By G. E. Pontine/, F.S.A. 



383 



The Chuech of All Saints, Steeple Langford. 

 In the list of institutions to this benefice in Hoare's " Wiltshire " 

 the patronage is stated to have been exercised by the co-heiress 

 of " Waleran, Lord and Founder " (it is a query whether founder 

 of the Church or of the rectory). There is a local tradition that 

 Waleran was huntsman to William the Conqueror, and that he is 

 commemorated by the small incised slab now standing in the 

 rood-stair doorway.^ The design of the slab is certainly more 



Incised Slab, Steeple Langford. 

 [Reproduced, by permission, from Arch. Journ., xv., 74.] 



' In vol. XV., p. 75 of the ArchmologicalJournal , the Rev. Edward Wilton, 

 of West Lavington, gives the following account of this slab, accompanied bj- 

 the illustration, which we are kindly allowed by the Eoyal Archaeological 

 Institute to reproduce here : — "The slab, which is a remarkable addition to 

 the list of miniature effigies, was discovered in pulling down the chancel of 

 the Church at Steeple Langford, an early specimen of the Early English 

 style. The incised slab is of Purbeck marble, and measures 26 inches in 

 length by 14 inches at the top, and 9| inches at the foot. The figure 

 measures only 2 feet in height. The stone appears to be perfect in its 

 original proportions, as above given, but it is stated that when it was found 

 there was a second piece of Purbeck slab placed above the incised portion, 

 and the idea had been thereby suggested that the two portions combined 



