BRADFORD-ON-AVON AND BATH MEETING. xlix. 



the cloth-weaving business, and thus laid the foundations of the 

 town's prosperity. On the way the party passed the Men's 

 Almshouses, built in 1700 by John Hall, and dedicated "Deo el 

 pauperibus" Mr. Bond stated that there was a pre-Reformation 

 almshouse for women in another part of the town. There were 

 excellent specimens of domestic buildings of various dates 

 Elizabeth, Q. Anne, and George I. 



Passing the Queen's Head Inn and other gabled buildings on 

 the right, the party came to the town bridge over the Avon, with 

 its six arches. This probably, said Mr. Bond, is also a i4th 

 century bridge, though perhaps of later date than the Barton 

 Bridge. A special feature of interest is a small chantry on one 

 side of the bridge and bracketed over the river on corbels. 

 Mr. Bond stated that the superstructure had been rebuilt, and 

 for the last two or three hundred years the place had been used 

 as the town lock-up. The corbelling below was original. There 

 were such chapels on bridges at Wakefield and Rotherham, 

 and there was also one at Bath before the bridge was pulled 

 down. 



Crossing the bridge, the party were led through "The 

 Shambles," a straight and narrow thoroughfare, still named 

 after a meat market formerly existing there. The place is of 

 interest on account of two Tudor gabled houses with fine timber 

 fronts. An oriel window, formerly an artistic feature, has 

 disappeared. Mr. Bond invited the party to admire the straw- 

 berry-leaf carving ail round the ornamental barge-board of the 

 gables. He also pointed out the i5th century doorway to the 

 Royal Oak Inn. 



The party then repaired for luncheon to the New Bear Inn, 

 where they were joined by the Vicar of Bradford, the Rev. S. O. 

 Collisson, who, after luncheon, led the way to the parish church 

 and gave a description of it. 



The original structure, said the VICAR, was of about the year 

 1200, but many additions and alterations had been made at later 

 periods. It was the mother church of six chapelries served by 

 her, and also of the district of Christ Church in the town. The 



