320 A Stroll through BraiJord-on-Avon. 



the simple purpose of which was to allow some recluse to live the 

 life of a devotee, but one of those useful single houses which were 

 stationed in various places to afford a traveller food and shelter. 

 There was a " chapel ■''' here, which the wayfarer might use for his 

 devotions, a small hall in which he might have a simple meal, and 

 a spare room in which he might find a night's shelter. It was, in fact, 

 one of those " hospitals " — using the word in its primitive sense 

 — not unfrequent in these parts — (there was one at Chapel Plaister, 

 and another at St. Audoen's, Wraxall) — in which the pilgrim bent 

 on a religious errand, such as a visit to some holy place or shrine, 

 might at all events find food and shelter on his journey. The 

 ^'recluse " or " hermit" lived here, and received such guests from time 

 to time. It was an effort on the part of our forefathers in the middle 

 ages, to carry out the precept once given to God's ancient people, 

 " Love ye therefore the stranger ; for ye were strangers in the land 

 of Egypt." (Dent., xi., 19.) 



18. We pass along Tory, a name given to the terrace, so to 

 speak, that runs along the very top-rank of our town, and at the 

 end of it we see on the right a building, deprived of some of 

 its interest by having been made so bran-new and bereft of all its 

 luxuriant ivy tresses, which ought to have a passing notice. It 

 was one of the earliest non-conforming places of worship, and was 

 called the Grove Meeting House. It was built about A D. 1 698, 

 shortly after the passing of the Act of Uniformity, and the first 

 minister was one of the ejected clergy, who previously had been at 

 Calne. 



19. Ascending the hill still, we go through what is called the 

 CONIGRE, a common name enough, and signifying a "rabbit-warren," 

 and then turning to the right we arrive at last at Christ Church, 

 built now some 35 years ago in a style of rigid simplicity, but now, 

 by the addition of a chancel — almost the last work of the late gifted 

 architect. Sir Gilbert Scott — and the use of mural decorations, and 

 introduction of stained glass, a Church that is well worth a visit. 

 But we are strolling beyond the bounds of our town, and will content 

 ourselves with saying that the Church in question is a wonderful 

 example of the way in which genius and taste can transform an 



