Plympton St. Maurice.

[1830, Part I., pp. 300-303.]
Plympton St. Maurice, commonly called Plympton Maurice, or Plympton Earl, is a borough and market town, situated in a fertile vale, 40 miles south-west of Exeter and 5 east of Plymouth, being nearly two miles from the river Plym, whence it derives its name. It contains about two houses, arranged principally into two streets, crossing each other somewhat in the form of the letter T. The inhabitants are computed at 700.

The buildings of interest are the church, guildhall, and grammar school, and the ruins of a castle on the north. The Calvinists have also a small meeting-house.

The guildhall is a large and by no means inelegant structure, standing on granite pillars; against the front are two small niches, one containing the arms of Sir Hugh Trevor, Knt., with the date 1696 ; the other is vacant. The dining-room is ornamented with the portraits of George I. and George II., Sir Joshua Reynolds (by himself), and several members of the corporation.

The grammar school is a little to the south-east of the church, and is a stately edifice in the Gothic style, supported by an extensive piazza. It was founded in the middle of the seventeenth century by Elizeus Hele, Esq. for the education of the youth belonging to the hundred of Plympton, * and was built by his executors in 1664. In the master's house adjoining Sir Joshua Reynolds was born in 1723, his father being at that time master of the school.

In the principal street are several old houses standing on piazzas called the " Penthouse," underneath which the pigmy market is held on Fridays. Tradition says the greater part of the town, when in the meridian of its mercantile grandeur, was built in the same manner.

On the north side of the town are the ruins of a castle. The keep, which was circular, stood on an artificial hill 60 feet high. A part of the outer wall only is now remaining. This is of great thickness, and is about 20 feet high in the highest part; two apertures (apparently flues] a foot square, run through it, several feet from each other. This hill has obviously sunk in the centre, certainly confirming the report of its being hollow, and communicating with the Priory of Plympton St. Mary. The green is in the form of an amphitheatre, and is surrounded by a deep fosse, which once communicated with the Plym, thought by means of embankments, this river has for centuries ceased to fill it with its waters. The sides are considerably elevated above the middle, and are planted with trees, affording an agreeable walk for the inhabitants.

This castle was the residence of De Redvers, Earl of Devon, who was Baron of Plympton, of whom many of the neighbouring gentry held lands in castle-guard ; among whom was his castellan, named De Plympton, whose son assumed the name of his estate, De Newenham. An heiress of this family in the reign of Henry II. was married to Adam le Stroud, † whose descendants till retain it ; a singular circumstance, that they should be the only family which still hold the lands originally granted to their ancestors, when even the ownership of the castle has long since passed from the family of

its ancient lords, and many of their offspring are obliged " to earn their bread by the sweat of their brow. "

On the extinction of the family of De Redvers in the male line, by the death of Baldwin, eighth Earl of Devon, without issue, in the reign of Edward I., the barony of Plympton, together with the earldom, became the property of his sister, the Lady Isabella, wife of William de Fortibus, Earl of Albemarle : she likewise dying issueless, her titles and extensive domains passed to Hugh Courtney, her cousin. Baron of Oakhampton, the son and heir of Mary, eldest daughter of William, surnamed De Vernon from his birthplace, by her first husband, Sir Robert Courtney, Knt, This Hugh at first neglected to assume the dignity and functions of Earl of Devon, until compelled to do so by the King. He died in the reign of Edward III. After a series of forfeitures and restorations this title finally passed from the Courtney family by the death (generally supposed by poison) of Edward, son of Henry, created Marquis of Exeter by Henry VIII. This Henry was attainted and beheaded in 1538, and his titles and estate forfeited to the Crown; but Mary restored the earldom to Edward, she being greatly attached to him. He died unmarried at Padua in 1556. His possessions were divided among his nearest relatives, who were the descendants of the four sisters of his great-grandfather. This castle, after passing through various families, was purchased some years ago by the present Earl of Morley, of Admiral Palmer, of Whitehall, in this parish. This gentleman has since left the neighbourhood.

The church is dedicated to St. Maurice, and was originally founded as a chantry chapel by John Brackley Esq. It consists of a nave, chancel, and two aisles, with a neat tower at the west end. The interior is plain, and the aisles are separated by obtuse arches. The walls were formerly decorated with scriptural sentences, adorned with angels, etc.; but about three years since, when the church was whitewashed, they were defaced, though they can still be distinctly traced. This practice, unfortunately too common, and cannot be too severely reprobated.

