St Aldhelm's Chapel, Worth Matravers

St Aldhelm's Chapel is a small Norman chapel situated close to the cliffs on St Aldhelm's Head (108 metres above sea level) overlooking the English channel along the Jurassic coast, in the parish of Worth Matravers, Swanage, Dorset. The first written records for it dates it back to the 13th century under the reign of king Henry III (1261–1272). It may not have been built originally as a chapel, but may have been used as a watchtower for nearby Corfe Castle, covering the sea approaches to the south. On the north-west side is a Norman round-arched doorway leading into the interior of the chapel, which measures approximately 25 feet (7.7. metres) square. the roof is supported by a large stone central column supporting four square rib vaults, with the heavy ribs leading to transverse stone arches and just one narrow window on the north-east face.
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