THE CHURCH BELLS OF DORSET. 211 



work. We know him as at Handley in 1584, though the bell has 

 been recast, at S. Margaret Marsh in 1586, at Caundle Stourton 

 in 1588, at East Lulworth and Tarrant Crawford in 1589, at 

 Twerne Courtney (Shroton) in 1590, at Osmington in 1593, at 

 Bincombe, Swanage, Stourpaine (old third), and Owermoigne 

 in 1594, at West Stafford, Fifehead Magdalen, and Fifehead 

 Neville in 1595, at Alton Pancras in 1596, at Shaftesbury in 1597, 

 at Affpuddle and Marnhull in 1598, at Piddletown in 1599, and 

 there are many more with his initials as far down as 1636, which 

 length of period suggests that there may have been two founders 

 of the same name, perhaps father and son. Great as his 

 business was, he had not a complete monopoly. At Mansion 

 the third, dated 1598, bears the initials R.B., which may be 

 those of the well-known Richard Bowler, of Colchester, prede- 

 cessor of the great Miles Grave. At Lillington we find a 1590 

 bell with the initials W. W. 



Three others remain for identification Nether Compton 

 fourth, 1585, with Longobardic lettering, also Thornford second 

 and Yetminster second, marked Anno Domini 1593 an ^ Anno 

 Domini 1595. 



Contemporaneous with Wallis in his later days was another 

 founder, whom Lukis places at Salisbury John Danton, with 

 whose initials R.T. are often associated. We find him at 

 Chaldon Herring, Arne, and Tarrant Monkton in 1625 ; in the 

 next year at Spettisbury, Winterborne Stickland, and Hilton ; at 

 Shillingstone in 1634 and at Handley in 1636. The location 

 plainly points in the direction of Salisbury, and the accounts of 

 S. Thomas's parish in that city for 1630 contain an agreement 

 with him. The Purdue family now claims attention. The first 

 bellfounder of the name on record is George, who seems to 

 have been born c. 1580, and who in 1613 is described as of 

 Taunton in the churchwardens' accounts at Nettlecombe, 

 Somerset. His earliest bell in Dorset is Fordington tenor, 

 1602. Very likely C. P. on the old tenor at Studland (1605) is a 

 mistake for G. P. He will be found at Compton Valence, 

 Stratton, Halstock, Upwey, Burton Bradstock, and Chardstock. 