The pulpit was erected in 1670, and is neatly divided into small panels. The font, which is ancient, is surmounted by a modern wooden cover. In the south aisle is an ancient seat, on which is rudely carved the figure of a man bearing a cross. Near this, on the wall, is an unassuming monument, containing the following inscription, in Roman capitals:

" Sacred to the memory of Lieutenant Thomas William Jones, son or Mr. Richard Jones, surgeon of this place, commander of His Majesty's schooner Alphea, of ten guns and forty men. She was blown up in a night action with the French privateer Le Reynard, of fourteen guns and fifty men, near the Start Point, on the ninth of September MDCCCXIII.; when, after an obstinate contest of two hours and a half, the enemy having made two unsuccessful attempts to board, were, according to their own account, clearly overpowered. This monument is erected

by the family of Lieutenant Jones in affectionate remembrance or an amiable relative, and in grateful respect to the loyalty and valour of those who supported him in that memorable conflict."

On the floor in the eastern end of the same aisle is the inscription following, in black letter :

" Will Snelling. Gent. twise Maior of this towne: be died the xx day of Nouevember, 1624. ..."

On each side the entrance of the chancel is an opening, looking into either aisle, through which the people might see the host elevated. On the south side or the altar is an old tablet, with this inscription :

" Hicuc situs est Thomas Browne, hujus eccasitæ Min. et scholæ vicinæ Præcaptor, in'agro Ebhorac: natus. in coll. ædis X'ti apud cant: educatus, eximia doctrina, morrum suavitate, et dexteritate instruendi, nemini secundus. Objit dec: net: die Maii MDCXCVIII. Mariti memoriæ sancrum hoc marmor sepulchrale vxor posuit."

Near it is a white marble slab to the memory of Katherine Kite, who died in May, 1811, aged 69, and William Kite. gent., her husband, who died in October, 1815, aged 70.

Also a wooden tablet, with the following:

" Mem. Anno Dom, 1687.
" That Mrs. Mary Moulton of this parish, the widow or Edward Moulton, Gent (out of her pious bounty) gave the rents of one field called Hilly Field to the poor of this parish, to be distributed yearly on the 25th of December. And alsoe gave the rents and profits or another field commonly called Pryor's Parke, situate in the parish of Plimpton St. Mary unto the minister and poor of the parish, to be divided equally between them. And did likewise give the rents and profits of another commonly called Horseman's Meadow, situate within the parish, unto the minister and ministers that shall actually serve the cure within this parish for ever."

On the opposite side is another of minor donations, and a neat white marble monument to the memory of Lucy, youngest daughter of Admiral Forster, of this town, who died February I, 1826, aged 11 years and 7 months.

In the north aisle is a handsome monument:

" Sacred to the memory of Rowland Cotton, Esq. Vice Admiral of the Blue, and Commander in Chief of his Majesty's ships and vessels in Plymouth Port, son of the late Sir Lynch Cotton, Bart. of Combermere Abbey in the county of Chester, who died the 30th day of November, 1793. in the 53d year of his age."

There are likewise two tablets commemorative of Mrs. Frances Full, who died October 29, 1803, aged 73, and Miss Charlotta Lofter, who died in Apri1, 1811, aged 52.

On the floor is a stone, with this inscription, nearly obliterated, round the margin:

" Credo: I beleeve that although after my skinne worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.-Iob, xix. 26. ...

There are many monumental inscriptions on the floor in the body of the church, chiefly at the entrance of the chancel, but they are either much mutilated or covered by the pews.

In the fretwork of the windows are some remnants of painted glass.

In the churchyard are a few tombs, but of no interest to the tourist. One, however, on the north records the name of the Rev. Robert Forster, who was above forty years minister of the parish. He died in 1800, aged 70.

At the north-east of the town is a large, square, heavy-looking brick mansion, with the north and south fronts of bath-stone. It was built in the early part of the last century, by Mr. Secretary Treby,"* and is commonly known by the name of the " Great House." Though uninhabited,† it contains many good portraits of the Treby family.

The parish was taken out of Plympton St. Mary, and is probably the smallest in the kingdom, as it scarcely contains 150 acres. Plympton is one of the four stannary towns‡ appertaining to the tin-mines of Devon. It is a place of great antiquity, and formerly of much commercial importance. It was first incorporated by Baldwyn de Redvers, Earl of Devon, in 1242, who granted it the same privileges that Exeter then enjoyed, together with the fairs, markets, etc., reserving a yearly rent of £24 2s. 3d. Its incorporation was many years previous to that of Plymouth, the recollection of which is preserved in the following distich :

" Plympton was a borough town,
When Plymouth was a furzy down."

