Nominal: 904 Hz Weight: 789 lbs Diameter: 33.56" Bell 1 of 4
Founded by John Warner & Sons 1870
Dove Bell ID: 2077 Tower ID: 15402 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Dodington: All Saints
Overview
Grid reference: ST 171 405
Chancel, porch and tower of C15; nave roof and windows of C16 south chapel with crypt built by Dodington family in 1610. Bell openings in tower of 1772. The medieval glass fragments in the east window, the arched opening to the C17 chapel and its monuments, and the C16 nave roof are the features of highest significance. Also important are the church’s historical and aesthetic links to the adjacent Tudor manor house and 1830s rectory.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West tower, nave with north porch, chancel with south chapel.
Footprint of Church buildings: 153 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The earliest information about the parish is contained in the Domesday book, when it was held by Dodo (from whom the village presumably got its name) in succession to Siwold. The manor was held by the Dodington family from the late C12 to 1720, after which it continued through various related branches. The economic basis for the village was mixed agriculture: there may have been open-field arable in the northern part of the parish, where a furlong was recorded c. 1200, and a small piece of common pasture between Perry mill and Barnsworthy. Most of the common land lay on the Quantocks. Mining for copper began in the parish before 1712 and continued throughout the C18.
There were 73 taxpayers in 1667. The growing use of the road from the late C17 increased settlement, and there were more houses along the road than in the village by 1791. The population of the parish was 71 in 1801, and rose to 113 in 1821, the last year of mining. After fluctuations in the 1830s and 1840s the total fell rapidly in the 1860s, though by 1881 it had recovered to 91. Thereafter there was a steady decline, but no separate figures for the ecclesiastical parish are available after 1911, when the total was 60.
There was a church at Dodington by the late C12 with its own living, but no fabric of this building survives, except, perhaps, for the plan of the nave. By 1335 it was described as a chapelry, and was later dependent on Nether Stowey, which the VCH suggests was probably the source of its original foundation. By 1473 it was a rectory, appointed to by the lords of the manor.
The earliest surviving parts of the fabric are the porch, the chancel, and the lower stages of the tower which were added in the C15. Fragments of high-quality late medieval glass, featuring the heads of the Virgin, Christ and three angels remain in the east window of the chancel. The nave fabric cannot be dated, but the windows are of the C16, when the roof was also added. A plaque in the gable end of the south chapel shows that it was built as a Dodington family chapel in 1610. The top stage of the tower is probably of the C15, and record of it being renewed in 1772 was limited to the segmental arched bell openings, which are Georgian in character and show signs of being later additions. Most of the interior furnishings were added in the 1870s.
Exterior Description
The churchyard is entered through a lychgate to the north, built on a low stone wall with timber struts and slate roof. The inscription records that it was built in memory of those who died in WWI, and includes the inscription ‘GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS’.
The porch is not rendered, and built of red sandstone ashlar with a plinth around the exterior. It has a pitched roof and no windows. The entrance arch has deep double-ogee mouldings, below a panel with worn armorial bearings contained within two quatrefoils. The interior is rendered and painted, with a stone bench built into the wall and the original flagstones. It is accessed by a single step. It has a wagon roof, with purlins and bosses. A stoop in the southwest corner has Perpendicular-style panels and a pink stone shaft.
The nave is rendered, with red sandstone ashlar window jambs and labels, and quoins left exposed. Both north and south walls have two windows: one three- and one two-light square-headed window, all with labels. Each light has trefoil cusping and sunken spandrels, the style is of the early C16. It has diagonal buttresses to the east with two set offs and is abutted by the tower to the west. Decorative iron plaques on the exterior to the east hold in place an interior tie-beam for the chancel arch. The exterior eastern wall is visible and in poor condition. The north door, inside the porch, is moulded in exposed ashlar. Above it is a niche, presumably once occupied by a statue. The door is probably C20 but has strap hinges and decorative ironmongery.
