By T. H. Baker. 263 
The pasture land in Mere was subject toa modus of 2d. for 
every milch cow and 4d. for every calf, and, as moduses had to be 
taken into consideration by the commissioners at the apportionment, 
the tithe rent charge is very low on the pastures of Mere. Every 
garden, also, was liable to a modus of 1d., every poultry yard, 1d., 
and every orchard, 1d. 
The tithes, as apportioned, are :—rectorial, £732 per annum ; 
vicarial, £400 per annum; manorial, £9 15s. per annum. 
Certain lands paid Lammas tithes, amounting in the whole to 
about £8 per annum. These were paid on Lammas Day in the 
churchyard, where the collector sat to receive them on a certain 
tomb which—like the custom itself—has succumbed to old age.’ 
Tur Cuantry Howse. 
1424, King Henry the Sixth granted to the Dean and Chapter 
of the Church of the Blessed Mary of Sarum, that they might give 
and assign to Richard Cheddesey, Henry Rochell, and John Culpek, 
chaplains of the chantry of the Blessed Mary in the Church of 
Mere, a certain piece of their garden near to the churchyard of the 
parochial church: of the Blessed Mary of Mere, lying on the 
southern part thereof, and containing one acre, holden by them as 
of the Duchy of Cornwall, 
“ad edificandum et componendum super eandem peciam mansiones pro eisdem 
capellanis necessarias ; qui quidem capellani aliquam habitationem ad commo- 
randum insimul et in communi ante hee tempora non habuerunt.” 
This, doubtless, was the origin of the present Chantry House and 
the date of its erection. The other house alluded to probably stood 
on the site of that called ‘‘ Dean’s Orchard,” whieh is of much later 
date. 
_ The Rev. William Barnes kept a boarding school in the Chantry 
House from 1827 to 1835, and here many of his poems in the 
Dorset dialect were written. 
1 For document relating to tithes at Deverel see Appendix. 
