THE BELLS OF ST. PETER, DERBY. 93 



construction, and that it was brought into its latest form some time 

 about the year 1470. The Rev. J. C. Cox, LL.D., in his Churches 

 of Derbyshire, considers that the tower arch was reconstructed 

 during the fourteenth century. This will be reinstated. The 

 responds of the nave arcades on both sides of the old tower 

 arch still retain their mutilated Norman capitals. The tower 

 once opened into the south aisle, but the archway was subse- 

 quently blocked. The finely moulded base of its western 

 respond was found in the south-west corner. Here, too, at 

 the back of it, was observed the curvature of the newell stair- 

 way once leading into the belfry chamber. Above this blocked 

 tower archway were seen remains of a window much like the 

 windows of the south clerestory. 



On digging for the new foundations it was found that on 

 the north side, the old wall had rested on six iron-shod piles 

 covered with oak slabs fastened together with " dog-irons '"' 

 secured by long nails. Three of the piles taken out were three 

 feet in length, and appeared to have been driven into the 

 place of an old interment. They were in good preservation. 

 The tower pinnacles and gurgoyles were much decayed. 

 One of the best of the pinnacles has been erected in the 

 centre of the churchyard. The parapet was repaired in 

 1825 under the care of " W. T." and " R. S.," the then 

 churchwardens. "I. H. O. GIPSON " had immortalized him- 

 self on one of the belfry windows in "APRIL, 1829" — 

 perhaps one of the ringers. The old capstone of the newell 

 was found decorated with roughly cut leaves. Among the 

 debris of the tower walls were the bases of two small Norman 

 shafts. Besides these were found a piece of an incised alabaster 

 slab, with remains of some ornament, and three or four letters 

 undecipherable ; a fragment of a black glazed mug of three 

 handles, one only of which remained ; a gimlet ; a pair of small 

 iron compasses ; a currier's knife ; and two bits of painted 

 glass. The most curious thing, however, was turned up in 

 getting out the soil for the extension of the north aisle. This 

 was a circular leaden talisman, about four inches in diameter. 



