Lady St Mary

west tower probably early 16th century.

Slate and tile roofs.

On the north side of the tower is a lean-to vestry, probably early 16th century, as is the west porch.

East of this is a 14th century containing Dec window of three lights, two with ogee heads, and with three six-foiled circles in the tracery: probably contemporary with the C14 Dec rebuilding and enlargement of the chancel.

The south chancel wall has a three light Perp window with cinquefoiled cusping, and adjacent, a 14th century priest¿s door with chamfered head.

1200-30.

The west walls of the aisles are said to be Saxon

Opening into the chancel high up on the south side is a reset doorcase, probably late 12th century, with a pointed arch but still with Norman nailhead ornament and a band of zigzag carving around the jambs.

It formerly led into a room above the south chapel, said originally to be a dormitory, but probably used as a treasury by the 16th century.

In the east wall of the north aisle is a double piscina of the 13th century under a trefoil head, and a 12th or early 13th century oculus with moulded frame, reset here from the chancel north wall, 1893-4.

it is entered from the east end of the south aisle through a Norman arch, now framed by a Dec outer arch with cusping, sub-cusping and an ogee point.

Near it, a small trefoil headed piscina, and a small Norman opening above it (perhaps a window) now a cupboard with traceried oak doors.

Oak pulpit with blind traceried panels and foliage carving.

An exceptionally fine 12th century lead font, one of about thirty lead fonts extant in England, and the only hexagonal one: the bowl has high relief figures of the twelve apostles, each standing under an arch on shafted columns

Carvings: a badly weathered 14th century Crucifixion is set in the north aisle east wall.

Nearby are several stones with partial Saxon inscriptions and Latin elements, discovered in 1841-2, some reset in the walls.

One to Catgug (a Brittonic male) on reused Roman masonry, and one to [D]eniel, both 7th - early 9th century

Also several loose column fragments of the 5th - 8th centuries, a fine 13th stone coffin, a 14th century coffin lid with cross, and a stone cresset.

Monuments: Two recumbent armoured effigies of Purbeck marble in the chancel: possibly Sir Henry d'Estoke, c.

1240, and Sir William d'Estoke, d.

1780-1850, including one to the county historian, the Rev. John Hutchins Stained glass: East window by Clayton & Bell in phases, 1886-90.

History: Wareham was a significant port for traffic with France by 700.

William of Malmesbury recorded in the 12th century that St Aldhelm (Bishop of Sherborne by 705) founded a church close to Wareham, and it is likely that Lady St Mary is that church.

This may also have been where Brihtric, King of Wessex, was buried in 802,

where the body of King Edward the Martyr rested temporarily after being murdered at Corfe Castle in 978.

The nunnery was destroyed in a Danish raid in 876, and rebuilt by Alfreda, daughter of Alfred the Great, c.

1042-66, and transferred c.

1100 to the Benedictine abbey of Lire, at which time a cell of French Benedictine monks came to Wareham.

The south chapel was built at about this time, and vaulted in the early 13th century.

1840 shows that the nave was Saxon, with slit windows, clerestory, and a high porticus on the north side.

450 to 995.

reports in the Dorset County Chronicle (May 6th and May 20th) stated that the old nave was only 200 years old and that the two important features of the church, 'the noble tower and spacious chancel', were retained: the round Saxon arches had been mistaken for a crude 17th century attempt at Classical architecture.

Sources: Brown, June, The church of St Lady Mary, Wareham Cramp, R., Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Sculpture: South West England, 7, 116-24.

Reasons for Designation: The church of Lady St Mary, Wareham, is designated at Grade I for the following principal reasons: * An early Saxon foundation serving a nunnery, and associated with two Saxon kings

the Saxon nave survived until 1841. * Saxon commemorative inscriptions and architectural fragments of the 5th to the 9th centuries, some on re-used Roman masonry: a reminder of Wareham's importance as a minster. * Late Norman sunken south chapel with former monastic dormitory above, and with a good Early English rib vault. * Exceptionally fine 12th century lead font, one of about 30 remaining in England. * Late Perp west tower which dominates the nearby quayside on the River Frome. * Two good 13th century armoured effigies, probably both of the d'Estoke family. * Donaldson's restoration of the 1840s is of note in its own right.