Beauty of Britain

The 14th century St. Catherine's Chapel stands high above the picturesque Dorset village of Abbotsbury, with Chesil Beach in the background. The chapel was built by monks – supposedly as a pilgrim chapel for Abbotsbury Abbey.

The chapel also acted as a navigational aid to ships travelling across the hazardous waters of Lyme Bay. This was a role that saved it from the destruction that befell the abbey following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, which took place between 1538 and 1541.

Named after the patron saint of spinsters and sailors, St. Catherine’s was built of local stone, brought up the 260 feet high hill by the monks. The walls are about four feet thick and the structure measures about 15 yards by 3 yards. Inside the chapel is empty, but church services are still held there and the building often acts as a venue for musical events.

Nearby are Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens and Abbotsbury Swannery.


Location: Near Abbotsbury, Dorset



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