Leaving Amesbury, and following the eastern banks of the Avon, we come to
Great Durnford. Its name is derived from the British word “dur,”
signifying water. The church is most picturesque, and is built of stone
and flint, with very rich Norman north and south doorways and chancel
arch. The font is Norman, with an interesting arcade. The pulpit is of
oak and dated 1619, and has a very old velvet cover with 1657 worked on
it. Built into the wall of the church is a stone coffin containing a
skeleton, supposed to be that of the founder. Traces of two doors
leading to the rood loft can still be seen, and in one window are the
remains of some very old glass. Inside the south door are several
curious crosses, supposed to be dedication crosses. In the chancel is a
leper’s window. The altar rails are of oak, and date back to the
sixteenth century. The pattern on the walls is the same as that found
some years ago under the plaster and whitewash. There is a curious brass
to the memory of Edward Young, his wife, and fourteen children, dated
1670. In the chancel, chained to an ancient desk, is a copy of Jewel’s
“Apologie of the Church of England,” ordered by Convocation after the
Reformation, 1571.
GREAT DURNFORD HOUSE
was once a seat of the Hungerfords. Evelyn notes in his Diary, July,
1654:—“We dined at a ferme of my Uncle Hungerford’s called Darneforde
magna, situate in a valley under the plaine, most sweetly watered,
abounding in troutes, catched by speares in the night when they come
attracted by a light set in ye sterne of a boate.”
It is in the French château style on a small scale, and has lovely
old-fashioned gardens, quite unspoiled, with some rare trees growing in
them. At the end of the last garden flows the Avon, and picturesque
Durnford Church stands close by. In 1869 Mr. Pinckney bought the house
and some of the estate from the Earl of Malmesbury.
OGBURY CAMP.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account