By C. B. Toniing, P.S.d. -Zl 



Note on tfje l^eraltiro of tfje Coiner of 5. tampon's, 

 (Ericfelalie. 



T am indebted to the kindness of the Rev. H. J. Morton, Yicar of S. Sampson's, 

 for the use of the following notes by Dr. K. Kinneir on the evidence as to the 

 date of the tower from the heraldry carved upon it. [Editob.] 



In the lantern of the tower over the south arch is the well-known cognizance or 

 badge of the Earls of Warwick, the " Bear and Eagged Staff " ; and near this is 

 the badge of the Dukes of Northumberlaud, viz., " the Crescent." Over the 

 eastern arch is the banner of Warwick, " the Silver Saltire and Red Rose ; " and 

 alongside it the "Checquey" banner of Northumberland — each banner stafi; 

 resting on and supported by a heart. 



Britton, in his Topographical Sketches of North Wilts, says that the tower 

 was re-built by subscription, and that many persons of distinction possessing 

 property in Cricklade and the neighbourhood contributed largely to it, and he 

 mentions the Earls of Warwick, whose device he says is sculptured on the tower. 

 Brittou was unable to say which of the Earls of Warwick was the benefactor. 

 The presence of the silver crescent, however, proves that it was John Dudley, 

 who was created Earl of Warwick in February, 1547, Duke of Northumberland 

 in October, 1551, and beheaded August 22nd, 1553 : for no other Earl of 

 Warwick was ever entitled to bear the badge and banner of Northumberland. 

 The building of the tower is, therefore, probably fixed between October, 1551, 

 and August, 1553. John Dudley, sou of Edmund Dudley, a lawyer convicted 

 of high treason and beheaded in 1510, was created Lord Lisle by Henry Vlll. 

 and named one of the executors of his will. Gaining great influence over Edward 

 VL he was by him created Earl of Warwick and Duke of Northumberland. He 

 married Jane, daughter of Sir Edward Guildford, Lord Warden of the Cinque 

 Ports. The badge of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, " a Rose in the 

 Sunbeams," is sculptured near the '" Bear and Ragged Staff" over the southern 

 arch. 



John Dudley, one of his seven sons, married Anne, daughter of the Protector, 

 Edward, Duke of Somerset, and in 1549 had a grant from the Crown of the 

 manors of Little Chelworth and Calcutt in the parish of Cricklade. 



Sir Walter Hungerford, of Farley Castle — son of Sir Thomas, who purchased 

 the manor of Down Ampney in 1374 and died in 1398 — married Catherine, 

 daughter of Sir Thomas Peverell, who owned property in Cricklade. He was 

 created Baron Hungerford, of Heytesbury, in 1426, was made K.G., Steward of 

 the Household, High Treasurer, and Lord High Admiral, and in 1427 obtained 

 from the Crown a grant of the manor of Cricklade, including the advowson of 

 S. Sampson's Church. He died in 1449, leaving by his will the advowson of 

 S. Sampson's, the Parsonage Farm, the rectorial tithes, as well as the manor of 

 Abington Court (a manor within the manor and borough of Cricklalde), to the 

 Dean and Chapter of Salisbury, who are the present patrons. He also bequeathed 

 lands and premises in Cricklade for the perpetual maintenance of an obit (or 

 anniversary service) to be held in the Lady Chapel of S. Sampson's Church. 

 [After the Reformation, by an order from the Lord Chancellor in 1566, these 



