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Society, 1 868.) The ancient abbey precincts contain two churches ; 

 one dedicated to St. Lawrence, and the other to All Saints. These 

 churches are in themselves worth examination, but the principal 

 object for remark is the entrance to the cemetery, a beautiful 

 perpendicular tower built by Abbot Lichfield, and serving the 

 threefold purpose of an entrance, a campanile, and probably a 

 lichgate ; a similar arrangement may be seen at Bury St. 

 Edmunds, and at West Walton, Norfolk. It originally contained 

 a peal of six bells, one of which, the tenor, had around it the legend — 



j^temis annis rcsonet Campana Johannis, 

 but these are now recast and converted into a peal of eight bells, 

 rung only upon particular occasions. The situation of this tower 

 is immediately above the river, Shakspere's soft flowing Avon, 

 which bends round the town in the form of a horse-shoe, and a 

 very striking view of it is obtained from the hotel on the opposite 

 side of the river, where the party lunched. Within the Abbey 

 precinct is a handsomely sculptured gateway, but the sculptures 

 are defaced. Beyond the orchard and towards the town are the 

 few remains of the conventual buildings which still exist. These 

 consist of a small remnant of the cloister, and in one of the passages 

 out of it is a curious stone lantern, which seems to have lighted the 

 way to a vault or cellar on one side of the passage. Through the 

 kindness of the occupier of these premises, to whom the party were 

 introduced by the Vicar, they were allowed to examine these 

 remains at leisure, and a sketch of the lantern was made. 



All Saints' Church is the largest and finest of the two that stood 

 near the Abbey. This contains the chapel built by Clement 

 Lichfield (first Prior and afterwards Abbot), in which he was 

 buried 1546, and his burial is recorded in the parish register, which 

 is stiU preserved. The ancient seats remain in this church, only 

 additions of modem carpentry have been made, the panehng 

 overlaid, and the backs raised ; all this might easily be removed 

 when the church is restored, which is said to be in contemplation. 

 There are many remains of ancient sepulchral slabs, but nearly all 

 of them have been rifled of their brasses. Dingley gives an 

 etching of the tower of Abbot Lichfield, and also of St. Lawrence's 

 Church. Not far from this church is the vicarage house, where 



