XXXIX. 



The party were conducted over the Church by the Kector, Rev. G. 

 Wellington, who read the following paper : 



" The parish church of Horton is dedicated to Saint Wolf ride, mother 

 of Saint Edith, Abbess of Wilton, 1401. It was almost wholly rebuilt 

 about 1720 from its then ruinous state, and is probably part of the ancient 

 priory church. The north transept has an ancient doorway and buttresses, 

 and on a small stone in the north wall is inscribed l.C. 1755. There is 

 also a small locker on the east side of the doorway within. The two 

 monumental effigies on each side of the doorway within were removed 

 from the Hastings aisle under the tower at the restoration of 1869. The 

 knight in Purbeck marble is St. Giles de Erase, who died about 1395, 

 and it formerly rested upon a low altar tomb. The lady in Harnhill stone 

 used to lie near it, and she may be his wife. The font was unused for 

 many years, and was stowed away in a dilapidated condition in the 

 Hastings aisle. At the restoration of 1869 it was repaired and placed in 

 its present position. The body of the church underwent a restoration in 

 1869, when the two galleries and the pulpit sounding board were removed, 

 and the church generally was put into a state of repair. The vestry 

 under the tower is the old Hastings aisle belonging to the family at 

 Woodlands House ; and the piers supporting the arch into it are probably 

 Norman. In it there is a monument to three members of the Hastings 

 family, and on the floor underneath are three grave stones with their 

 respective names. The registers date from 1563, but there are none for the 

 years 1725 to 1740 and also 1753 to 1773. There is a book of affidavits 

 of burials in Woollen 1678 to 1720 ; and also the churchwardens' account 

 book from 1716 to 1895. The silver chalice and paten are probably of 

 1610. The tower was rebuilt in 1722 on the foundations of a former one, 

 and three of the bells were sold for 79 16s. In the churchwardens' 

 account book there is the following entry : " Whereas the tower of the 

 parish church of Horton is very much decayed, and the parishioners are 

 desirous to erect a new tower upon a small aisle belonging to Edward 

 Seymour, Esq., the said Edward Seymour, Esq., doth give leave that the 

 tower should be erected as desired, provided the parishioners take care 

 to place the monuments in the same places in which they now stand, as 

 near as may be, and proper pews be erected for him and his family. In 

 witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands, the 13th day of 

 February, 1722. E. Seymour, N. Stuart, Henry Thornbull, church- 

 wardens." There is the following inscription on the one remaining bell : 

 " Love God. 1684. F.D., E.F., W.F." The chancel was restored in 

 1869 and in 1890 the organ and choir stalls were placed in it, the altar and 

 its cloths being presented by the Countess of Shaftesbury. There is a 



