THE CHURCH BELLS OF DORSET. 95 



This is in my Bell MS. A., ff. 75, 76 verso, and dated by me " December 27th, 

 1852, Worlington, Suffolk," the parish of which my father, who died in the 

 previous year, had been rector. 



I added: "The tale seems to me very pointless and incomplete, but see 

 Hutchins ! " 



" There is a tradition current among some of the old people 

 in the village that many years ago the bellringers (or a party) of 

 this village went secretly and removed one of the bells from the 

 old ruined church at Knowlton, which is distant from this village 

 about nine miles, across Kingdown by the right of Badbury 

 Rings, and about three miles from the ancient old town of 

 Cranborne. 



They were successful so far, but, as there came a fall of snow 

 during the expedition, they were afraid of being discovered by 

 their tracks, and to baffle pursuit in case of discovery they 

 reversed the shoes of the horses on their return. Arriving 

 at the old bridge of White Mill, which is distant from 

 Sturminster Church about half-a-mile, they sent on two of their 

 party in advance to the village to see that the course was clear. 

 As they were so long gone the remaining party thought that 

 something was amiss and that they were discovered, and, suspect- 

 ing that the people of Knowlton were on their track, they, to 

 dispose of the bell and put it out of sight, threw it into the 

 River Stour, in a deep hole (now called Bell Hole or White Mill 

 Hole). Hence the following doggerel : 



' Knowlton bell is a -stole 

 Aud thrown into White Mill Hole.' " 



From Mr. A. Reeves. 



What became of this bell subsequently it is difficult to say. 

 Some say it was left in the river, and others that it was got out 

 and put in Shapwick Church, and some think it was put in this 

 church ; but in Hutchins' History of Dorset (rev. edt.) it states 

 that it was recovered, and was for some years in the possession 



