277 



By C. E. Ponting, F.S.A. 



The Church of All Saints, Durrington. 



HIS Chinch underwent considerable rebuilding and enlarge- 

 ment during the year 1851, under the hands of Mr. J. W. 

 Hugall, architect, of Pontefract, when much of the old work was 

 necessarily obliterated. It is fortunate, however, that plans of the 

 Church as it previously existed have been preserved, together with a 

 description of the building in 1849 and the alterations subsequently 

 made in it contained in an interesting letter to the Incumbent, 

 the Eev. B. Webb, dated Cheltenham, 29th October, 1855. The 

 following are extracts from this letter : — 



" My first visit to Durrington in January, 1849, enables me to 

 judge as to the actual necessity for an increase of accommo- 

 dation for the parishioners beyond that afforded in the then 

 existing Church. Several difficulties presented themselves in 

 arranging the new ground-plan, but after some consideration I 

 determined upon recommending that which has been carried out. 

 " The old Church consisted of a nave and south aisle, west tower 

 and chancel — the nave being a Norman structure, the aisle 

 of debased character ; the tower, Perpendicular ; and the 

 chancel, Early English. The font was defaced and of poor 

 character ; the pews high, but containing much good oak 

 carving of the 16th century ; the pulpit of the same date ; a 

 western gallery projecting into the nave and filling the tower 

 marred the effect of the tower arch; and the chancel was 

 both ill-furnished and unadorned, and without any archway 

 or other mark of separation from the nave. 

 " The whole structure, with the exception of the tower, presented 

 undeniable evidence of irreparable decay. 



