THE MID PIDDLE VALLEY. liii. 



The Rev. R. GROSVENOR BARTELOT suggested that the three 

 figures carved on the east front were those of Justice (with 

 the scales), Victory (with the palm), and Peace (with an 

 olive branch). 



The Rev. C. W. H. DICKER said that probably there was 

 originally a moat round three sides of the house. He pointed 

 to traces remaining of the one on the east side. 



The PRESIDENT observed that the Hon. Sec. would convey 

 to Mr. Carter the cordial thanks of the Club for kindly 

 allowing them to view the exterior of his beautiful house. 



PlDDLETOWN CHURCH. 



A pleasant drive along narrow winding lanes soon brought 

 the party to Piddletown (or Piddleton, as it is now more 

 correctly called by its better-informed residents). 



The VICAR (the Rev. A. L. Helps) who welcomed the members, 

 briefly called attention to the principal features of the church the 

 Early English west arch, the noble wooden roof, raised in 1505 to admit 

 of the insertion of the clerestory windows ; the pews, gallery, and 

 Laudian altar rails, all put in, as the churchwardens' accounts showed, 

 in the year 1635, the ample and beautiful Perpendicular transept 

 windows, and the curious beaker-shaped font, adorned with vine 

 leaves. In the course of the restoration the removal of plaster from 

 the walls of the nave and north aisle have brought to light some most 

 interesting texts in fresco, much of the lettering and colouring being 

 still quite fresh and clearly decipherable. Over the south door, for 

 example, appears a portion of a boldly floriated arms of good Queen 

 Bess, with " the glorious Semper Eadem." Members examined the 

 supposed sanctuary handle affixed to the outside of the door below. 

 The frescoes are a valuable new acquisition to the many treasures of 

 the church. The old sounding-board has been restored to its position 

 above the pulpit. Members, in their perambulation of the church, 

 inspected the fine pre- Reformation Cheverell brass, with its straight- 

 haired head, the Laudian altar rails, and the old gossiping chair on the 

 right, the elegant alabaster statue (probably of the Virgin) found in the 

 demolished Styles's House, and probably originally brought from the 

 church ; the ancient cross, the Martyn tombs, effigies, and brasses in 



