30 The Eleventh General Meeting. 
porch on the south side, over which was formerly a priest’s cham- 
ber. The south transept was comparatively modern. The general 
effect of the chancel was good, and it appeared originally to have 
been older than the rest of the church. After many other obser- 
vations on this subject, Dr. Williams observed that the archzolo- 
gists in the excursion that day would pass by the church of Bower 
Chalk, and remarked that the village took its name from a cor- 
ruption of Burgh Chalk, it having been for many years the 
property of a family named Burgh. They would also pass by the 
village of Fifield Bavant, in which was one of the smallest churches 
in England. This place was so called in consequence of a family 
named Bavant once holding the lands. The parish derived its 
earliest name from having contained during the Saxon dynasty 
five hides (or fields) of land. After leaving this place the excur- 
sionists would next come to Ebbesborne, which derived its name 
from its situation in the bourne on the banks of the river Ebele. 
They would then pass by Alvediston, and thence to Norrington 
House, which would, no doubt, be explained to them. In allusion 
to the village of Berwick St. John, through which they would 
pass, he stated that the Rev. John Gane, by his will dated 1735, 
left a tenement and garden, on condition that the great bell of the 
parish church should be rung for a quarter of an hour at eight 
o’clock, every night from the 10th of September to the 10th of 
March, for ever, for the purpose of enabling travellers on the 
Wiltshire downs to find their way by the sound on dark and foggy 
nights. He then pointed out the corruption of some of the names 
of places in the Vale of Chalk, and concluded a very able and 
interesting address, of which the foregoing is a mere summary, 
amidst the loudly expressed applause of his hearers. At its 
conclusion the Rev. A. C. Smith proposed a vote of thanks to 
Dr. Williams, which was cordially responded to. 
The party then left the schoolroom, and after inspecting the 
church, where considerable discussion arose as to the date of its 
nave and chancel: proceeded through Fifield Bavant and Alve- 
iston to Norrington House, which by the courtesy of Mr. Parham, 
they were allowed thoroughly to explore. Dinner however 
