Reference
P5/2/2/15
Title
Volume of photographs and press-cuttings concerning the destruction of the church by fire on 8 Feb.1930 and subsequent rebuilding completed in 1932, marked "St.Mary's Eaton Socon, compiled by the Rev. E.P.Higham, Vicar 1922-1944 - Resurgam".
Date free text
1868-1943
Production date
From: 1868 To: 1943
Scope and Content
Contents - with contemporary photographs (marked "A" in the following list) by Ernest Albone, photographer, St.Neots - include:
(at front) Article on "Eaton Socon and its hamlets" by Arthur Ransom from Beds. Times 28 Sept.1900; article "Magic in Masonry" from Daily Herald n.d.; and (loose) article "The night the church blazed" from Independent Press 7 Oct.1976
p.1
Church interior, looking east, as in 1920 (A).
Church interior, looking east, previous to 1869 restoration - original by Cundall, Downes & Co., Bedford, and C20th copy (A).
Photograph by Albone of interior looking east as in 1920, showing high dorsal (A).
Exterior from the south before the fire (A).
Exterior from the north after the fire (A).
Fire-damaged interior looking east (A), 9 Feb.1930.
Stone corbel depicting Professor Albert Richardson, architect, and the master mason holding up a model of the church (A).
p.2
Fire-damaged interior looking east to altar.
Fire-damaged interior looking west to tower arch, with note "these pillars and clerestory windows crashed subsequently"
p.3
Church exterior from south after the fire (A), with note "this clerestory has been held up".
Interior looking east after collapse of north arcade, with font in foreground (A).
Interior looking west towards tower after collapse of north arcade (A) - 2 copies (one loose)
South pillars and clerestory "subsequently strutted and held up" (A).
p.4
Extracts from the parish magazine for March 1930 concerning the fire and about the rebuilding appeal.
p.5
Report (illustrated) of the fire from The Peterborough Advertiser 14 Feb.1930 (continued on p.6).
p.6
Report (with photograph) of the fire from the [Hunts. Post] and Bedfordshire Gazette 14 Feb.1930.
Tunes for the quarter chimes composed by S.G.Wilkinson, Eaton Socon, c.1931.
Exterior from the south after the fire.
Interior of south side of the church showing "how the south clerestory was at once strutted and held up by Dove Brothers, London".
p.7
Reports on the fire from the St.Neots Advertiser 14 Feb.1930, and shorter articles from other publications including the Church of England Newspaper and the Church Times.
Photograph of the Vicar feeding his pigs, marked "some of the helpers", by Fox Photos, London.
Exterior from north showing organ chamber and collapsed north wall (A).
Church interior looking west, with two policemen standing among ruins (A).
p.8
Reports of the fire from the Daily Sketch and (continued on p.9) from the Peterborough & Hunts Standard Feb.1930.
Postcard addressed to Mrs. E.Higham showing Selby Abbey [Yorks] after the fire [1907]
p.9
Various unmarked press cuttings.
Page from parish magazine for October 1930 announcing that the rebuilding contract for the chancel and nave had been signed.
p.10
Progress report from the parish magazine for September 1930.
Cutting from Beds.Times 23 Jan.1931 with pictures showing progress on church roof.
p.11
Report from the Huntingdonshire Post 12 Feb.1931 describing progress on the restoration.
Church exterior from the west (A) showing scaffolding round the tower and bells on the ground with note "3 [bells] crashed".
p.12
Article "Phoenix-like rises the church of Eaton Socon" from Peterborough Advertiser 24 April 1931.
Page from parish magazine for April 1931 advertising the reopening of the chancel on Easter Eve.
Various cuttings, including one from Church Times 17 April 1931.
Report of dedication of the chancel from [St.Neots Advertiser] ...and Beds. News 10 April 1931 (continued on p.13).
Extracts from parish magazines March to October 1931.
Report of Vicar's report to PCC meeting from St.Neots Advertiser 30 Jan.1931.
Photograph of C17th oak eagle lectern in possession of London antique dealer.
p.13
Printed subscription lists taken from press reports, June 1930 to Feb.1931, and printed statements of accounts 1934 and 1936.
