In the 19th century Swanage slowly grew into a seaside resort, expanding greatly with the arrival of the railway in 1885. The parish church is St Mary's which with
exception of the tower, was |
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In the second
half of the 19th century it
was apparent that the community in Herston had
grown large enough to warrant the building of a new
church and St Mark's
Church was built 1869-1872. In 'Purbeck Parish Churches' by F.P. Pitfield it states that "It is, as it was intended to be, a very economical design in both general concept and detail, consisting of a nave and chancel contained with a simple rectangle under one continuous double pitched roof which is extended down along part of the north aisle containing an organ bay and vestry. There is also a separately roofed porch on the south side. The walls are faced with squared rock-faced Purbeck stone with ashlar dressings, and the roofs are covered with Purbeck stone tiles." The population in Swanage in 1891 was 2,674 and in 1991 it was 9,036. |
The Online Parish Clerk for Swanage is Sue Mills
Any enquiries or lookups please contact by email at the following:
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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
17th Century Records -
Bylaws of the Marblers of Corfe Castle, Co. Dorset - 1651, 1687, 1695 & 1698
Parish Registers - Lookups available for the following years.*
- Baptisms - 1563 - 1880 name index *
- The Protestant Dissenting Congregation - 1794 to 1837 *
- On-line Transcription - Donated by Barry Chinchen
1563 - 1684 , 1689 - 1760 , 1761 - 1812 , 1813 - 1841
- 1842 - 1880 *
Possible Omissions and Corrections
- Marriages - 1564 - 1847 name index *
- On-line Transcription - Donated by Barry Chinchen
1565 - 1841
- 1842 - 1847 *Possible Omissions and Corrections
- Burials - 1690 - 1863 name index *
- On-line Transcription - Donated by Barry Chinchen
1567 - 1679 , 1680 - 1753 , 1754 - 1812 , 1813 - 1841
- 1842 - 1863 *
- List of Rectors - 1297 - 1853
Memorial Inscriptions -
Hutchin's - List of MI's [made 1847]
by Martin Ayres and Richard Wiltshire
St Mary's, Swanage Survey
by Martin Ayres and Richard Wiltshire1. Crypt and church - Page 1 - Page 2
2. Churchyard - Page 3 - Grave Plan
3. Upper Churchyard, Church Hill - Page 4 - Page 5 - Grave Plan
- Swanage Congregational Burial Ground - 1
by Martin Ayres
- Godlingston Cemetery - 1 - 2
- Northbrook Cemetery - 3
Rates -
Militia List -
Some Purbeck Militia Lists
Census Returns -
Full transcription of 1803 list of names of inhabitants in preparation for a French Invasion -
Full transcription of 1841 census. -
Full transcription of 1851 census. -
Full transcription of 1861 census. -
Full transcription of 1871 census. -
1881 census. - Free transcription or pay per image http://www.ancestry.co.uk/
Full transcription of 1891 census. -
Page 1 - Page 2 - Page 3 - Page 4
Page 5 - Page 6 - Page 7 - Page 8
1901 census. - Free transcription or pay per image http://www.ancestry.co.uk/
Wills -
Index of PCC Wills from the period 1555-1856 on DocumentsOnline
Directories -
- Pigots Directory - 1844
- Hunts - 1851
- Directory of Dorset - 1852
- Post Office Directory - 1867
Maps -
- Saxon Estates in Purbeck
- Domesday Map
- Tresswell's Map C 1586
- Swanage Tithe Map - 1839
- Braye's Map - 1890
Modern Map
Photos -
Images of St Mary's Church
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***
- List of Purbeck Stone Mines - 1896
- List of Dorset Mines - 1908
- Geology of the Dorset Coast - Swanage
- Roll of Honour - Swanage War Memorial
Other OPC Parishes - Worth Matravers - Langton Matravers - Studland - Church Knowle
Visit my personal web page with my research interests and more Purbeck resources