288 REPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1905 



Before entering the grounds of the Mansion-house, the party 



were met by the incumbent of the parish, Rev. R. 

 Mitford C. McLeod, who kindly escorted them through 



Church. the restored Norman church, and recounted 



the many alterations which had been made upon 

 it through the munificence of the late Colonel Osbaldeston 

 Mitford, who had in recent times restored or renovated it. 

 As is evidenced in a rich moulding of chevron and cable pattern 

 on the South doorway, the original building belonged to the 

 Norman period, the date of its foundation being ascribed by 

 Canon Greenwell to 1140. Before the addition of the Mitford 

 Chapel, in which Holy Communion is celebrated on week-days, 

 a Norman buttress supported the wall, while beneath the 

 ivy now covering it was discovered an ancient double-headed 

 corbel. The church consists of an enlarged and lofty nave, 

 with modern clerestory and South aisle, and an early English 

 chancel, in which has been erected a beautiful reredos from 

 Bruges. Under the range of lights on the South is inserted 

 a small lancet opening, which may have done duty for the 

 leper's window. At the West end of the church there has 

 been raised a graceful tower and spire, into whose belfry 

 a chime of bells, rung by machinery, has lately been intro- 

 duced. In the vestry on the North, entrance to which is 

 obtained through a doorway of date 1622, there is preserved 

 the original church bell, believed to be six hundred years 

 old, which possesses the peculiarity of being unusually long 

 in comparison with its breadth. A fine freestone monument 

 in the chancel adorns the burying-place of Bertram Reveley, 

 " Bartram to us so dutiful a son," who died in 1622; and 

 a richly stained glass window by Kemp, dedicated by his 

 nephews and nieces to the memorj' of their uncle, John 

 Philip Osbaldeston Mitford, who died 27th Nov. 1895, fills 

 an honoured place. 



Proceeding to the grounds of Mitford, the party were 



agreeably surprised to learn that in view of 

 Mitford the labours of the day, all of which had proved 



Hall. pleasant, if somewhat exhausting, afternoon tea 



had been thoughtfully provided by the proprietor. 

 Under a splendid Chestnut tree, whose pendulous spreading 

 branches had taken root, and entirely screened the members 