Printed appeal leaflet (illustrated) for "an additional sum of _8000" to meet shortfall in insurance money (£18,000).
p.14
Loose items, including programmes (2) for the opening of the new organ by Mr. H.Ravenscroft Richards, 14 June 1932; Photographs (3) of carved oak bench-ends; Two photographs of oak bench-ends mounted on card as a Christmas card by P.J.T. 1928; postcard of church interior.
p.15
Extracts from the parish magazine for November and December 1931.
Duplicated letter from the Vicar to all members of the church council, 5 Dec.1931.
Newspaper reports of sermons on "The Story Eaton Church has to tell" 29 Nov. and 6 Dec.1931.
p.16
Report on the restoration entitled "Thrilling Conflagration Recalled" from Peterborough Advertiser 29 January 1932.
Article on the church from St.Neots Advertiser 17 June 1949.
p.17
Extract from the parish magazine for January 1932 listing various gifts to the church.
Page from parish magazine for March 1932 advertising the dedication of the restored church by the Bishop on 25 June.
p.18
Report from Peterborough Advertiser 18 March 1932 of an ecclesiastical symposium at St.Neots regarding the rebuilding, with details of speeches by the Vicar, Churchwardens and Professor A.E.Richardson. Includes a picture of Richardson's provisional estimate of the cost of rebuilding (£18,150 plus £8,000 for special items) - made after inspecting the ruins in 1930 and found to be within £30 of the final cost.
p.19
Reports from the Huntingdonshire Post and St.Neots Advertiser 18 March 1932 concerning a commemoration supper given by the Church Council for the Architects, Contractors and Workmen at the Cross Keys Hotel, St.Neots, on 12 March 1932.
Toast list for the supper [printed].
Order of service for the hallowing of the bells on 19 March 1932 [printed].
p.20
Press reports from the Huntingdonshire Post and St.Neots Advertiser 25 March 1932 concerning the hallowing of the new bells.
Press cutting showing the Vicar and workmen preparing for the rededication service [June 1932].
Extracts from the parish magazine, April and May 1932, listing gifts to the church and reporting work on old furnishings etc.
p.21
Page from parish magazine for June 1932 with letter from Vicar to parishioners about the dedication of the church.
Typescript order of service as used by the Bishop at the dedication, 25 June 1932.
Order of service for the dedication, 25 June 1932 [printed].
Reports from the Huntingdonshire Post and St.Neots Advertiser 16 June 1932 concerning the dedication and opening of the new organ.
p.22
Report from the Huntingdonshire Post 30 June 1932 concerning the dedication of the church - "Eaton Socon's Glorious Day" (continued on p.23).
p.23
Reports of the restoration and dedication of the church from the Manchester Guardian 24 June 1932 and (continued on p.24) from the Beds. Times.
p.24
Articles on the church from The Times 24 June 1932, the Church Times 1 July 1932, and (with drawing of interior by Hanslip Fletcher) from the Sunday Times 26 June 1932.
p.25
Reports of dedication from the Peterborough Advertiser 1 July 1932 and (continued on p.26) the St.Neots Advertiser 1 July 1932
p.26
Article from Beds. Standard 1 July 1932 recalling the great storm of 8 Sept.1741 which caused fires in Eaton Socon & St.Neots.
Photographs (mainly A - 11 items including two loose) of church after restoration and dedication service. June 1932.
Report (continued on p.27) of dedication from Beds. Standard 1 July 1932.
p.27
Report of dedication from the Biggleswade Chronicle [1 July 1932].
p.28
Report of dedication from Beds. Times 1 July 1932.
Various unmarked cuttings.
p.29
Report of dedication from parish magazine for July 1932, and other cuttings.
List of Vicars 1154-1922 and notes on church to June 1932 [unmarked press cutting]
p.30
Order of service for dedication, 25 June 1932 [printed] and short cutting from The Times.
Church interior during dedication service (A).
(at back) Card with press reports including "Bishop of St.Albans' farewell to Eaton Vicar" 23 April 1943; photograph (A) of Bishop approaching church in procession before dedication service, June 1932; Three photographs (A) of exterior, interior, and dedication service 1932; Picture from The Times 12 Nov 1936 [?] showing the armistice service at the memorial on the green; and (loose) two sketches [by Professor A.E. Richardson] representing the original Norman church and the C14th church at Eaton Socon.
Level of description
item