Building record MDO6701 - St Nicholas's chapel, Chapelhay, Weymouth

St Nicholas's chapel, a 14th-century building was converted into a fort called Chapel Fort by parliamentary troops and used throughout the civil war as platforms for artillery. The area was cleared during World War II. Two fragments of pillars from the church survive.

Formerly a chapel of ease dedicated to ST. NICHOLAS. Mentioned in AD 1442. After the Civil Wars it was demolished and the site is now occupied by the buildings of the national school. <1>

[SY 678786] [Similar inf. to T1] and - two of the pillars remain - one in the west wall of TRINITY SCHOOL and the other in a builders yard on the North side of the school. <2>

A 14th C. church standing on CHAPELHAVE, WEYMOUTH, on the top of a precipitous cliff, was converted into a fort called the CHAPEL FORT by Parliamentary troops and used throughout the civil war platforms for artillery were erected.

A [SY 67827864] When the plot of land was cleared away during the war and old gun site was found. I believe the chapel stood between this point and the pillar [B] in the school. <4.1>

B [SY 67807859] At B is part of an old pillar let into a modern wall and obviously not in situ. Beneath it is a plaque which reads "a portion of pillar from the 14th century church of St Nicholas which stood on this site and was demolished during the great civil war" Beside the chapel is a fragment of pillar similar to B and obviously not in situ. No trace of other remains was found. <4>

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

<2> Falkner C G, 1901, History of Weymouth College, p35-36 (Monograph). SWX1798.

<3> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1910, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club, 205 (Serial). SDO21.

<4> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 12-AUG-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<4> W Bowles Barret, 1910, Weymouth and Melcombe Regis in the Time of the Great Civil War, 205 (Article in serial). SWX1796.

<4.1> Carter, 1954, Oral: Mr Carter 12.8.54. Builder 7 Trinity Road, Weymouth (Verbal communication). SWX1799.

<5> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F3 JR 12-AUG-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 451627 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 2 2022 12:48PM