Dalby Hall (about 2 miles NNE of Spilsby) was built in 1856, after a previous house had been destroyed by fire.

The design is classical - unusual for the architect James Fowler. The bow fronts were added in 1898.

(The house is privately owned; the photograph was taken from the nearby public footpath.)

Frank Robinson, December 2014

An earlier photograph of the Hall from a similar viewpoint.

T R Leach Collection, undated postcard

Dalby Hall viewed from the churchyard.

"Small country house. C18, rebuilt 1856 after destruction by fire by James Fowler of Louth, for J. W. Preston, later additions by Temple Moore"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063662?section=official-list-entry 

White's Directory 1872 has "Dalby Hall, a handsome mansion, erected in 1858, and standing in a well wooded park, near the site of the Old Hall, burnt to the ground on the 5th of January, 1841, is the seat and property of John Wilby Preston, Esq., J.P., the lord of the manor. He and the Trustees of Beverley Minster, together with John Stainton, Esq., are the chief landowners."

DB 5 October 2024

The church was built in Decorated style by James Fowler in 1862, and some of his design drawings are displayed inside.

The interior also has two 17th century monuments from an earlier building.

Th church is Grade 2 Listed. Historic England - Listing Description 

Frank Robinson, December 2014

View of the church from the south.

Frank Skelton, 1970s

A similar view of this attractive and well-maintained church.

September 2021 

View from the northeast. White's Directory 1872 reports :-

"The Church, which was a small ancient structure, containing several monuments, with effigies, in memory of the Llanden family, who lived here in the 16th and early part of the 17th century, was rebuilt in the year 1864, at a cost of about £800, raised by subscription. It is built of stone, in the Early English style of architecture, and consists of nave, chancel, and bell turret, and has seats for 110 persons. The benefice is a vicarage, now valued at £73 per annum, in the gift of J. B. and S. Slater, Esquires, who have about six acres of glebe, and incumbency of the Rev. Thomas Owston, M.A., of Partney. The tithes have been commuted for £234 per annum. The tithes of Dexthorpe, which comprises about 395 acres, are commuted for £110 per annum, and belong to the rector of Well". 

DB 5 October 2024

Church viewed from the north. 

"North nave has a single arched 2 light window with cusped tracery, hood mould and decorative label stops"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1359689?section=official-list-entry 

Kelly's Directory 1930 notes :-

"The church, dedication unknown, situated in the park, and surrounded by fine trees, is a small building of stone, in the Early English style, rebuilt in 1862 on the site of the old church, and consisting of chancel, nave, south porch, and a western turret containing one bell:

in the church is a marble monument with kneeling effigies and arms, erected by Sir Philip Llanden kt. and William Llanden esq. to their father and mother, William Llanden esq. and Alice his wife, who died in 1621:

another marble monument with kneeling female effigies is inscribed to July (Juliana Maynwaring), wife of Sir Philip Llanden kt. ob. 1617:

there are memorials to the Rev. Titus Bourn, d.1734, and John Bourn, gent. d. 1788, and to others of this family, 1743-1816, and to the Rev. William Tyler, 26 years rector, d. 1808:

there are sittings for 100 persons"

DB 5 October 2024

Church viewed from the west. A notice in the church reads :-

"Two Churches in Dalby were mentioned in "Doomsday Book", but it is generally supposed that one of these was in a neighbouring Parish, probably Dexthorpe.

The old Church was covered with thatch and contained a Norman Chancel arch. This Church became so dilapidated that it was demolished in 1862.

The present Church was designed by James Fowler Esq., of Louth, and was built on the same foundations as the old Church and the stones from the old Church were used for the outside walls. The building was started in June 1862 and the Church was opened for Divine Service by the Lord Bishop of Lincoln on 14th October, 1862."

DB 5 October 2024

Church viewed from the south. 

"Dalby church is dedicated to Saint Lawrence and Bishop Edward King, and is a Grade II listed building built in 1862 by James Fowler of Louth to replace an earlier church. The font dates from the 14th century."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalby,_Lincolnshire 

DB 5 October 2024

As was his wont, James Fowler included several decorative features in his design of the bellcote.

September 2021 

Looking east towards the altar.

DB 5 October 2024

Looking west through the chancel arch and back into the nave.

DB 5 October 2024

"Yellow and red brick chancel arch supported on ashlar colonnettes with shaft rings and decorative capitals"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1359689?section=official-list-entry 

DB 5 October 2024

"In loving memory of Bartholomew Claypon Garfit Born December 12th 1856 Died October 6th 1922. This window was erected by his wife Mabel Eleanor."

Kelly's Directory 1919 has "Dalby Hall, the seat of Bartholomew Claypon Garfit esq. J.P. is a handsome mansion of brick, situated in a well-wooded park. The trustees of Beverley Minster, who are lords of the manor, and B. C. Garfit esq. are the principal landowners"

DB 5 October 2024

C18 floor slabs in memory of John Bourne and other members of his family.

DB 5 October 2024

A more detailed view of the sanctuary and its decorative tiled floor.

DB 5 October 2024

View across churchyard with Dalby Hall in the background.

DB 5 October 2024

The church was of unknown dedication. It was formally named at a service on November 14th 1960 presided over by the Bishop of Lincoln, Kenneth Riches.

DB 5 October 2024

The view looking east to the chancel and the sanctuary.

September 2021

"Interior of red brick with flush yellow brick bands and polychromatic brick work to the window arches apart from the east window of the south nave which is ashlar. Yellow and red brick chancel arch supported on ashlar colonnettes with shaft rings and decorative capitals. Arch of east window supported on a single pair of similar smaller colonnettes."

