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ever, are still in a ruinous state. It is enclosed within a small 
park bounded on all sides by four roads, and has an excellent 
walled garden which tells you that it has seen better days. The 
house is at present occupied by a farmer, the owner reserving 
some rooms to himself, which he uses as a residence occasionally 
in the summer season. 
The Advowson—passing on as the Manor through several hands; 
was purchased in 1848 by the late Cornelius Cartwright, Esquire, 
of Dudley in Worcestershire, from whom it has come to his 
nephew the Rev. William Henry Cartwright the present Patron 
and Incumbent. 
The living of Butcombe is a discharged Rectory in the Deanery 
of Chew (formerly Redcliffe and Bedminster), in the diocese of 
Bath and Wells. The Church is dedicated to St. Michael and 
all angels. It consists of a Nave and Chancel, North Chapel 
(recently added), and South Chapel and Lady Chapel on the 
south side of the Chancel. 
“Tn the year 1484, says Mr. Bere, the Church of Butcombe 
was gorgeously ornamented, having all its windows exquisitely 
painted. There still remain (A.D. 1798), some beautiful pieces 
that somehow escaped Cromwell’s lambs, when for the love of 
God and honor of Holy Kirk they in pure zeal plundered and 
burnt the Manor House, and nearly demolished the Church. 
Among the pieces are the portraits of several of the monks in 
their sacerdotal habits—many roses—initials W.R., with brillant 
rays of glory streaming from them—a Saint Peter and some other 
of the Apostles mutilated—a beautiful representation of the Sun 
in a dark blue sky. In the windows over the North Door is the 
figure of a human heart pierced with 3 nails. This was the 
cognizance of John Newland alias Nailheart, elected Abbot of 
St. Augustine’s, in Bristol, April 6th, 1481. His shield was thus 
blazoned—Argent, 3 nails, or, piercing superior a human heart, 
Val. Sang. This man was much employed by Henry the Seventh 
in foreign embassies. He died June 12th, 1515. He was much 
