By C. E. Pouting, F.S.A. 267 



re-built (probably owing to settlements) : however this may be, the 

 present upper stage was erected about a century later, circa 1500. 

 The fourteenth century work is constructed of Chilmark coursed 

 masonry of a rough description. The middle chamber has a two-light 

 square-headed window with deeply moulded jambs in the west face. 

 There was doubtless a west window of the same period in the 

 lower stage, but when the tower was raised this was removed and a 

 Perpendicular three-light window (the tracery of which has since 

 been removed) with a doorway beneath it (now built up) inserted ; 

 at the same time diagonal buttresses were added at the north-west 

 and south-west angles, the bonding stones o£ which do not range 

 with the masonry of the main walls into which they were inserted. 

 It is somewhat remarkable that the plinths of these buttresses were 

 made to carry on the design of the earlier mouldings. The upper 

 stage has a two-light window in each side with shallow moulding 

 and the mullious flush with the outside face of the wall — the masonry 

 of this part is also coursed, but composed of smaller stones. This 

 stage was not built parallel to the substructure, the orientation 

 varying about 2|in. in its width on the north face. It is surmounted 

 by a good cornice with boldly-carved angle gargoyles and a battle- 

 merited parapet. The stair turret is a striking feature placed at the 

 eastern end of the south side, the east face of it being fair with 

 that of the main part of the tower, as at Imber. It is carried up 

 above the rest, has its own parapet and gargoyles, and is surmounted 

 by a small spire placed within it. This feature doubtless led to the 

 tower being described in Kelly's Directory as "an embattled 

 western tower, with one pinnacle " 1 The turret has the angles 

 canted oflp for the full height and the other two angles — making an 

 octagon — at the top. There are no traces of pinnacles having- 

 existed on the angles of the tower — the angle filling which at first 

 appears intended to support them, is doubtless for strength. 



The tower contains four bells, the first and fourth are dated 1656, 

 the third 1711; the second is a mediaeval bell, and bears the in- 

 scription : — " »J< SANCTE : TOME : OEA : Piio : NOBIS." ' These are 



' Lukis, Wilts Arch. Mag., ii., 336. 



