Listed Building record MDR4811 - St Paul's Church, Vicarage Lane, Little Eaton

St Paul's Church, Vicarage Lane, Little Eaton, built in 1791. 'St Paul's Church was built in 1791 and modernised in 1873.' (1) 'There was an old chapel at Little Eaton, dedicated to St Paul and mentioned in 1650. In 1735 part of the chapel was recorded as being 'in a decaying condition … From the fair font now standing in it … it appears to have been a considerable place, but it is now profaned, as also is the chapel-yard, and converted to a private use…'. In 1760 the chapel is again described as being in a ruinous condition. For a long time it was used as a blacksmith's shop, but in 1791 it was taken down and a new chapel, on a small scale, was built in its place. This chapel measured 35 ft 10 ins by 19 ft 11 ins, with the only entrance being under a gallery at the west end. A drawing of the chapel in 1821 shows two circular-headed windows on the south side, a shallow apse at the end and a wooden bell-turret on the west gable. This chapel was enlarged in 1837 but the present building, 'a rather feeble imitation of the Norman style', consisting of nave, aisles, chancel and west tower, though on a small scale, was built in 1851.' (2) From the National Heritage List for England: 'PARISH OF LITTLE EATON VICARAGE LANE SK 34 SE 1/72 (North Side) Church of St Paul GV II Parish church. 1791, enlarged and remodelled 1837, enlarged 1851, restored 1869 by Giles & Brookhouse. Coursed squared gritstone with gritstone dressings. Welsh slate roofs with stone coped gables. West tower, nave, large north aisle, chancel and north vestry. West tower of four stages divided by chamfered stringcourses. Clasping buttresses to west. West elevation has two semi-circular headed lancets with hoodmoulds. A similar lancet above and a small arrow slit above again. The north side has a flight of stone steps up to a semi-circular headed doorway. Arrow slit above. On the south side a semi-circular headed doorway with a stepped moulding and two roll mouldings. Hoodmould. Semi-circular headed lancet above and an arrow slit above again. Paired bell openings to all four sides, with nook shafts and cushion capitals. Circular opening above, all embraced by a semi-circular headed arch. Hoodmould. Battlemented parapet. The south side of the nave has two windows of paired semi-circular headed lights with a circle above, set within a larger arch. Small round arched lancet to right. Chancel south has two round-arched lancets with continuous hoodmould. Clasping buttresses at the east end. East window of three stepped round-arched lancets within a roll moulded super arch. Lean-to vestry has a 2-light chamfered mullion window. Large gabled north aisle, as big as the nave. East window similar to the main east window but unmoulded. The north side has a round-arched doorway with plank door. To the right a broad gabled north projection is all that survives of the 1791 building. It has one round-arched keyed window. West window similar to the aisle east window. Interior: north arcade of three round arches, circular piers and abaci, open trefoils in the spandrels. The nave has a boarded ceiling with exposed trusses with trefoil motifs. Similar roof in the north aisle. Stone font has a square bowl with incised motifs, on a circular base. Monuments: in the north aisle a gothic aedicule to John Tempest, died 1863, by J B Robinson of Derby. On the south wall a tablet to William Tempest, died 1842, by N Coulson. North gallery supported on two iron columns. Round-arched panels with painted commandments, either side of the aisle west window. Listing NGR: SK3612841504.' (3)