By ©. E. Ponting, F.S.A. 45 
1640. Paied to Willm Walter the Joyner of Bradley for setting up the 
7 womans seates in ‘the south and north side of the Church 
a 
xxvii=00=00.” 
“1640, Paied to Richard Olliffe the Joyner for a newe ffourme to set in the 
s. 
passage to sitt uppon 00. viij . 00.” 
“1641. Item p* Willim Walter of Mayden Bradley for the-new seating 
£i 
xxiv=00=00.” 
Tt is not quite clear to what extent the Church was thus seated 
but the men and women sat apart, the latter in the south and north 
: aisles, and in 1635 a special seat was provided for the “ midwyfe.” 
_ There are many interesting entries as to the sale of seats and 
‘sir gle sittings for life between 1610 and 1850.1 Towards the end 
of this period parishioners began to erect seats for themselves. Sir 
R. OC. Hoare? refers to the rood-loft being “ much disfigured by a 
pew which rises up to a considerable height, and in a very heavy 
The two long benches in the tower are also part of Walter the 
Joyner’s work, and were evidently made for their present position, 
for the use of sponsors. They had been removed to the north 
apel, but were found to fit their present places, except that the 
me on the south had been shortened. 
The bridge across the north aisle appears from entries as to the 
etting of seats to have been widened in 1686-7 and divided into 
pwo pews—one (the northern) having four sittings, the other five 
ittings; total, nine. A gallery of similar size was set up at the 
ast end of the south aisle about 1704, containing ten seats. 
_A faculty was granted for the erection of another gallery in the 
1 This seems to have led to difficulties. In 1685 is an entry :—“ The old 
eading pew sold to James Harding 8s.” And thirteen years later is the following 
—“Mem. May y* 30, 1698. Memoranded y‘. upon debate this day 
before mee concerning y° sale of y* Old Reading Pew above mencon’d to James 
farding (it appearing y* y® Parish Clerk for y* time being was better provided 
or of a seat in y® Chancell) y* sale of y° same to y* s James Harding was by 
\d w'" y* approbacon of divers of y* Inhabitants of y* Parish then p’sent ratifyed 
nd confirmed by me. Robte: Woodward Doi Sarum.” 
2 Hund. of Mere, p. 10. 
