WORTH-MATRAVERS, a parish in the hundred
of ROWBARROW, Blandford (South) division of the
county of DORSET, 3 miles (S. S. E.) from Corfe-Castle,
containing 325 inhabitants. The living is a discharged
vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Dorset, and
diocese of Bristol, rated in the king's books at £ 8.8.4.,
and in the patronage of the Rev. T. O. Bartlett. The
church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, is a very ancient
structure. This parish has the English channel, on the
south, where is the noted cliff called St. Alban's head,
one hundred and forty-seven yards in perpendicular
height, with a signal-house on its summit j also the
remains of a very ancient chapel, dedicated to St.
Aldhelms, built and vaulted with stone, and supported
by a single massive pillar, with four arches, meeting in
a point at the crown; it is entered through a semicircular
doorway in the north side, but has no window,
only a hole on the south side. Near Quarr, which
anciently belonged to the Cullifords, marble was once
quarried.