1867 South Aisle Restoration

Contents

Introduction

The work on the restoration of the chancel was under way in 1863. This had been largely arranged and financed by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and the Millards as Lessees of Deopham Manor.
The vicar, the Rev. Hibbert Wanklyn, started by sending out a circular before the architect Mr Ewan Christian had completed his report and estimates. The vicar was hoping to raise sufficient funds to tackle everything in addition to the chancel more or less at the same time as the chancel work.
Once the vicar had the estimate in hand, he revised his circular, although still with ambitions of tackling everything at once.
However, it clearly became apparent that this was not going to happen so once he had raised almost sufficient funds for the south aisle roof, that work was set in motion.
There was a long pause (until 1881) after the south aisle restoration before continuing to the next project. This may have been in part due to the Rev. Hibbert Wanklyn’s poor health – on this, see here.

Letter to Dean & Chapter August 17^th 1863

August 17^th
As the Ecclesiastical Commissioners are about to restore the chancel of this church, I conceive that no more effective time could be selected for our effort to restore the body of this church and trust that the Dean & Chapter as patrons of the living will aid me in carrying out this good work. From the estimates for the chancel of the work to be executed at the joint expense of the Messrs Millard & the Commissioners & also from an estimate furnished to me for the repair of the tower & bells – I cannot put the cost of the restoration at less than £1100 which sum, under God’s blessing, I shall endeavour to raise
I propose applying to Lord Wodehouse & some friends of my own in the first instance & then open an account at Messrs Gurneys requesting the … of Norfolk & my churchwarden to act as joint trustees with me for the fund.
May I beg the favour of your kind offices with the Dean & Chapter in order to enable me to carry out so desirable & so necessary a work.
I remain,
Yours faithfully,
H. Wanklyn

From a document held by the Chapter of Canterbury; their ref BB 4/1175
Transcription © G. Sankey

Circular December 1863

The vague statement in the following circular that “the cost will not be less than £1000” implies this document was circulated before the architect Ewan Christian had completed his estimate which is dated February 19^th 1864. That estimate showed a total of £1,914.

Reproduced courtesy of the Chapter of Canterbury; their ref BB 4/1179

Letter from the Rev. Hibbert Wanklyn 1863

The following letter accompanied a copy of the above 1863 circular, although the letter itself does not have a year.

November 4^th
My dear Sir,
Will you allow me to enclose you a circular respecting the state of my church. The Audit of the Patrons of the Living is now drawing near & I most earnestly hope that they will take the case under their kind consideration. Unless this present opportunity is seized I fear this noble church will soon be a wreck. I have been trying to raise funds amongst my friends & others whom I can interest in the causes – hitherto I have only got about £120 – it is rather unfortunate that just before I came here I collected £270 for the rebuilding [of] the chancel of my then church¹.
However I cannot think that such a work as this will be allowed to fail for want of funds. The parishioners will do all they can, but while the sum needed is so large it is useless to ask such small holders.
The funds collected are placed in Messrs Gurneys Bank in the joint names of my Churchwarden & myself. I have the estimates as for the chancel work by me. The Commissioners and the Impropriators propose spending £464 on that portion of the building – the work to be commenced in the spring. Mr Christian has kindly undertaken to carry out any work on the nave at the same time provided we are ready – at any rate, he will be our architect. Trusting that you will press the case before the Chapter.
I remain
Yours sincerely
H Wanklyn

From a document held by the Chapter of Canterbury; their ref BB 4/1177
Transcription © G. Sankey

List of Donors December 1863

The total of this undated list is £179 : 11s : 11d which is still somewhat short of the sum which the vicar said he raised. It was presumably compiled and circulated to other potential donors to encourage further gifts.
This list was attached to a letter from the Rev. Wanklyn dated December 14^th 1863² in which he says “I want at least £1000 for the nave”. This therefore places the letter before the receipt of the architect’s quote.

Reproduced courtesy of the Chapter of Canterbury; their ref BB 4/1181

“A few Eton boys” forwarded 15s 6d to the restoration fund: these could well have been former pupils from the time when Rev. Hibbert Wanklyn was resident at Eton College – see here.

Architect’s Estimate February 1864

The architect Ewan Christian on February 19^th 1864 had listed works to the value of £1,914 which he deemed necessary for the church. These are listed here.

