Building record MDO6500 - Ruins of St Andrew's Church, Portland

The ruins date to the middle of the 12th century, although excavations at the site have uncovered the remains of an earlier church of unknown date. The 12th century church was rebuilt in the 13th century and was extended in the 14th and 15th centuries, reaching its greatest size by 1500. Structural problems, caused by a geological fissure running under the south east corner of the church made extensive repairs necessary in the 17th century. The church was abandoned in 1756 and since then has been a ruin. Built of rubble with ashlar dressings. The church remains were digitally plotted during the South West Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Dorset).

The church of St Andrew, abandoned as unsafe in the mid 18th century and now a ruin, stands in the upper part of a re-entrant in the cliff, on a level site which has been strengthened by a high retaining wall. The remains of the walls are of squared stone and rubble. The church was built in the 12th century and the lower part of the chancel walls of this date survive, together with the north respond of the chancel arch and the south footings of the nave. In the 14th century the church was damaged by fire and reconstructed with a narrower nave, of which the lower part of the north wall only survives. There are also footings for a projection south of the west end of the nave. A 14th century arch is rebuilt in the boundary wall at the north west corner of the churchyard, and several 17th century headstones remain. The site was excavated by J Merrick Head (a) and has since been disturbed by a bomb. <1> Mentioned. <3> St Andrews Church. Remains. <4> Excavation and conservation work during 1981 and 1982 showed that the C12 church had a central lantern tower. The nave was extended westwards in the early C14 and a detached west tower added in the C15. At three points within the nave, the foundation of an earlier church was located. Accurate dating was not possible, but a Saxon foundation date is not unlikely. <6-7> St Andrews Church: excavation in progress. <8> Description of the developmental history of the church with illustrations. <11> The remains of the Church of St Andrew were digitally plotted during the South West Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Dorset) from aerial imagery of 2001. <12>

Record last edited

Jun 8 2023 4:11PM