Roman antiquities have been found of such a character as to prove its importance at that period.  It was one of the towns where Athelstan’s coins were made.  It was accounted a first-class port by Canute and proved a place of contention between Alfred and the Danes.  At one time eight churches stood within the walls and a castle erected by the Conqueror overawed the inhabitants until the tussle between John and the Barons led to its destruction.  The churches that remain are three in number, and two are of much interest.  St. Martin’s, on a high bank at the northern entrance to the town, is a restored Saxon building, the traditional resting place, until his body was removed to Tewkesbury, of Beohtric, King of Wessex, in 800.  The characteristic work of this period may be seen in the chancel arch and windows and in the “long and short” work at the north-east angle of the church.

Our Lady St. Mary’s is the large and handsome church on the banks of the Frome, here crossed by an old stone bridge that carries the Corfe road across the river.  The first church on this site is supposed to have occupied the space now covered by St. Edward’s Chapel.  Here Edward the Martyr was brought after his murder at Corfe Castle, the body being afterwards transferred to Shaftesbury with great pomp and splendour.  The temporary coffin of the king may be seen near the font.  It is of massive stone with a place carved out for the head.  The nave and chancel have been much altered and partially rebuilt.  Over St. Edward’s chapel, which dates from the thirteenth century, and is supposed to be built on the site of the Saxon chapel, are the remains of another chapel with a window looking into the church.  The most interesting part of the building is the Chapel of St. Thomas a Becket on the south side of the east end.  This forms a receptacle for various curiosities, including several brasses, a stone cresset, a Roman lamp and a stone bearing a Scandinavian inscription, besides the piscina and sedilia that belong to the structure itself.  The chapel would appear to have been made in the buttressed wall of the church.  On the north side of the chancel is an effigy of Sir Henry d’Estoke and on the south a figure of Sir William of that ilk.  The embossed alms dish and old earthenware plate for the communion should be noticed.  An historian of Dorset—­John Hutchings, once rector here—­has a monument to his memory.  The figures in relief upon the leaden font represent the Apostles.  Antiquaries are also interested in some ancient stones built into the old Norman doorway near the pulpit.  The ancient sculpture of the Crucifixion was once outside over the north porch.  The inscription is said to be:  “Catug consecravit Deo,” but it is almost impossible to make anything of it at a cursory examination.

[Illustration:  ST. MARTIN’S, WAREHAM.]

Holy Trinity Church was for a long time in a state of ruin, but it has now been repaired and is used as a mission room.  All the other old churches of Wareham have been swept away by fire or decay and with one or two exceptions their very sites are lost.