England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
East Lulworth St Andrew

The Parish

The parish of East Lulworth lies in southeastern Dorset forming a stretch of the county's English Channel coastline. East Lulworth is located roughly 6 miles southwest of the market town of Wareham and stands on the B3070 road which links the iconic Lulworth Cove with the A352 (Wareham to Dorchester) road. East Lulworth is an estate village with most properties lying along the B3070, in fact today's village was moved to its present site as part of the creation of the parkland which surrounds Lulworth Castle. Lulworth Castle was created, it is often attributed to Inigo Jones, in the first decade of the 17th century. In 1929 the castle suffered a disastrous fire and for a long time stood largely ruinous until stabilised during the 1980s and 1990s. The estate dominated the economy of the parish which stands on varied terrain from the unproductive sands of the immediate area to the high chalk downland that protects from the nearby sea, sheep would have dominated the downs whilst much of the immediate area was managed heathland. Today a considerable portion of the parish has been appropriated by the military as part of the Lulworth Ranges tank training area with restricted access. The South Coast National Trail passes through the parish and the training area but is only open weekends and holidays. East Lulworth is drained northwards by small streams to meet the River Frome which takes water eastwards to Poole Harbour and the English Channel. East Lulworth is sited at around 70 metres above the sea at the church, between East Lulworth and the sea lies the chalk down of Whiteway Hill which tops out at 185 metres and at the sea's edge Gad Cliff in Jurassic limestone at 167 metres. Covering just over 1,900 acres East Lulworth parish was typically sized for its area and would have supported a population of close to 400 parishioners. In Domesday Book both East & West Lulworth were returned as a single entity large enough to be placed in the top 20% of settlements by population, both Count Robert of Mortain & King William held substantial holdings with assets totalling 26 ploughs, meadows, pasture & woodland and no fewer than 4 mills, a wealthy manor indeed.

The Church

St Andrew's church remains where the original village once stood to the west of Lulworth Castle and now within the parkland, it is accessed by a driveway leaving the B3070 at the junction southwest of the Weld Arms Inn. Only the western tower remains from the original medieval church, it is from the 15th century Perpendicular period and comes complete with a battlemented parapet with crocketed pinnacles typical of that era. The remainder of the church is Victorian and built between 1863 and 1864 replacing the previous main body of the church. The Victorian nave and chancel, at least, maintain the Perpendicular styling which graced the predecessor. There are several options for parking with a large free car park in the eastern segment but with a longer walk, the driveway heads close to the church where there is a gravel parking/turning area for those less able. For the photographer the churchyard is open and uncluttered with no significant obstacles.