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1359689?section=official-list-entry 

DB 5 October 2024

Looking west towards the font and organ.

DB 5 October 2024

Another view looking west.

Five of James Fowler's plans for rebuilding the church visible on the north wall.

DB 5 October 2024

Proposal for rebuilding Dalby Church, dated February 1862, and signed by James Fowler, architect of Louth. The church as built does not have an organ chamber or vestry as shown.

DB 5 October 2024

Proposal for rebuilding Dalby Church, dated February 1862, and signed by James Fowler, architect of Louth. The church as built does not have a doorway or any openings on the north side of the chancel.

DB 5 October 2024

"C14 octagonal ashlar font with quatrefoil panels"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1359689?section=official-list-entry 

DB 5 October 2024

"TO THE MEMORY OF MABEL ELEANOR GARFIT WIFE OF BARTHOLOMEW CLAYPON GARFIT OF DALBY AND DAUGHTER OF THE REV. JOHN BERIDGE SPARROW OF ALGARKIRK

BORN 10TH AUGUST 1861

DIED 20TH JANUARY 1947

A FAITHFUL WORSHIPPER IN THIS CHURCH"

DB 5 October 2024

"Good alabaster wall memorial to Julyan Llanden, 1617. The apron is decorated with a coloured shield and the crown with a small coloured kneeling female figure, carved in low relief."

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1359689?section=official-list-entry 

"HERE RESTETH THE BODY OF JULYAN SECOND DAUGHTER TO JAMES MAYNWARING OF CROXTON IN THE COUNTY OF CHESTER ESQR & FIRST WIFE TO SR PHILIP LLANDEN NOW KNIGHT WITH WHOM HAVING LIVED NOT FULL 7 YEARS SHE LEFT THIS EARTHLY TABERNACLE TO LIVE WITH HER IMMORTAL SPOUSE CHRIST JESUS UPON YE 11TH OF JUNE 1617 SHE HAD BY HER SAYD HUSBAND 2 SONNES WHO BOTH LYE BURYED BESIDE HER"

DB 5 October 2024

"The wall tablet to Revd. Willm. Tyler, 1808, is surmounted by an urn."

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1359689?section=official-list-entry  

"To the Memory of the Revd WILLM. TYLER, who departed this life July 14th 1808, Aged 59; and who faithfully served this Church 26 Years.

Also of ANN his Widow, who died at Clifton in Gloucestershire, on the 28th of May 1825, in the 80th Year of her Age. Her trust was in the Lord, and her end was peace."

DB 5 October 2024

This monument is in memory of William Llanden, who died in 1621, and his wife.

September 2021 

"Further alabaster wall memorial to William Llanden and his wife, 1631. The decorative apron also with a coloured shield. Over the inscription tablet are 2 coloured kneeling figures flanked by single Corinthian columns supporting an entablature with coloured cartouche."

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1359689?section=official-list-entry 

"NEERE TO THIS PLACE LYETH THE BODIES OF WILLIAM LLANDEN ESQ AND ALICE HIS WIFE WHO LIVED TOGETHER NEERE 4OTE YEARS THEY HAD ISSUE 4 SONNES & 1 DAUGHTER ... "

DB 5 October 2024

A small pipe organ typical of the late Victorian period.

September 2021 

Two labels on the organ - the maker's plate and a more modern label displaying some continuity :-

"Cousans, Sons & Co.

City Organ Works

Lincoln."

&

"TUNED BY

Cousans Organs

LEICESTER

Phone or Fax: (0116) 2536116"

DB 5 October 2024

Ashlar pulpit.

DB 5 October 2024

The Rev. Owston's picture displayed in the nave. It was during his incumbency that the church was rebuilt.

"The Rev. THOMAS OWSTON, M.A., Perpetual Curate of DALBY 1842-1894. Rector of SUTTERBY from 1848."

DB 5 October 2024

Looking up to the nave roof from beneath the chancel arch.

DB 5 October 2024

"In loving memory of Captain Heyworth Potter Lawrence Heyworth of the 2nd Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment 98th who was killed in action in Gallipoli on 6th Aug:1915 whilst acting as Adjutant to the 7th Battn, this window is dedicated by bis wife, A.D.1916"

See also https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/92146 

DB 5 October 2024

Part of the Heyworth memorial window.

September 2021 

The inscription below the memorial window reads:

In loving memory of Captain / Heyworth Potter Lawrence Heyworth  / of the 2nd Battalion North Staffordshire / Regiment - 98th - who was killed in action / in Gallipoli on 6th Aug whilst acting / as Adjutant to the 7th Battn, this window / is dedicated by his wife, A.D. 1916

September 2021 

An early photograph of the former church on this site.

It is known to have been stone built - some material was used for the current building - and apparently thatched. 

September 2021 

DB 5 October 2024

"The Incorporated Society for Building & Churches

GRANTED £30  A.D. 1861, TOWARDS REBUILDING THIS CHURCH, BY WHICH ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED FOR 41 PERSONS. THE ENTIRE AREA WILL ACCOMMODATE110 AT THE LEAST. THE SITTINGS ARE ALL FREE, AND SUBJECT TO ANNUAL ASSIGNMENT BY THE CHURCHWARDENS, SUITABLE PROVISION BEING MADE FOR THE POORER INHABITANTS."

The Bank of England's inflation calculator suggests that £30 in 1861 would now be worth £3000.75" 

DB 5 October 2024

The exterior of the church is entirely of stone - some ashlar but mostly dressed and coursed rubble. By contrast the interior is built of brick, bright red with occasional use of yellow and black to give polychrome impact.

This is the entrance doorway through the south porch.

September 2021