Architects and Builders
Whilst the construction proceedings of 1955 are being presented separately from the financial transactions, in reality they took place concurrently. At some time during March to June 1955 there must have been discussions as to what it may be possible to build, as the only records we have solely mentions "a hall", also the projected cost was never disputed in any way. I suspect that this was because a) it was obvious that the population of the parish was far too few to raise the money to build a church and b) contact had already been made with Reema Construction. Reema specialised in prefabricated buildings and in July 1955 sent a price list for consideration.
There must have been some discussion following receipt of Reema's letter as on the 23 September Revd Freeman wrote to Allner Morley & Bolton, architects. There is no indication why this firm was chosen, their reply is also shown below.
To Mr Morley (from later correspondence he was the architect)
From Rev Freeman
Dear Mr Morley
I enclose two very rough ideas of what I am looking for. The essential points are :-
1) There must be a sanctuary that can be used as a chapel with room say for twelve communicants.
2) This chapel must be capable of being thrown completely into the hall by the opening of double doors, or perhaps a roller shutter.
3) There must be at least two fair sized dressing rooms for use as vestries, class and committee rooms.
4) There must also be sufficient cloakroom and kitchen space for social gatherings say for 2-250.
We have available £5,500 and the latter I am earmarking for furniture. So shall we say £5000 to include site works.
Thus you are being handed a very difficult problem but I would be glad if you could think it over, and let me have some rough idea as to whether such a scheme is possible outside the 'prefabs'. I do not - of course - want a detailed plan, but just your opinion ( with perhaps a sketch) as to its possibilities.
Yours sincerely
From Allner Morley & Bolton, Architects & Surveyors 26 Parkstone Road Poole
To Rev W Freeman, West Parley Rectory, Dudsbury Avenue Ferndown.
Dear Mr Freeman
Proposed Church Hall
Thank you for your letter of the 23rd inst. and I note your four essential points for the new hall. I think, however, I must first get the site levelled and surveyed and settle in my own mind the arrangement of the buildings I propose to suggest to you. This may affect the shape of the hall. One may want a long, narrow building instead of a shorter and broader building although I appreciate that one should not spoil the hall for the sake of some hypothetical buildings which may be erected in the future.
I do feel however, that we might be able to suggest a workable alternative within your price range.
As a matter of interest, the Vicar of St John's Heatherlands, and his Churchwardens went to see the Rema building at Fordingbridge and did not like it. They thought it was already showing signs of cracks in oddplaces and decided to build in brickwork.
I hope if the weather holds to do the levelling one day early next week and then I will write to Commander Charlewood.
Yours sincerely A Morely.
For the non technical; the reference to levelling in the letter refers to taking the levels of ground, not physically flattening it. Also for those of you that take an interest in such things - their telephone number was Poole 182, gosh only 900 subscribers on the main Poole exchange in 1955 (and their address is Parkstone) but I digress, note that Mr Morley was familiar enough with the local officials to refer to Commander Charlewood by name and to know that he should reply to him. Given that there is no reference to Charlewood in Freeman's letter there must have been some substantive contact before the exchange of correspondence. Well the weather stayed fine the proposals were promptly received.
From Allner Morley & Bolton
To Charlewood Secretary West Parley PCC
Dear Comd Charlewood
Site for Proposed Church Hall, Parish of West Parley
Having now surveyed the site and taken detailed levels I send you a suggestion for the lay-out of this site allowing for a Church Hall to be built in the near future, with a site for a Church and Rectory, possibly to be built at some time in the future.
You will see that I have developed my suggestion of placing the Rectory to the East of the Church with the Church Hall on the N.E. of the site. I found that there is a total fall from the top N.W. corner down to the lower S.E. corner of the site of 17 ft.4 in., and in a 100 ft.length (it is possible that the Hall would not be quite as long as this) there is a natural fall of rather less than 5 ft. This could be overcome by a certain amount of cutting and filling.
If you approve of this lay-out perhaps you will kindly let me know and I will then send it to the R.D.C. in an endeavour to obtain Town Planning approval in principle to the project.
If it would be any help for me to meet you to discuss any point arising from this plan I shall be happy to do so.
Yours sincerely J G Morley
It seems a shame to squash the first intimations of St Marks into a little image, so for the curious, click here which will open a new window with a large image.
Out of the blue has come a possible church and a rectory. Thoughts have changed from earlier documents seen. There is to be no dawdling around now, on the same day as it was received Charlewood writes back.
From Charlewood Secretary West Parley PCC
To Allner Morley & Bolton Architects
Dear Mr Morley,
Parley Cross
I have to thank you for your letter of the 4th inst and for your lay-out plan for the site. Your proposed lay-out conforms to the preliminary proposals of the West Parley Parochial Church Council and I am to request you to submit it to the Wimborne & Cranborne Rural District Council for Town Planning approval in principle to the project.
As my Council has been exploring the possibilities of Reema construction Limited, for the erection of a hall to seat 200/250 I enclose for your information certain relevant literature which my Council has received from that firm.
I understand that you are preparing an an alternative design for my Council-s consideration.
Yours sincerely etc
Allner Morley & Bolton were architects, it would not matter to them who the builders were, though they may be a bit miffed if their design was not chosen. We will see what is happening on the Reema front on page 19.
Go to Page 19