It is now of little consequence. The Plym, which anciently flowed up to the castle "walls, now approaches no nearer than a mile and a half, and the turnpike road is more than a quarter of a mile distant. Its market, from being the first in the county, has dwindled down to two or three butchers' stalls. It has, however. several cattle-fairs in the year, generally well attended; and still continues to send representatives to Parliament, which it has done ever since the reign of Edward I. The freemen are chiefly non-resident.

JOSEPH CHATTAWAY.    

Plympton St. Mary.

[1829, Part I., pp. 512-514.]

Plympton St, Mary, " so caullid by-cause the Chirch there is dedicate onto Our Lady," is one of the most extensive parishes in the county.

It contains nearly 12.000 acres, including the commons and waste lands. The population is estimated at 2,000.

The church is pleasantly situated near the turnpike road, in a valley between the villages of Ridgeway and Underwood, about half a mile from the borough of Plympton, and five miles from Plymouth. It consists of a nave, chancel, and two aisles, with a transept in the south, and a chapel in the north aisle. This latter is called the " Strode's aisle." and was erected by one of the Strodes of Newenham in this parish. The church is built of hewn granite, and embattled, supported at equal distances by strong buttresses, terminating in slender pinnacles; between each is a grotesque head, for the purpose of a water-spout. The Strodes' aisle, evidently an addition, is built of tough slates, and greatly disfigures the appearance or the north side of the church. Against the south porch are two niches, in each of which is a kneeling figure. Above is a third, containing the representation of the Trinity. The Father seated on a throne, with a triple crown on His head, holds the Son extended on a cross between His knees; the dove is broken off. The roof of the porch is beautifully groined ; in the centre is the crucifixion. Above the door that leads into the church are three small niches of elegant workmanship, which appear to have once contained images. Over this porch are two small chambers, which are ascended by means of a spiral stone staircase. The tower at the western end contains six musical bells. It seems to be a later erection than the church. The interior is plain, but the aisles are lofty and spacious, supported by arches in the Pointed style. In the window ate numerous fragments of painted glass, some of which are very beautiful; and in one in the north aisle, is an inscription which I cannot decipher. The font consists of an octangular basin and shaft of granite, raised on a single step of the same stone, and adorned with the usual Gothic ornaments. In the chancel are the priests' stalls and a recess, in which the cruets were placed during the celebration of mass. There are two others in the church, one in the transept, now partly hid by a pew, the other in the " Strodes' aisle. " At the entrance of the chancel is a beautiful monument to the memory of Lord Boringdon, the eldest son of the Earl of Motley, whose death was occasioned by swallowing an ear of rye. On a pedestal of black marble, raised on three steps of the same, is a pillar of white marble, surmounted by an urn, on which, as emblematical of his death, is depicted a rose borne down by an ear of corn. On each aide of this pillar is a cherub; one, in

* I am very happy to say that the minister, the. Rev. W. Coppard, in the most praiseworthy manner endeavours to preserve this elegant edifice in its pristine beauty. Some years since it was found necessary to strengthen the walls of the above-named chapel, then overgrown with ivy, with buttresses, which was accordingly done, and the ivy was of course destroyed. This gentleman has, however, planted ivy, and trained it on the walls, so that in a few years we may expect it again to assume its picturesque appearance.

the attitude of deep grief, has its eyes fixed on the ground; the other, of resignation, with uplifted hands, looks attentively towards heaven. Immediately below the urn is a medallion of his lordship, and underneath the following elegant inscription :

" The Right Hon. Henry Villiers Parker, Viscount Boringdon, eldest son John Earl of Morley, and Augusta, 2nd daughter of John Earl of Westmorland, born in London 28th May, 1806; died at St. Maude, near Paris, Ist Nov., 1817, aged 11 years and 5 months.

" His death was occasioned by having, on the preceding 21st of July, incautiously taken into his mouth an ear of rye, which passed into the windpipe, and was found after its fatal effects were completed, entire and unchanged in the substance of the lower part of the lungs. "

Near this is a neat tablet to the memory of his sister the Lady Caroline A Parker, and on the opposite side of the chancel is the monument of his great-uncle, who died in 1740, aged twelve years. On the pavement are three monumental stones ; on the first is this inscription in black letter round the edge:

" Here lyeth buried John Slannynge of Ley, gentleman, who died March—, Anno D'm. 1632, Anno Ætatis 66. "

Round the edge of the second, which is close to the former:

" Here lyeth the body of William Woolcombe, late of Challoneysleigh, in Plymton Mary, gentleman; who changed this life for a better Ist. day of Maye, in the year of our lord God 1655. ...

