Monument record MDO6579 - Medieval Chapel and Tithe Barn on Portland

It has been reported that there was formerly another church on the island; but there is no foundation for the report. <1>

There was an ecclesiastical type of building in WAKEHAM STREET which from a painting by UPHAM, executed between 1802 and 1805, seems to be of the 13thc-14thc. There are no references to it before the 16thc. Leland says the "Parsonage" was the best building in PORTLAND, and GROSE writes of the building "It is pretended to have been the Parsonage House. [But] it is more probable that it was a small oratory or chapel. "In his list of antiquity's he includes "Vicar's Chapel at PORTLAND". It seems probable that the building was a chantry chapel about the time of the Dissolution the "chapel" at PORTLAND was converted into the "Parsonage". It was also popularly known as "the Vicar's house" or vicarage, but never as the Rectory though the rectors of old ST ANDREW's Ch live there. It is recorded that the building was burnt down by the Parliamentary forces. There was a tithe barn near the building until the mid-19thc. The "chapel" is now only a fragmentary ruin. It is said that much was carted away to help in the construction of other buildings. All that remains is a part of the s. wall; 11ft long & 15ft high with the lower portion of a window. There is a buttress at the S.W. angle, and a few fragments of carved stone built into adjoining walls. <2>

The area is occupied by a cinder track and garden separated by a drystone wall. There was no trace of antiquity or evidence of a building. <4>

No surface indication of the tithe barn now visible. <5>

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1863, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 2, 829 (Monograph). SWX1269.

<2> Pentin Rev H, 1916, Old Portland, p238-240 (Article in serial). SWX1973.

<2.1> Grose, F, Antiquities 1773-87 (Grose) (Article in serial). SWX8406.

<3> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1926-38 (Map). SWX1540.

CHAPEL [GT] (Site of)

<4> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F2 JR 07-JUN-55 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<5> Colquhoun, F D, Field Investigators Comments FDC, F2 FDC 22-JUN-55 (Unpublished document). SWX2609.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 451719 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jun 8 2023 4:56PM