A present from Durham

The Overseers’ and Churchwardens’ account book for Escomb parish in County Durham has the following entry for 4 September 1684: ‘Collected within ye Chappelry of Escombe ye sume of one shilling seven pence halfe peny towards ye rebuilding of ye great church at Portsmouth.'

This was for the rebuilding of St Thomas Church, now Portsmouth Cathedral, following damage inflicted during bombardment in the Civil War.