Round the edge of the third, which lies at a short distance from the former two:

" Here lyeth the body of Samueu1 Colepres, gent. who changed this *** Anno Domini 16** ætatis suæ 24. "

At the eastern end of the south aisle is an ancient tomb in the wall, on which is the effigy of a warrior ; the arms, which appear to have crossed on the breast, are broken off. The tomb itself is richly carved ; but the beauty is much defaced by the numerous coats of whitewash, that have been liberally bestowed on it from time to time. It is uncertain to whom this was erected, as there is neither inscription nor date to inform us ; but it is likely, from the armorial bearings, to be one of the Courtenay family, who most probably was a benefactor to the Priory, as they were for ages Earls of Devon ; and, according to Leland, " there were buryed sum of Courtneneis, and diverse other gentlemen, in the Church of the Priory of Plymtoun." In the Strodes' aisle is a similar monument, but much mutilated. At the feet of the knight are the fragments of a falcon, and in a small niche on each side is the figure of a monk. I should think it was likely that this was erected to the founder of the chapel. Opposite to this is the monument of the celebrated Sir William Strode, who is said to have been slain in a private quarrel.* It is

divided into three compartments (in which is the figure of Sir William and his two wives), supported by Ionic columns. The inscription is defaced, but Prince has preserved it in his " Worthies of Devon: " which is as follows [omitted].

Above the compartments is the epitaph of each individual ; these are in good preservation, but are only to be read by the aid of a ladder ....

Under the first wife are busts of several children, while under the second is Death with a sickle, in the act of cutting down a flower, which is caught by a hand from a cloud; behind, the sky is seen bespangled with stars.

On the floor in the same aisle is a stone elevated about a couple of inches above the surface, on which are the following inscriptions ;

" Here lyeth the body of SYDNEY Strode of Newnham, Esq. obiit in the year of his age 37. of our Lord 1721. "
" Also Anne Strod* his wif, daughter of Sir Nicholas Treyanion of Com' Cornu', obiit in the year of her age 27, of our Lord 1723. ".

The other monuments, with the exception of two or three,* little notice, as the inscriptions merely consist of the name, age, etc., of the deceased.

In the churchyard arc several ancient tombs ; but the inscriptions on all are nearly illegible.

The remains of the Priory are in an orchard adjoining, and are very inconsiderable : the principal part is converted into a dwellinghouse, which stil1 retains traces of antiquity. Near the front door is a stone, with the arms of the Bishop of Exeter. Underneath the house is a subterranean groined, vaulted passage, communicating, according to tradition, with Plympton Castle. It is stopped up by a wall at a short distance from the house, but is sufficiently broad to admit one person with ease. Many legends are told concerning it; among others, it is said that a cat put into a hole in the castle keep, came out in the cellar. This appears to have been used as a chapel; it extends the whole length of the building, directly east and west. On the south are three filled-up small lancet windows, with the remains of fresco painting round them. The room only receives light from a modern opening at the west end.

The entrance to the back yard is through an ancient arched doorway. The other remains consist of fragments of carved stone, but so broken that no idea can be formed of their use, walls, etc. An arched gateway, now stopped up, leading to the churchyard, appears

to have been the entrance from the Priory to the church. Near it, in the wall, is the fragment of a pillar.

Information respecting the history of this monastery is scanty. The Prebendaries of a free chapel founded by one of the kings, according to Leland, greatly offended William Warlewast, Bishop of Exeter, in reign of Henry 1., for refusing to put their wives (another copy calls them concubines) in compliance with orders of the Roman Pontiff. He dissolved their body, and established a priory of canons regular of Black Augustines, which he dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul. As the infirmities of age increased, the prelate retired to this monastery, and spent the remainder of his life in solitude. He was buried in the chapter-house, as was his nephew William, also Bishop of Exeter.

At the suppression it was valued at £912 10s. 8d. a year. The site, with the demesnes, was granted to Arthur Champernowne, and passed to the Strodes by purchase. It afterwards belonged to one Fownes, merchant. whose descendants retained it till within the last few years, when it was sold off in Parts.

JOSEPH CHATTAWAY.    