Building Fabric and Features
Tower (component)
18th Century Ashlar tower with chunks of red sandstone and de-traceried belfry windows. Earliest stages C15th but records of ashlar tower building 1752 and renewing a stage 1772
Historical Notes
1752 - 1752
Period Qualifier: 1
Ashlar tower
1400 - 1499
Period Qualifier: 2
Earliest stages of the tower C15th
1772 - 1772
Period Qualifier: 1
Tower stage renewed
Belfry
18th Century Belfry stage in tower
Historical Notes
1752 - 1752
Period Qualifier: 2
Church
Medieval C15th church with many later additions and repairs
Historical Notes
1874 - 1874
Period Qualifier: 1
Nave reseated and restored
1924 - 1926
Period Qualifier: 1
Whole church restored costing about £4000.
1400 - 1499
Period Qualifier: 2
Earliest surviving parts are the C15th porch, chancel and lower stages of the tower
1500 - 1599
Period Qualifier: 1
Nave windows C16th
1610 - 1610
Period Qualifier: 1
Dodington (South) family chapel built
1918 - N/A
Period Qualifier: 1
Lych gate added in memory of WWI
Roof
16th Century Slate roof
Historical Notes
1500 - 1599
Period Qualifier: 2
Roof to nave added
Chapel (component)
17th Century South chapel built in the Perpendicular style. Over the east window is carved the date 1610 and the initials CD & ID. A plaque in the gable end of the south chapel shows that it was built as a Dodington family chapel in 1610.
Historical Notes
1610 - 1610
Period Qualifier: 2
Lych Gate
Modern Built in memory of those who died in WWI
Porch
15th Century C15th porch with stoup
Historical Notes
1400 - 1499
Period Qualifier: 2
Chancel
15th Century Chancel built C15th - fragments of late medieval glass remain in the east window of the chancel.
Historical Notes
1400 - 1499
Period Qualifier: 2
Nave
16th Century Nave windows C16th
Historical Notes
1500 - 1599
Period Qualifier: 2
1874 - 1874
Period Qualifier: 1
Nave restored and reseated
Chancel Arch
Medieval
Family Vault
The Dodington family vault is contained beneath the north chapel, recent exploratory work removed the boards under the pews and revealed the tombs.
Building Materials
Sandstone
blue lias and red sandstone rubble tower; porch of squared and coursed red sandstone
Slate
Slate roof
Tile
Parquet, stone, and tiled floors
Stone
Parquet, stone, and tiled floors.
Ashlar
18th Century Ashlar tower, 1752, of 3 stages with small plinth
Historical Notes
1752 - 1752
Period Qualifier: 2
Render
North side of the church is rendered and whitened
Interior
Interior Description
Internally, the original C15 wagon roof survives, with arched braces, purlins, ridge rib, and battlemented wall plate. There are several floriated square bosses, one containing the Dodington arms. The original large medieval chancel arch is extant. The interior is rendered and painted. The aisle floors are in red and black tiles; beneath the pews are parquet floors; and the chancel step is of stone flags.
The nave pews are of 1874 and simple in style. The choir stalls are decorated with attractive Tudor roses and wing motifs. Those in the chapel are identified by the listing description as being original, that is, of 1610, but are surely Victorian. They are plain in style with sunken panels in the pew ends containing trefoil headed arches. The pew platforms have been much altered, the churchwarden noted that these were recently pulled up by an archaeologist in order to examine the Dodington vault but so badly damaged in the process that they had to be replaced.
The two-stage west tower is almost square in plan, with a square vice to the northeast. It is built of rubble with ashlar quoins. The upper stages are usually dated to 1772 but appear to be original with only the bell openings of the C18. It has a plinth and battlements. The west doorway and window are the finest in the church. The former is boarded up but retains good mouldings and a deeply cut label. The two-centred window has three cinquefoiled lights, Perpendicular sub-reticulations, and a label with original headstops.
