TARRANT VALLEY. 



liii. 



20 years the Head-Master of the historic Grammar School of 

 Milton Abbas, and who numbered among his old boys men of 

 the distinction of General Lord Grenfell, Bishop Smythies, and 

 Mr. Bosworth Smith. 



Addressing the Members present, Mr. Penny described the many interesting 

 features of this remarkable church the Eomanesque chancel arch, the north 

 transept with its Early English windows, and the rest of the church of the 

 Decorated period, the three hagioscopes in excellent preservation, the mutilated 

 lintel over the south door with what appears to be a lamb, a cross, a fish issuing 



from the mouth of the lamb, and two figures of men sitting. The party made a 

 close inspection of the church, and much speculation was rife as to the real 

 object of the two jars or vases in niches above the chancel arch, and supposed by 

 some to have been placed there for enriching the voice of the preacher. Mr. 

 Penny reminded the Club how the ancient Greeks and Romans placed hollow 

 vessels in their public buildings for this purpose. He also pointed out in the west 

 wall of the north transept, close to the long, low, lancet-headed window, a plain 

 low door of the same date, which the older inhabitants of that remote village 

 used, within living memory, to call "the lepers' gate." In corroboration of this 

 there was documentary evidence, supported by the actual foundations, of the 

 existence within a few yards of the west wall, and bordering on the running 

 water of the Tarrant, of a leper hospital dedicated to St. Leonard. 



The HON. SECRETARY expressed the opinion that what the 

 Rector suggested to be an Easter sepulchre on the north side of 

 the east wall of the church was a niche for the statue of the 

 patron saint. 



