Details
PORTLAND
SY6871 STRAITS, Easton
969-1/4/60 (North side)
21/09/78 Church of All Saints
II
Anglican parish church. 1914/1917 by Crickmay and Sons.
Portland ashlar, tile roofs, with 4 courses of stone slates to
eaves level of roofs other than nave and aisles; lead to S
chapel. Four-bay nave, cross-gabled aisles, north-west porch,
transepts, chancel, south chapel, vestry; the west end of S
aisle intended to carry tower, not built. Windows generally in
Perpendicular style, but to chancel are late Decorated. All
gables with copings - at lower levels a hollow-mould saddle
back, and high level stepped and weathered - and all on slight
plinth. West front with large 5-light, gabled buttress to left
and gabled porch slightly set forward, with segmental-pointed
arch over plank door. Hopper-head on return by buttress. To
right a square buttress with toothing to receive tower, and
flat segmental-headed arch over door in set-back end of aisle;
to right further toothing and base of large square buttress
for tower. South side has bell in small bellcote on west gable
end, then 3 gables over 4-light windows separated by deep
weathered buttresses to single offset. Four cast-iron
hopper-heads and down-pipes. Transept gable on haunches
flanked by gabled buttresses over 4-light and an offset gabled
porch with plank doors to pointed arch. Beyond is chapel to
blocking and parapet with two 2-light cusped lights, and a
stone hopper-head, behind which are three 3-light chancel
windows. East end has low gabled end to chapel over 3-light
with flat pointed head, and main gable with terminal cross and
large 5-light window. Set back, to left, long low wing with 2
windows and door. North front has gabled end to low block with
2 and 3-light windows and door, under single light to chancel,
then high gabled organ loft, with large square stack, and
semi-octagonal stair turret to pyramid capping. Remainder of
north side - transept and aisles - as S front. Interior:
Four-bay nave on moulded arches to quatrefoil piers with roll
mould. Arch-braced roof principals, simplified at half-bays;
complex aisle roofs, painted timber wagon ceiling to chancel.
Unplastered walls. Panelled wall with central curtain to
reredos to cill height, 4-centred arch over door N side to
vestry, under stepped string course continued to S side over
piscina and sedilia, and similar door to S chapel. Simple
original pews, and good choir stalls, splendid octagonal
carved wood pulpit on striped stone base. Windows in S chapel
by Clayton and Bell, dedicated to Canon John Augustine Beazer
(1872-1909), of St. George, Reforne (qv) - the church replaced
by All Saints. Octagonal font and cover with animal
supporters. A very confident design, with meticulous
detailing, retaining most of the original fittings. It is
unfortunate that the intended tower was not built. At the west
end is a large framed (undated) tithe map.
(Buildings of England: Pevsner N and Newman J: Dorset: London:
1972-1989: 341).
Listing NGR: SY6929471850