180 REMINISCENCES OF OLD ALLESTREE. 
pillar was toward the field. It bore a date 1678, and some letters, 
but they were so indistinct that nothing could be made out of 
them. Whether it stands in its original 
position we do not know, but most likely 
it does, as it would be placed with its 
inscription towards the churchyard if this 
had not been the case. Possibly there may 
have been a sun-dial fixed upon it, but no 
traces of it remain; it may be a relic of the 
Manor House, and removed to this place. 
This, however, is but conjecture. So far as 
we can ascertain, there is no record of its 
purpose; the ball at the top might be re- 
placed with advantage. We will now retrace 
our steps, and enter the church. 
A sketch of the interior of the old church, 
looking east, is given on the next page; on the 
north side, one of the pillars is shown, and the 
third arch; also the cover of the font is seen. 
Looking through the chancel arch, which 
springs from bold corbel heads, now destroyed, : 
we see the head of the arch of the Founder’s 
Tomb on the left, and a small chapel to the iy 
east of it. Now if we turn round and look back, there is another arch 
resting on corbel heads, similar to those of the chancel, opening 
into the tower. These heads have also been taken out, and some 
brackets, not nearly as good, replace them. In other respects 
this part of the church is pretty much as it was. This recess used 
to be the singing loft ; it had a platform or pew projecting into the 
nave, where the band used to be. They had a double bass, a 
comet, a violin, and a clarionet, besides some male and female 
singers. Grand music they played, and were good singers accord- 
ing to their lights; indeed, they were far too clever for the 
generality of the unsophisticated worshippers, who often expressed 
a wish that they would make a less noise, and let other people be 
heard. It seems to have been a notion that the louder the voices 
