 1853 ***NEW***

• 19th Century Tithe Map Apportionments Transcriptions

• Link to an interesting site on St Nicholas Church

• History and photos of St Nicholas Church

• Images of Old Harry Rocks - 1 - 2

 

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