14 ELLINGHAM CHURCH. 



It is possible, or rather probable, that the altar tomb near the 

 South Porch is that of the founder, William de Solariis. 



I Avoiild here remark how singular it is that all traces of ha:l>ita- 

 tions, such as would have encouraged the building of a church, 

 should have completely vanished from its immediate neighbourhood, 

 as one farmhouse is now the only building for nearly three-quarters 

 of a mile. 



In the year 1746 a spirit of renovation fell upon the church- 

 wardens of Ellingham, who proceeded to pull down the West P]nd 

 of the church and rebuild it, in what I may term " Mausoleum 

 Gothic ;" substantial, certainly, but pretty, certainly not. The 

 present South Porch, ^Aith its sundial, was erected of the same 

 style of architecture and at the same time. 



The bells, of which there wore two, were sold for £37, 

 weighing about 8cwt. and a-half, and the proceeds possibly invested 

 in the Communion plate. You will observe the remains of a fine 

 yew tree, as is so common, close to the old gateway of the 

 churchyard. Why 1 



The church, having no foundation, as is common in very early 

 churches, was in a very dilapidated state, when its restoration was 

 undertaken by the Earl of Normanton about ten years ago, and 

 carried out in a most satisfactory manner. 



If the leading principle of this restoration had been in all cases 

 adhered to, in many of the so-called restorations of the last fifty 

 years, we should not have to deplore the loss of so many objects 

 and buildings of the greatest arch feo logical interest. 



In this case the idea was to destroy nothing that could be 

 preserved " bearing upon the past history of the building," and I 

 would advocate one matter in connection with all church restoration 

 as was faithfully carried out in this instance — viz., not to cart away 

 the memorials of the fathers of the parish from the church floor, 

 to fill their places with modern encaustic tiles to the benefit of 

 contracting masons. Here every flag stone was carefully marked 

 and restored to the precise places where olcl priest and peasant 

 alike sleep their last sleep. 



