Monument record MDO491 - St Swithun's Church, Allington, Parsonage Lane, Bridport

It was originally a medieval chapel to Bridport dedicated to St Mary Magdalene until the 15th century, when it became an independent parish church rededicated to St Swithun. The church was demolished in 1827. A stone rubble garden wall is said to be the remains of its north wall. Archaeological investigations in 1986 suggested that the building and presumed graveyard had been completely cleared.

"Says HUTCHINS, anciently a chapel to BRIDDPORT, is now an independent church dedicated to ST SWITHIN; but, at the inquisition of JOHN ROGERS 20 HEN VI, to ST MARY MAGDALEN, and probably re-dedicated to her on rebuilding the church". [This is a direct quote from SHIPPS edition of HUTCHINS dated 1863. He quotes the original HUTCHINS of c 1773]. The old church, standing in a plot which is now the garden of the parsonage house was taken down in 1826-7. <1> Walling between the gardens of ALLINGTON VICARAGE and that of No 9 PARSONAGE ROAD is said to be part of the Md church of ST SWITHUN. The wall is of rubble, c 7ft high and extends E-W. Incorporated in it is a portion of cusped stonework. <3> The remains of the former medieval parish church of Allington, dedicated to St Swithun are within the former vicarage garden on the north side of Parsonage Road. A section of stone rubble walling forming part of the vicarage garden wall and incorporating a portion of cusped stonework is said to be part of the remains of the north wall of this church. <3> <7> Print inside the modern St Swithins, Allington: "ALLINGTON ST SWITHUN - the old church pulled down in 1827. It stood in the SW corner of the present vicarage garden. The thick curved wall is all that remains". [Print show a ruined church with a tower]. <4> SY 46249359. From the description in T2 the wall was unmistakeably located. It is 8.0m long, 2.4m high and 0.8m wide. Capped with brick. In the west it joins a modern house and in the east fades into a thinner garden wall at the point where it curves as mentioned in <3>. <5> It was originally a chapel to Bridport dedicated to St Mary Magdalene up until at least 1442, but subsequently became an independent parish church rededicated to St Swithun. The church was demolished in 1827 when the new parish church of St Swithun was built in North Allington. A drawing dated 1827 survives showing the church roofless and in a ruinous state. It comprised a nave, chancel, south porch and west tower. The tower was of two stages with a small square-headed belfry window and a parapet embattled at the angles only. The nave apparently had an embattled parapet and two-stage weathered buttresses and square-headed windows. The chancel was of equal height to the nave and contained a two light square headed window to the east and a possibly 14th century pointed two-light window with quatrefoil tracery to the west. The porch was at the east end of the nave. <6> An archaeological evaluation was undertaken in 1986 in advance of housing development. Only the slightest traces of foundations were revealed and it was concluded that the building and presumed graveyard were completely cleared. <7>

Record last edited

Dec 16 2022 6:17PM