118 The Belfry formerhj standing in the Close, Salisbury . 



There still remained the three bells which were left hanging in 

 the bell-chamber; of these the first and fourth were afterwards 

 sold for £105, and the sixth removed to the Cathedral tower, as 

 before stated. 



During and subsequent to the troubles of the seventeenth century, 

 or for a period of over one hundred years, no repairs of any im- 

 portance appear to have been done to the Belfry, the upper part of 

 which, being of wood, gradually got into a bad state, so that at 

 length, in November, 1758, the Chapter, 



" Taking into consideration the state and condition of the Belfry and Library 

 belonging to the Cathedral Church, and being informed by able and experienced 

 workmen upon careful survey by them taken that they are in a . . . ruinous 

 condition. And the form and construction of the Spire and Tower of the Belfry 

 being such that they are neither useful nor ornamental, inasmuch that it would 

 be to no purpose to repair the same in its present form especially as it could not 

 be done without a much greater expense than the present state of the Fabrick 

 fund will admit of. It was therefore unanimously agreed, resolved and ordered 

 (the consent of the absent members having been hereto previously obtained) : — 



" 1st. That the said Tower and Spire be forthwith taken down, and that the 

 Master of the Fabrick do give orders to the Clerk of the Works accordingly. 



" 2ndly. That the Master of the Fabrick be desired to consider and take 

 advice about a Plan for finishing and completing the Belfry in a neat and proper 

 manner, when the Spire and Tower thereof shall be taken down. 



" Mr. Lush the Clerk of the Works was accordingly instructed to prepare 

 plans of the Belfry, and lay the same before the Chapter." 



However, the resolution of November, 1758, was not carried 

 into effect until ten years after, for in 1769 Mr. Lush was 



" Admonished to proceed in the work begun at the Belfry with all possible 

 expedition, he having greatly neglected the same. 



The steeple and octagonal tower were soon after taken down, and 

 the square tower under them covered in with a slated roof of low 

 pitch. The parts taken away were those which lent grace and 

 lightness to the structui'e, and now being removed and the bells 

 gone, the building came to be regarded as useless, and as an ob- 

 struction to a view of the Cathedral from the north, so that its 

 entire demolition twenty years later was looked upon with in- 

 difference and even approval. 



In 1787 orders were given for an estimate to be made of the 