[1831, Part II, pp. 489-491.]
My attention has been for some time directed to the history of the church of Plympton St. Mary ; and, from my constant residence in the parish, I have an opportunity of obtaining information upon some points which Mr. Chattaway has not noticed.

The church, which stands in the cemetery of the adjacent priory, is a fine specimen of perpendicular English architecture, between the periods of 1350 and 1450. It is generally uniform, though there are some vestiges about it of a much earlier date. The buttresses at the eastern end of the chancel are Early English of about 1220, and a piscina in the south-east wall of the exterior north aisle, called the Strodes' aisle, is of about 1300. The church consists of a nave and chancel, two aisles on each side, and a tower at the western extremity of the nave. The nave opens into a north and south aisle, of the same length, through seven pointed arches on each side, supported by piers composed of four shafts, two fifths engaged, having a fillet and hollow half as large as the shafts between them. Each of these aisles opens into an exterior aisle, through three pointed arches, supported by piers similar to those already described. All the arches have revered ogee mouldings. The nave formerly opened into the tower through a lofty pointed arch; which is filled up with a thin partition. The dimensions of the edifice being much larger than the generality of country churches, I give them as follow. The whole length of the interior is 141 feet, the whole width 90 feet.

The roofs being all parallel, and the length being greater than the width, the term aisle appears to be more appropriate than that of a " transept"; therefore, by way of distinction, I have said exterior aisles. The author of the letter alluded to, observes that " the Strodes' aisle, evidently an addition, was erected by one of the Strodes of Newnham."

The Strode family is decidedly the oldest extant in this parish ; their early and highly respectable descent may be seen in Prince's " Worthies of Devon," as well as in ancient family records ; but it seems that the aisle in question was not built by them.* I have been favoured with a sight of the will of Richard Strode Esq., of Newnham, dated 1462, in which he desires to be buried in the Church of the Blessed Mary of Plympton, " in Gilda St. Katerine;" by which it may be inferred that this aisle was erected by some Company or Gild of Trade, and, judging from parts of the architecture, at a much earlier period than that in which he lived: besides, he ordered a window of Roborough stone to be made, de novo, in the north-east corner of this " Gilda St. Katerine," which window be dedicated to St. Sidwell : he also desired a new tomb to be made there, in an arch in the wall, under the window. The lower part of this tomb has been concealed under ground, in consequence of the pavement of this aisle having been raised to a level with the floor of the church. I have lately had the earth removed from it, and a step has been made down to the base. In doing this, thirteen full-length figures, in canopied niches, have been brought to light. That in the centre is a representation of the Trinity; the father, with the cross before Him, and the Dove above it; are nearly perfect. Of the twelve other figures, the first, third, seventh, ninth, and eleventh, are monks, each holding a rosary, and having their beads covered with their cowls. The second, third, eighth, and tenth are saints—St. Paul, with his sword; St. Katherine, with her book, sword, and

wheel ; St. Mary with the Holy Infant and a lily ; and St. John the Evangelist with a winged serpent rising from a cup. The fifth figure placed as it were at the right hand of the Godhead, displays an open book, and from his shaven head, appears to be a priest; he may perhaps be regarded as a representation of the cantarist placed to sing masses at this spot; as may the monks as the occupants of the neighbouring monastery. On clearing away the plaster and whitewash, we find that the figures in the side niches which your former correspondent described as " monks", are two of the four Evangelists, the other two having been buried. That your readers may form some idea of the character of the tomb, I have sent you a sketch of it, upon a scale of half an inch to a foot. I have added an extract from the above-mentioned will, having the kind permission of George Strode, Esq., the present worthy representative of the family, to do so. It is a very interesting document, clearly elucidating the doubt expressed by your correspondent as to whose memory the tomb was erected ; and it shows the style of window of that period, and the materials then in use. According to the instructions in the will, the tomb is made of Beer* stone, and the window is of Roborough granite.

Richard Strode Esq. his Will, Oct. 12. 1464.

