Whilst St Aldhelm's Head (sometimes referred to as St Alban's Head) has a lot going for it, I've never ben able to work out a decent walk up here.
The track from the car park at Renscombe Farm to the Chapel and headland is a bit of a yomp to say the least; the quarry being the only point of any interest.
Turn left at the end and there is a fairly long circular walk back to the car park. This is along a relatively low and uninteresting bit of cliff to Winspit Quarry, and then back through the edge of Worth Matravers.
Turn right, and the cliffs are far more spectacular, but to get back to the car park you are faced with a steep climb down nearly to sea level followed by an equally steep climb back up on to Emmetts Hill. Doable, but not exactly a stroll.
I have to admit that I find the Royal Marines Table and Benches on Emmetts Hill near St Aldhelm's Head confusing.
Whilst it is a lovely spot to sit and have a picnic, it seems somehow disrespectful to use the table and benches for that purpose. I am also not sure that being reminded of the horrors of war would do anything to enhance the enjoyment of the picnic.
St Aldhelm's Chapel is odd. For a start it is square and has a column in the middle, making it a very awkward space for a public services.
As the corners of the building are oriented towards the cardinal points of the compass, the 'East End' just the corner furthest from the door.
There is no sign of a piscina or any kind of permanent altar, which suggests that it was not originally a chapel.
When it was built in the late 12th century, it may have been some sort of watch tower or look out, and perhaps a place of private prayer for those waiting for their loved ones to return from the sea.
It is named after Aldhelm who in 705CE was the first Bishop of Sherborne.
External Links and References
External Links
St. Aldhelm Worth Matravers
More information on the church from the Dorset Historic Churches Trust. https://www.dhct.org.uk/m/church.php?ref=ef11663eac893003cad167f00e6e6480
St. Aldhelm's Chapel
A brief history from the parish site. https://staldhelm-purbeck.org/st-aldhelms-chapel-worth/
The St Aldhelm's Head Radar Memorial Dorset represents two radar dishes arranged in such a way that they form a large fire basket. The fire basket represents the beacons that were lit to warn of the Spanish armada. These days radar is the modern equivalent.
It is made from stainless steel and set on a Purbeck stone plinth, and was unveiled by Sir Bernard Lovell on Saturday 27th October 2001.
External Links and References
External Links
Radar Memorial at St Aldhelm's Head
Much more on the St Alhelm's Head Radar Memorial on the Purbeck Radar site. http://www.purbeckradar.org.uk/memorial/
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