of 



Returns of bells as of other church furniture were required in 

 1547 and 1552, and it has been assumed by some who have never 

 investigated the contents of our towers that such orders as were 

 given respecting the disposal of the bells in the latter year were 

 effectual. Mr. Dunkin's list of Cornwall inscriptions shows that 

 in eleven churches in that county there yet remain two or more 

 of the bells that hung in the towers at the time of this proclama- 

 tion, though, of course, since 1549 a vast number have passed 

 through the foundries. 



The same result is found in other counties, or rather a more 

 striking result, as may be seen from Mr. Ellacombe's labours in 

 Devon, Somerset, and Gloucester, or my own in Suffolk and 

 Cambridgeshire. Near me are two small parish churches, 

 at Athelington and South Elmham S. Peter's, in which hang the 

 same three bells which are named in the 1553 inventories. 

 Indeed, these inventories show most conclusively that the 

 command was inoperative. It would seem that a suggestion 

 was made that the removal of clappers would serve the same 

 purpose as the removal of bells, and cause less disturbance. At 

 any rate, according to Strype, two Devonshire gentlemen, 

 Champion and Chichester, were allowed on request a grant of 

 clappers, and, according to Mi. Ellacombe's suggestion, this 

 may have been done by them to keep the bells in the towers. 



In Dorset there are at least 34 churches in which more than 

 one ante-Reformation may be seen, and there are a few more in 

 which blank bells may be regarded as of equal antiquity. I 

 append a list of the 34 : 



Little Bredy. 



Litton Cheney. 



Swyre. 



Broadwindsor. 



Fordington. 



Winterborne Came. 



Chesilborne. 



Puddlehinton. 

 Tolpuddle. 

 Alton Pancras. 

 Hazelbury Bryan. 

 Nether Cerne. 

 Sydling S. Nicholas. 

 Osmington. 



