The collapsing vestry of Little Somerford
Little Somerford Church is having some much needed attention from Dan Bailey Building Contractors who are doing a great job!
Over the last few years worrying cracks have been developing and we are now dealing with it. The vestry (around the back and invisible from the road) was falling away from the main building, and cracks in the north-east corner of the chancel have been widening. It is likely that the causes of these are similar. The vestry has now been partly demolished and rebuilt. Following that the buttress on the north-east corner will be underpinned.
The root cause of the damage is a combination of tree root action and ground conditions, but for the vestry particularly the collapse and settlement of ancient shallow graves that lie under the walls.
The trees have been dealt with in collaboration with our neighbours. Archaeological oversight of the excavations revealed bones of at least five bodies, which have been legally exhumed and will be reburied in the churchyard when the works are over. Buttons in one of the graves give us a rough date of 18th century for one of the burials, likely a high status young female.
The Parochial Church Council is responsible for the maintenance of this Grade 1 Listed Building and has received some grant funding towards the works, the cost of which is likely to touch £40,000. This will deplete Little Somerford Church finances and reserves totally, and at the moment we will have to take out a small loan in order to meet the cost of the works. If you are able to make a donation to help us minimise the financial problem it would be very much appreciated.
Please visit our fundraising site to make a donation:
