Monument record MDO7166 - Medieval chapel, Bere Regis

The site of a medieval chapel known to have been built by the early fifteenth century but demolished by the eighteenth century, when it was recorded that only wall footings remained.

On the west side of Woodbury Hill was a chantry said to have been dedicated to St Anchoretta, but this could be a misreading of Sancta Anchoretta, or the holy hermitage. It is mentioned in 1408 and 1411. Foundations of the chapel were still visible in Hutchin's time (circa 1774). Near it was a well called the Anchoret's Well. <1>

Grassed hummocks standing above the normal pasture level, probably mark the walls and/or foundations of the chapel. Centre of area surveyed at SY 85589475. No visible surface indications of the well were discovered, now under pasture. <3>

Anchoret's Chapel (site of), 'capelle de Wodebury' mentioned in 1422 and 1439. <5>

Upwards a score of buildings, including some cottages, are depicted and described on the 1st Edn. 1" and the Tithe Map, mostly to each side of the trackway bisecting the hillfort (Woodbury).Demolition in the 19th century has resulted in a spread of brick and tile fragments throughout the area.

No buildings are shown in the south-west quadrant of the fort, so the earthworks here may be associated with the chapel. They comprise two grass covered platforms about 0.6 metres high, with an east to west orientation. One, at SY 85579473 measures about 14.0 by 8.0 metres, the other at SY 85589474, is approximately 18.0 by 7.0 metres with, on the north side, traces of a north to south banked enclosure measuring 16.0 by 10.0 metres internally. The siting symbol for the chapel on the OS 25" 1902 falls within this enclosure. A further large but incomplete raised area at SY 85599479, may be the remains of a small close or field. Surveyed at 1:2500 on M.S.D. See plan with SY 89 SE 2. <6>

The chapel was documented in 1408 and 1411. Its foundations were still visible in 1774. Field investigations in 1981 located earthworks which maybe be associated with the chapel. The earthworks comprised two platforms about 0.6 metres in height, with an east-west. One situated at SY 85579473, measured about 14 metres by 8 metres, the other at SY 85589474, was approximately 18 metres by 7 metres with traces to the north of a north to south banked enclosure measuring 16 metres by 10 metres internally. A further large but incomplete raised area at SY 85599479, may be the remains of a small close or field. No traces of the well were identified. There is also area of ridge and furrow on the north western side on the hill. <8>

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1861, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 1, 135 (Monograph). SWX4496.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1902 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 85589475) Anchoret's Chapel (NR) (site of) (NAT)

<3> Colquhoun, F D, Field Investigators Comments FDC, F1 FDC 14-JAN-53 (Unpublished document). SWX2609.

<3.1> 1844, Bere Regis Tithe Map and Award (Map). SDO19621.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 485-486 (Monograph). SDO150.

‘(118) WOODBURY (SY 89 SE; 856948) is a contour hill-fort which occupies the entire flat top of the gravel capped spur called Woodbury Hill … The surface of the interior is uneven in many places but it is impossible to detect anything certainly ancient. The chapel shown on the plan certainly existed in the early 15th century and its footings were still traceable in the late 18th century (Hutchins, ibid). The nearby well was traditionally associated with it.’

<5> Mills, A D, 1977, The place-names of Dorset, Part 1: the Isle of Purbeck, the hundreds of Rowbarrow, Hasler, Winfrith, Culliford Tree, Bere Regis, Barrow, Puddletown St George, 277 (Monograph). SWX972.

<6> Attrill, N J, Field Investigators Comments NJA, F2 NJA 14-MAY-81 (Unpublished document). SDO14743.

<7> Orme, N, 2017, Chapel in Bere Regis (Verbal communication). SDO15379.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456105 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 20 2024 6:12PM