Kimmeridge, Isle of Purbeck, Dorsetshire
PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The Parish Church, dedicated to St Nicholas, was largely rebuilt in 1872 but one may reasonably assume that, outwardly, it has not changed much in appearnce since the building of the original Norman Church of which the doorway and parts of the west wall still remain.
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According to Hutchins, in his History of Dorset (1773), the Abbot probably engrossed all the tithe and glebe, and caused the parish to be served by one of his monks.
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The manor of Kimmeridge and its rectory belonged to the Abbot of Cerne frome before the Norman Conquest of 1066 until the Dissolution of the
Monasteries in 1539 when they were purchased for £202.13.4 by Sir William Uvedale. In 1554, only fifteen years later, the Uvedales
sold Kimmeridge to their neighbours, the Clavells, for £640.
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There are some initials on the south jamb, probably of about 1600, though an interested amateur has claimed to have distinguished a pilgrim's crutch cross here - this would be pre-Reformation.
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The Doorway dates from the 12th century. It has roll-moulded jambs,a semicircular arched head of a single roll-moulded order, moulded
imposts and a chamfered label. Inside, recent removal of plaster has revealed a painted scroll-work border which possibly dates from the
16th century.
The Porch is of the 13th Century.
