138 Notes on Chufchen in the Neighhourhood of Marlborough. 



only ; there are diagonal buttresses at the south-west and north-west 

 angles, extending far up the belfry stage and with six set-offs, and the 

 tower is surmounted by a cornice with good gargoyles and parapet, 

 without pinnacles. The south-west buttress is rounded off at one 

 angle, the corbelling over to the square above being carved to 

 represent an angel borne on clouds, holding a shield bearing some 

 symbol now mutilated and indistinguishable. The reason for this 

 treatment is very difficult to surmise, as there can have been no 

 passage way round this corner of the buttress. I can only conclude 

 that as a cell of the priory probably existed where the present 

 manor-house stands, this figure was carved as an object to face the 

 approach to the Church. The floor of the tower was formerly one 

 step above that of the nave — not two, as at present. 



The usual accompaniment to a fifteenth century western tower 

 was the addition of a clerestory to the nave, and this was carried 

 out here, with three two-light square-headed windows on each side. 



The font has been so refaced as to make it impossible to say 

 whether it is new or old, but as there is a Jacobean oak cover which 

 fits it, I conclude that it is coeval with the tower. 



There is a niche over the south door also of fifteenth century 

 date, but with modern appearance. 



There is a good twelve-branch candelabrum, with the inscription : 



" The gift of M r. Jno. Bennet to the Parish Chnrch of Ogbourne St. George, 

 1788"; 



and his shield blazoned with a chevron and three crowns. 



There is an old sundial cut on the south-east quoin of the porch, 

 also a later one in the gable. An old sundial also exists low down 

 on the south buttress of the chancel, but as it is set with the lines 

 pointing upwards it is clear that it must have been inverted in the 

 partial re-building of the chancel, above referred to, in 1873. 



There is a very heavy peal of five bells, at various dates from 

 1603 to 1652. 



The Church has modem roofs throughout. 



I cannot leave this fine Church without pointing to it as an ex- 

 ample of what to avoid in the restoration of an old building — here, 



