128 ANCIENT HOUR GLASS AND STAND. 



lys also appears again here ; it is probable, therefore, that the dates 

 of both are not far from identical. The stand in Easthope Church 

 is a very handsome one. It is of wrought iron scroll-work, round, 

 and measuring four inches in height and six inches in breadth, the 

 height of the glass being eight inches. To the middle (in front) is 

 attached, projecting at right angles, an iron plate bearing the date 

 at the top in free figures (1662). The plate is elegantly cut on the 

 .front and lower margins, representing the sections of Gothic 

 mouldings. In the centre is a heart-shaped perforation, with a 

 perforated S-shaped marking on each side ; and at the point where 

 the date-bearing plate unites with the stand is a large fleur-de-lys. 

 The frame in which the sand-glass is contained is of wood, and 

 evidently of elegant construction ; it is, however, I am told, much 

 injured by worms and dry-rot. The stand and glass are suspended 

 from the pulpit by a strong, twisted iron bent bracket arm. 



Mr. Crosse also sent me a drawing of an old pewter tankard, 

 still in use in Easthope Church as a flagon at celebrations of Holy 

 Communion. On it is the following inscription : " THOS. 

 SHINTON, rector; WM. CORFIELD, churchwarden. Anno 1730." 



Since the above was written one of our members (Rev. James 

 Cross) has kindly communicated to me a note on this subject, 

 taken from an old work, " Archseologia, vol. I., Soc. of Antiquaries, 

 London, 1770," and entitled "Churchwardens' Accounts of St. 

 Helen's, Abington, Berkshire," in which the following entry 

 appears : 



"Anno M.D. x. GI. (1591), 34 Eliz. : Payde for an houre glass 

 " for the pulpitt Os. 4d." A note is added " This is the earliest 

 " record I have met with of hour glass for pulpit." 



I have also recently received from Mr. T. B. Groves a cutting 

 from the St. James' Gazette of May 27th, 1887 (quoting the 

 "Quiver" magazine), from which it appears that hour glasses or 

 their stands, or remains of them, once existed, or still exist, in the 

 following churches not noted in my paper, above mentioned : 

 " All Saints' CJmrch, Newcastle-on-Tyne ; " St. Dunstaris Church, 

 Fleet Street, London ; St. Allan's Church, Wood Street ; Brixton 



