Kingston in the Purbeck Hills

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Kelly’s Directory

Extracts from Kelly’s directory 1889:

KINGSTON is an ecclesiastical parish, formerly a chapelry, separated in 1877 from the mother parish of Corfe Castle, in the Eastern division of the county, Wareham petty sessional division and county court district, Wareham & Purbeck union, hundred of Rowbarrow, rural deanery of Dorchester third portion, archdeaconry of Dorset and diocese of Salisbury, 6½ miles south-south-east from Wareham, 1½ miles south from Corfe Castle, 5 south-west from Swanage, and 131½ from London.

The village, which has been almost entirely rebuilt during the last few years, is pleasantly situated on an eminence, commanding a fine view of the old village and ruins of Corfe Castle.

The church of St. James was erected during the years 1874 to 1880, at the sole cost of the Earl of Eldon, under the direction and designs of G. E. Street esq. R.A. of London: it is a handsome cruciform stone structure, in the Early English style, symmetrical in design, with a lofty tower running up from centre of cross, containing a splendid peal of 8 bells: it consists of apsidal chancel, nave, aisles, and transepts: the chancel roof is of stone and groined: on the east wall are three medallions on diaper ground, standing out in bold relief: on the south side is a treble sedile, also a piscina of Purbeck marble: the screen is of Purbeck marble surmounted by elaborate open wrought iron work: the communion table is of stained oak on white marble base, the floor being paved with encanstic tiles and black and white marble: the nave is supported by enriched arches, on clustered Purbeck marble columns and bases, with elegantly carved stone capitals: a handsome font is placed under one of these arches at the west end, with a carved stone bowl and supported on Purbeck marble columns, in unison with those supporting the arches: the roofs of nave and aisles are of oak, panelled and stained: it is seated with chairs instead of benches and paved with encanstic and polished stone tiles of different colours: reading desk and choir stalls are of oak: the pulpit is of elaborate wrought iron work mounted upon a pedestal of Purbeck stone: there is a three-manual organ placed in north transent: every window (45 in all) is stained and they are filled with a large and choice selection of subjects: those in the clerestory are of geometrical design, the most attractive window being the large rose window in the west end, 12 feet in diameter, and most beautiful in design and workmanship: there are two vestries, one for clergymen, the other for choir: a handsome narthex protects the west entrance from the prevailing winds: the church standing on an eminences a conspicuous object for a great distance, the stone of which it is erected being of a very bright hun. The register dates from the year 1877.

The living is a vicarage, net yearly value from Ecclesiastical Commissioners £350, with residence, in the gift of the Earl of Eldon, and held since 1877 by the Rev. Spencer Compton Spencer-Smith M.A. of Balliol College, Oxford. There has also been a vicarage erected near the church.

The old or parish church of St. James’ is still standing and in good preservation: it is a cruciform structure in the Perpendicular style, built of stone with square embattled tower with pinnacles, 1 bell, and two stained windows: it is used for weddings and burials: the new church is not consecrated, and is the property of Lord Eldon.

There is a handsome school house with residence for the master, erected in 1856, in memory of the late Earl and Countess of Eldon, by their children.

Encombe, the seat of the Earl of Eldon, is about a mile and a half south-west of the village, and situated in a very deep vale that opens to the British Channel on the south. “Here” says Hutchins, “stood the ancient seat of the Cullifords, which being much decayed, was entirely pulled down about 1736, by Mr John Pitt, who on the same spot erected an elegant mansion of Purbeck stone, laid out the grounds with great taste, and made extensive plantations: it has a noble view of the English Channel, and is esteemed one of the most beautiful situations in this part of the kingdom”. Encombe was much improved by the Lord Chancellor Eldon, who, at a great cost, tunnelled the eastern hill and brought from a spring a more copious supply for the piece of water in front of the mansion: great enlargements and improvements have been made by the present Earl: this estate from its fertility, has been distinguished by the name of the “Golden Bowl”. An obelisk in the ground was erected by the Lord Chancellor Eldon, to his brother the late Lord Stowell: a long drive through plantations connects the house with the high road at Kingston, where is a tasteful lodge and entrance gates.

The Earl of Eldon is lord of the manor and sole landowner. The soil is stiff clay: subsoil, marl: a great portion of the land is used for grazing: there is little corn and root crops grown. The area is 2,804A. 3R. 2P: rateable value included with Corfe Castle: the population in 1881 was 457.

Extracts from Kelly’s directory 1875:

Extracted from Corfe Castle entry:

Post - Kingston - John Mead, receiver - letters arrive from Corfe Castle. The nearest money order & telegraph office is at Corfe Castle.

Schools - Kingston - National - Mr Parker, master

                                                   Mrs Parker, mistress

Private Residents

Eldon, Right Hon. Earl of, Encombe + 1 Hamilton pl, Piccadilly London 10

Spencer-Smith, Rev. Spencer C, M.A. Curate

Commercial

Beaves, George, carpenter, Kingston

Beaves, John, shoemaker, Kingston

Candy, George, gamekeeper to the Earl of Eldon, Encombe

Foot, Thomas Sinnick, Eldon Arms, Kingston

Jackson, Frederick, farm steward to the Earl of Eldon, Encombe

Joyce, James, blacksmith, Kingston

Kent, Charles, farmer, Blashenwell

[Kent, James, jun, farmer Norden]

Kent, James, sen, farmer, Lynch farm

Kent, William Francis, farmer, Afflington

Extracts from Kelly’s directory 1931:

1921 population: 295

Living held since 1929 by. Rev. George Cecil Augustus Smith

The old church of St. James’ is used for burials.

There is a small Wesleyan Chapel.

Candy, Walter E

Scott, Hon. Sir Ernest Stowell KCMG MVO Encombe

Smith, Rev. George Cecil Augustus (Vicar) Vicarage

Commercial

Barnes, Walter dairyman Encombe

Bartlett, Georgina Mrs Eldon Arms PH

Candy, Walt. E FSI FLAS Surveyor & Land Steward

Curtis, Albert farmer Lynch farm

Gale, Jn Head gamekeeper to ...

Honeybon, Thos dairyman Blashenwell

Joyce, Thomas E blacksmith

Legg, Henry farmer Blashenwell

Loxston, Gerald clerk of works Encombe Estate

Orchard, Eleanor Mrs tobccnst Post-office

Swanage Pier Co (Ernest Hickson sec)

Tilley, E W dairyman West hill

Extracts from Kelly’s directory 1939:

Living held since 1938 by. Rev. Malcolm de Burgh Scott

The old church of St. James’ is used as a village hall

Candy, Walter E

Scott, Hon. Sir Ernest Stowell KCMG MVO Encombe

Smith, Rev. George Cecil Augustus (Vicar) Vicarage

Commercial

Barnes, Walter dairyman Encombe

Bartlett, Georgina Mrs Eldon Arms PH

Candy, Walt. E FSI FLAS Surveyor & Land Steward

Curtis, Albert farmer Lynch farm

Gale, Jn Head gamekeeper to ...

Honeybon, Thos dairyman Blashenwell

Joyce, Thomas E blacksmith

Legg, Henry farmer Blashenwell

Loxston, Gerald clerk of works Encombe Estate

Orchard, Eleanor Mrs tobccnst Post-office

Swanage Pier Co (Ernest Hixson sec)

Tuck, Ralph dairyman Encombe