Letter from Rev. Hibbert Wanklyn February 25^th 1864

Shortly after receiving Ewan Christian’s estimates, on February 25^th 1864, the vicar, the Rev. Hibbert Wanklyn, wrote as follows to the Dean and Chapter at Canterbury asking them for a further contribution towards the works:

Deopham Vicarage
Wymondham
Norfolk

Very Rev^d Sir,
I beg most respectfully to enclose for your perusal the Estimates of the restoration & refitting [of] our noble old church. At the time when the circular laid before the Chapter was drawn up I had only a builder’s report. Since that period, Mr Christian has been down to survey the church & enclosed is the result. Largely as it exceeds the sum first named, it is much more satisfactory to have obtained the opinion of so experienced an Architect. I now venture to solicit your assistance in carrying out the work. I enclose one of the circulars which describes the condition of the church & the poverty of the parish in as short a way as it can be put. I have collected about £216 since October, inclusive of £20 voted by the Chapter & sent to us by the Hon^ble D. Finch. The outlay will be so much more than we had ever calculated & for that I am constrained to ask for your kind co-operation in obtaining a larger donation from the patrons of this living. Had we all the funds we could not execute the works this year as the Chancel will be commenced as soon as possible & will occupy six months. I feel that this undertaking is an arduous one, but with God’s help I think I may succeed. May I request you to be so kind as to return the estimates. I have submitted them to the Bishop & the Archdeacon who have both expressed their strong approval of the undertaking.
Apologizing for thus troubling you,
I remain
Your obedient servant,
H Wanklyn
February 25^th 1864

From a document held by in the Canterbury Chapter archive, ref BB 50/106(1)
Transcription © G. Sankey

The following circular was attached to the above letter.

Circular 1864

This version has been slightly enhanced from the earlier document in that the cost of the chancel works is shown, and the estimate for the other works raised to £2000 (albeit as a manual amendment).

Reproduced courtesy of the Chapter of Canterbury; their ref BB50/106(2)

Letter from Rev. Hibbert Wanklyn November 5^th 1864

Dear Sir,
I have delayed writing this till the time for the winter Audit of the Dean & Chapter approached. Continuous illness has prevented me from proceeding with my work of collections for our church restoration. I have however got together more than £300 towards the works. The roof is in such a condition that the rain comes in almost everywhere and it is impossible for us to touch this without fully repairing it. This reparation will involve an almost entirely new roof. Mr Christian advises us to have the lead re-cast as the most economical way of proceeding – this portion (the roof) is estimated at £600. The windows would next claim attention, then the tower & bells, lastly the floor & walls.
All these works are wholly necessary – the roof should be done at once, say next spring, & we wish to carry out the whole restoration, involving an expenditure of £1900 as soon as we can raise the funds.
The Chancel is mainly finished & with its fine east window & beautiful oak roof is a credit both to the Architect & workmen. The Commissioners & the Lessees have been most liberal & I shall indeed be glad if we can put the nave in a condition even slightly approximating to that of the Chancel.
No effort on my part shall be wanting to raise the required funds & I sincerely hope that the Dean & Chapter will kindly afford us some further help. If I have the promises of such assistance, it will be a great encouragement.
Our account stands at Messrs Gurney’s.
Hoping for a favourable reply,
I remain
Yours truly
Hibbert Wanklyn

From a document held by the Chapter of Canterbury; their ref BB 50/109
Transcription © G. Sankey

Rev. Wanklyn to Dean & Chapter – August 8^th 1865

There is no year on this letter; the Chapter of Canterbury Archive has dated it to 1865.

August 8^th
Sir,
Referring to your letter of Dec 12 – 1864, I have the honour to inform you that the work of restoration on our church has already commenced on the South Aisle & that being in a dangerous condition. Though we are still much short of the sum we require yet I pray (DV³) we shall accomplish all & I shall feel much obliged to you if you will forward me the further sum of £20 so kindly promised by the Dean & Chapter.
I remain
Yours faithfully
H. Wanklyn

From a document held by the Chapter of Canterbury; their ref BB 50/110
Transcription © G. Sankey

Outstanding debt – June 27^th 1878

In 1878 there was still an outstanding debt for these works; the following letter from Robert Phoenix was addressed to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. It is unusual for these Deopham projects that it was the churchwarden rather than the vicar appealing for funds.

Image courtesy of Lambeth Palace Library

The inside of the south roof:

Photo: G Sankey, Feb 2024

SPAB verdict 1882

The verdict from the SPAB representatives on the south aisle repairs, which is contained in their report of 1882, was “The roof of the south aisle is new, and a very poor one”.

Cost of South Aisle repairs

Initial Estimate – February 1864

Ewan Christian, the architect, estimated on February 19^th 1864 the following costs for the south aisle restoration:-

External	South Aisle Roof	£127
Internal	Restoration of Walls, Windows etc	£57
	10% contingency	£18
	Total	£202

Rev Hibbert Wanklyn – November 18^th 1878

Writing on November 18^th 1878 to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners about the nave roof repairs, the Rev. Hibbert Wanklyn said of the South Aisle repairs:

The year after the restoration of the [chancel], I raised from the parish and my own personal friends £260 to restore the South Aisle which was done under M^rChristian’s supervision.

Extract from Nave Roof appeal

Kelly’s Directory – 1883

“In 1867 the south aisle was restored at a cost of £240“. (According to Kelly’s 1883 Directory)

Footnotes

His previous parish was Fleet Maston, Bucks – see here. ↩︎
Ref BB 4/11580 ↩︎
DV = Deo Volente = God willing ↩︎

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Schedule of Rev. Wanklyn’s Projects

Date	Change
2/3/24	Corrected date on Wanklyn letter of 25/2/1864
11/2/24	Published