Ixvi. BRIDPORT AND LYME REGIS MEETING. 



the latest Transition. Hutchins states that a legacy was left to 

 rebuild part of the church in 1503. One marked feature which 

 was retained until the last restoration 18 years ago was the 

 gradual ascent from the porch to the altar by steps at intervals, 

 twelve in all adding a picturesqueness now lacking. The re- 

 storers of the 1 5th century treated the beautiful old work of 

 Edward I., or perhaps still older work, with ruthless barbarity. 

 Transepts and side aisles were demolished, and part of the stone 

 used to build up the present walls of the porch. Modern van- 

 dalism had done equal mischief. In 1824, in order to widen the 

 road under the west front, the rock was cut back and nearly half 

 the porch pulled down for it was then much longer than now. 

 The Vicar drew attention to various objects of interest, includ- 

 ing the Ellesdon brass in the chancel floor and the silver 

 Caroline Communion plate, which will be found described in 

 Nightingale's " Church Plate of Dorset." On the western wall 

 of the present nave, over the gallery (which bears the inscription 

 " John Hassard bvilt this to the Glorie of Almightie God in the 

 eightieth year of his age Ano Domini 161 1 ") hangs a very fine 

 piece of tapestry. It is one of the pieces referred to in the 

 South Kensington Art Handbook, " Textile Fabrics," by the 

 Very Rev. D. Rock, D.D. : " Pieces of English-made tapestry 

 still remain. That fine, though greatly damaged, specimen in S. 

 Mary's Hall, Coventry, representing the marriage of Henry the 

 Sixth, is one ; a second is the curious reredos for an altar 

 belonging to the Vintner's Company; a third piece, of large size 

 and in good preservation, is in private possession and hangs 

 upon the wall in a house in Cornwall. It is one of four pieces, 

 of which two have been lost, representing the marriage of Henry 

 the Seventh and Elizabeth of York, and was probably made 

 about the year 1490." 



It is one of the pieces last mentioned that was bought by the 

 late Rev. Edward Peck and presented by him to the Church of 

 Lyme Regis. 



The old lectern, found some years ago in a cellar, has been 

 restored to the church, and stands under the western gallery. 