" In Dei nom. Amen, Ego Rictus Strode, Armiger, xiimo die mensis Octobris anno D'ni millessimo ccccmo sexagesimo quarto, condo testamentum meum in hunc modum. In primis lego a'i'am mea' Deo om'ipotenti, Corpus meu' ad sepeliend' in eccl'ia beaate Marie de Plympton in Gilda S'te Katerine it'm juxta cornu altaris in boreali parte coram imagine' S'te Katerine. Item. volo qd habend'm unum ydoneu' et honestum Sacerdotem celebrantem et orantem pro a'i'ab's patris mei, matris mee et Margarete uxoris mee, ac Joh'is Strode fili met et aliorum liberor' me or' et amicor', per unu' annu' duratur, in Gilda p'dicta. Item lego Gilde S'te Katerine xiid. ... Item lego ad lumen be' Marie ib'm ardent coram ymagine' xiid. Item volo q'd heredes mei vel executores mei faciant una' nova' crucem juxta parvam portam vocat' Porstern yate ib'm in viridi loco in honore' D'ni n'ri jh'u Xri, et crux]† illa sic facta vocat' Crux R'c'i Strode de Nywenh'm, Armig'. . .. Item volo q'd ffeotati mei, heredes mei ; vel executores mei, faciant de novo unam novam fenestram de Rowburghstone in Gilda S'te Katerine in boreali et

orientali parte cornu altaris ib'm in honore' S'te Sativole virginis, et unum vitrum ib'm de vita S'te Sativole virginis cum armis meis infixis in optimo modo. Item volo habere subter eand'm fenestr'm quand'm tumbam sub arcu claus' in pariete ib'm fact' de petra vocat' vulgariter Bere Stone vel alias de petra vulgariter vocat' Rowburgh Stone, et supra hanc tumbam unam petram de marbill in picturâ cum armis meis ad quodl't cornu ejusdem petre, cum istis verbis scriptis insculptis, videl't, Hic jacet R'c'us Strode de Newenham, Armig' ; et in inferiore parte dicte finistrie meipsum armarum cum tunica armor' de armis meis mecu'q' meos sex filios, et versus me Margareta' que fuit uxor mea et filia Henrici ffortescu, armig'r', armata' sive vestita' cum tunica armorum patris ejusdem Margareta' cum suis tribus filiabus in eadem fenestra. ... Item lego d'no Mychctt curato p'och xiiid. . . .D at die et anno sup'dat'."

The tower of the church is a beautiful object in the picturesque scenery around; the height of it is 108 feet At each corner are two square buttresses of three stages, with plain set-offs ; the upper stages have triangular heads crocketed, terminating on an octagonal embattled turret, with a bold crocketed pinnacle, which rises about 2S feet above the battlements of the tower. There are six mellow-toned bells: the tenor is said to be 6,000 lb. weight: the inscription on it is :

"M : MARIE : STRODE: THE : FOUNDER : of : THI : SHELL : ANNO : DOMINI 1614. G. P."

The buttresses on the southern side of the church are of three stages with plain set-offs, and have octagonal embattled turrets, empanelled, with trefoiled heads, surmounted with crocketed pinnacles. The base mouldings consist of two tablets, an ogee and hollow, and plain slope.

The south porch is 12 feet square, and is under a neat tower, having two rooms, one over the other, above the porch. On the exterior are three niches, the upper one containing an emblem of the Trinity, like that already described; the figures in those beneath represent the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel occupying that on the left and the Virgin the other. . Over the entrance, on a granite stone, is the crest of the Strode family; the tree, and a part of the wreath and helmet, may still be distinguished, although it is much worn. The groining of the ceiling of this porch is of Roborough stone ; it is peculiar, as it forms a double square; the design and workmanship are very good, the ribs spring from demi-angels holding plain shields.

I would mention one more point, perhaps too vaguely noticed by your correspondent. He says, " the font is octangular, with the usual Gothic ornaments .. " It is a very neat octagonal font of solid granite, four feet high, standing upon a wide octagonal step one foot deep: each face of the upper pan is one foot square, ornamented

with quatrefoils and plain shields in the middle. The shaft is slender, octagonal, panelled, with trefoil heads.

In the south-east wall of the chancel are three stalls or sedilia ; that on the west is a foot lower than the other two; they have pointed arches cinquefoiled, slender octagonal shafts with plain bands for capitals; the whole surmounted with a plain horizontal dripstone. In the corner to the east of these is a piscina, with ogee canopy, cinquefoiled, and a dripstone terminating with a neat finial of four leaves reversed.

About twenty-five years ago, an ancient stone pulpit, panelled and carved, stood in the nave; it was affixed to the second pier from the chancel, on the north side. Spiral stone steps led up to it, and it stood upon a stone pedestal. At that time the church was new seated, and it was thought necessary to alter the position of the pulpit, which was taken down, broken to pieces, and put under the sleepers of the flooring of the new pews !

Yours, etc.,    WILLIAM I. COPPARD.