XXXVI. 



having been duly scrutinised, St. Michael's Church was visited. It is a beautiful 

 old Norman edifice, on the tower of which was erected a spire in 1720 as a 

 landmark for incoming ships. The interior of the church is remarkable for 

 some very ancient and curious relics besides its architectural beauties, which are 

 somewhat detracted from by the rugged state in which portions of the lower 

 walls have been left. Close to this, the most remarkable church in the borough, 

 is a fine specimen of a Tudor house which has also been purchased by 

 Mr. Spranger and is said to have been used by Henry VIII. 



Luncheon was then partaken of at 1.0 p.m. at Dartnall's Eestauraiit, and, 

 Mr. Minns having been thanked for his kind and valuable help, the members 

 adjourned to the Hartley Institute for about half au hour, and inspected the 

 varied contents of the Museum. 



At 2.15 the party drove 9 miles to Bomsey Abbey, where they were received by 

 the Rev. E. L. Berthon, formerly the Vicar, who had spent much time and 

 money in restoring the decayed portions of the Church to their original 

 character, and who now gave an address on the building, of which the following 

 is a summary : 



The Abbey is dedicated to SS. Mary and Ethelflaeda, and the dual character of 

 this is maintained throughout in the most ancient portions of the church, which 

 might be said to be unique in the amount of pure Norman work which it contains. 

 The Abbey was founded about 907 and re-built about 1115. There is a relic of the 

 former building, which is built into the wall just outside the abbess's door on the 

 south side of the church, and it dates 110 doubt not later than the llth century. 

 Another relic in the shape of a carved stone tablet in high relief was found 

 built into a wall of the church. It represents the Crucifixion and has been let 

 into the wall of the apse at the east end of the south chancel aisle (and over the 

 altar), which is used for daily service. This relic is believed to be of Saxon 

 workmanship. Standing in the middle of the nave and looking east the visitor 

 sees a perfect Norman church with two exceptions. The original windows and 

 trif orium at the east end have been removed and replaced by two beautiful Early 

 English windows, and the flat wooden ceiling replaced by Early English barrel 

 roofing. Otherwise nothing but Norman work of the best example is seen looking 

 eastward. The Norman clerestory has been allowed to remain unaltered. The west 

 end of the nave is of later date. After the Eeformation, the Nunnery having been 

 dissolved by Henry VIII., the people of Eomsey came forward and bought this 

 grand building from the King for 100 for the purpose of using it as their parish 

 church. The original deed of the sale, with the great seal, &c., has been framed 

 and mounted, and occupies a conspicuous place in the vestry. In ancient times 

 " the public " were only allowed to worship in the north aisle, which was 

 screened off from the nave. Portions of this screen, dating from William of 

 Wykeham's time (1372), were found by Mr. Berthon, and have now been worked 

 into a choir screen. There are representations of the heads of various kings, 

 queens, and bishops, who were benefactors to the Abbey. The stained glass 

 windows are all modem ; the east windows are to the memory of Lord Mount 