The chancel is also rendered, with two-light square-headed windows to north and south in a late C14 style, each light having a trefoiled ogee head and pierced spandrels. They are evidently Victorian but hopefully faithful copies of the originals. The east window is also evidently a later replacement, almost identical to that in the south chapel. Both are of three lights in two-centred arches with Perpendicular reticulation units. They have labels with renewed headstops. The interior is rendered and painted, with severe damp in the east wall. There is a large aumbry and single piscina to the south, and two brackets for statues to left and right of the east window. The floor is tiled with a sanctuary step. It has a modern roof with collars resting on arched braces and three purlins. Like the nave, the wall plates are castellated although here they support wall posts.
The south chapel is rendered, with the quoins left exposed. The east window is like that in the chancel but presumably Victorian and not of the C17. Above the window is a panel containing armorial iconography, including the Dodington hunting horns, the date 1610, and the letters GD and ID. The south door has a Tudor arch and exposed ashlar jambs. The door has elaborate strap hinges with fleur-de-lys, decorative iron work, and a drop handle. The chapel connects with the nave through an arch with panelled soffit, in an interesting C17 version of Perpendicular, with curved semi-capitals. The interior is render with masonry lines, and panelling at dado level.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
17th Century The altar table is Jacobean in style, with two arches on columns, each with multiple cusps, and carved spandrels. It is identified by the church guide as being of the C17. If correct, it is of very high significance.
Pulpit
Victorian/Pre WWI The Victorian pulpit is based around four sides of an octagon with one side much elongated.
Lectern
Victorian/Pre WWI The lectern is Victorian Gothic timber.
Font (component)
15th Century Perpendicular-style octagonal C15th font with quatrefoils set in panels. Conical C17th font cover probably carved locally.
Historical Notes
1400 - 1499
Period Qualifier: 2
C15th font
1600 - 1699
Period Qualifier: 1
C17th font cover
Stained Glass (window)
Victorian/Pre WWI Entirely Victorian and abstract in chancel north and east window, and chapel east window, with the exception of five excellent c. C15 heads reset in the east window, including the Virgin, Christ, and three angels, undoubtedly from a crucifixion scene.
Plaque (object)
17th Century The only monument internally is to Valentine Ball. It is loose and leaning against the wall of the tower, having been moved, the churchwarden reports, from the porch. It is in slate and dates to 1624. The design has a Jacobean arch and columns scribed around the outside.
Organ (component)
Small electric organ
Stoup
Bench (seat)
19th Century Nave reseated 1874
Historical Notes
1874 - 1874
Period Qualifier: 2
Bells
Nominal: 1208.5 Hz Weight: 554 lbs Diameter: 27.63" Bell 2 of 4
Founded by John Warner & Sons 1870
Dove Bell ID: 18444 Tower ID: 15402 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1132 Hz Weight: 541 lbs Diameter: 28.44" Bell 3 of 4
Founded by John Warner & Sons 1870
Dove Bell ID: 18445 Tower ID: 15402 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 996 Hz Weight: 615 lbs Diameter: 30.5" Bell 4 of 4
Founded by John Warner & Sons 1870
Dove Bell ID: 18446 Tower ID: 15402 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
The registers begin in 1538, but pages between 1635 and 1651 have been cut out. They are kept in the county record office.
Churchyard
Grid reference: ST 171 405
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
Churchyard Structures
Lych Gate
20th Century The lychgate was built as a WWI war memorial.
Gravestone
20th Century One gravestone to a WWI POW, E B Foley, d.1921
Cross
14th Century Remains of churchyard cross. C14. Sandstone. Grade II* listed. List Entry ID: 1345682.
Chest Tomb
19th Century Farthing family chest tomb and railings, in churchyard 12 metres North East of chancel. Mid C19. Limestone. Gothic style. Grade II listed. List Entry ID: 1174894.
War Memorial
Memorial to Admiral Sir Edward Codrington, G.C.B.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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