Visited by the Society in 1890. 263 
to neutralise the effects of this by putting in large sandstone boulders 
as a foundation instead of digging deeper. The result was that 
these were crushed down into the sand, and the tower became split 
and distorted. At some period—probably when the bells were put 
in'— an attempt was made to arrest this damage by putting large 
oak beams right through the walls from east to west and north to 
south. These were keyed on the outside and the exposed parts 
protected by a kind of stone hood. Then, as if to compensate for 
the additional weight imposed by the bells, the top of the tower 
was taken off for about 7ft. in height, and the cornice and parapet 
were re-set at a lower level. 
I have here two drawings, one showing the tower as it was before 
the restoration in 1885, and the other showing it as it is now (and 
as the evidences afforded by the stones indicated that it originally 
was). You will see that the cornice is broken through to avoid 
interfering with the window labels, and the shaft of the pinnacle 
on the upper set-off of the buttresses was reduced to about a foot in 
height; but the bases of these shafts remained, excepting, in one 
instance, where the central cusping of the panelling of the face had 
been re-fixed in lieu of the base: this, and the fact that the 
pinnacles on the set off below were of equal height, gave the key to 
the original design. 
All the precautions taken for the safety of the tower were of no 
avail! the settlements went on, and the rotten state of the mortar 
offered no resistance, so that the whole structure was on the verge 
of collapse, and Mr. Butterfield condemned it forty years ago. 
When I was called to advise as to its treatment I at first hoped to 
re-build only the upper part and to underpin the rest, but on 
discovering the inferiority of the mortar I was obliged to abandon 
this intention and to re-build the whole. The entire structure was, 
therefore, taken down and re-built stone for stone, each being 
marked, and a plan of the joints made to ensure its being re-placed 
-—— = — 
1 The dates on the bells are, 1627, 1740, 1757 (twice), 1788, and the following 
inscription js cut on the bell frame :— 
Weve paseo vens 
B. H.) 1780, 
