England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Studland St Nicholas

The Parish

The parish of Studland lies in the extreme southeast of Dorset forming a lengthy stretch of the county's English Channel coastline. Studland is located roughly 8 miles southeast of the market town of Wareham and sits at the eastern end of the B3351 road which runs to it from Corfe Castle. Studland is a mid-sized and fairly compact village sitting behind a dune-fringed coastline in the shelter of the chalk outcropped headland of Old Harry Rocks, the terminus of Ballard Down, most early properties are gathered between the B3351 and the church with more modern developments spreading into the dune field. Despite lacking a formal harbour Studland was an important anchorage, its eastward facing coastline together with the shelter of the headland providing safe anchorage from the prevailing weather. Inland the parish contains a geological cross-section of the steeply tilted rocks of the area, the south, sitting on chalk, given over to sheep pasture, whilst the north, on poor quality soils largely used for woodland management. The wider parish includes Brownsea Island, within Poole Harbour, for a long time a major defensive position but today a refuge for red squirrels. Today's Studland earns most of its income from tourism, much of the parish is protected for wildlife whilst its extensive beach provides fun not only for traditional tourists but also for naturists on its secluded sections. Studland and its bay also marks the end (or beginning) of the South West Way National Trail with its terminus at the ferry crossing to Sandbanks a triumphant conclusion to over 600 miles of hiking. As a coastal settlement numerous streams run to the extensive dune system from where most water percolates through to the English Channel. Studland is sited  at between 20 & 40 metres above the sea, land rises on to Ballard Down steeply to local high points 148 metres at its obelisk and 196 metres on Godlingston Hill further west. Studland's parish was extensive, amongst the largest in its county, of that acreage, however, early gazetteers estimate as much as 70% as being "waste" used in common for heath & forest prodicts, the parish would have supported  a population of around 450 parishioners. In Domesday times Studland was a quiet backwater held by Count Robert of Mortain offering merely a pair of ploughs supported by pastures and woodland, its true nature is, however, reflected in its collection of 32 salthouses, the sea and its produce a major economic earner.

The Church

St Nicholas' church sits in the heart of the oldest portion of the village just east of the B3351 and accessed by the short dead-end of Church Road. St Nicholas is a church of historic interest and one of around a dozen complete Norman villages churches in the whole of England. Only a few later embellishments mar the totality of its Norman splendour. Excavations have revealed that the nave sits upon the foundations of a pre-Conquest church but today's building dates from the 11th century. It is rare indeed to find a complete church largely untouched from such early times and Pevsner waxes lyrical in great detail regarding its provenance. The initial build was probably completed during the latter half of the 11th century whilst early in the subsequent 12th century a remodelling was conducted. The exterior is best described by Pevsner as "craggy" and "such as one might find on the Cotentin peninsula in France" whilst, by contrast, the interior shows later 12th century plushness. Pevsner has to draw attention to the 13th century Early English Gothic window and the 17th century, and clashing, porch then urges visitors to ignore the same and appreciate its Norman-ness. Thankfully even the Victorians neglected to make their usual intervention leaving near-perfection for us to appreciate. Parking in a village car park is recommended and an approach on foot along Church Road recommended, the churchyard is relatively free of obstacles allowing unfettered access for the photographer.