i82 The Environs of Bath. 



ing of our Lord. These, as well as portions of Norman 

 columns also found in the old building, may still be seen 

 in the new mill which is on the site of the old one.* 

 The Church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, consisted of 

 nave, chancel and south porch ; it has, however been mainly 

 rebuilt, and much enlarged during this century, and is now 

 a handsome and commodious Parish Church. The original 

 south wall and porch were decorated, and it is understood 

 that the materials were again utilised and replaced in erect- 

 ing the present south aisle and porch. There are several 

 mural monuments to the memory of the Panton and Walters 

 families in the last century. The tower, perpendicular, 

 contains six bells, one of which, the fourth, is supposed 

 from the inscription to be of the thirteenth century. After 

 leaving the Church and proceeding about a mile and a half 

 further through a most picturesque valley, we reach the ro- 

 mantic and interesting hamlet or Parish oi St. Catherines or 

 St. Katherine's: The Church and Mansion House, known 

 as St. Catherine's Court, lie close together. The whole of 

 the Parish formerly belonged to the Bath Abbey ; who had 

 here a grange, gardens, and a vineyard, and from a descrip- 

 tion of the house given in a lease granted by the Prior and 

 Convent of Bath in 1524 it must have been not only a very 

 capacious habitation, but one in every way well adapted to 

 carry on the various farming operations of the monks. Many 

 portions of the old house still remain, the front facing the 

 Church appears to be of the Elizabethan age, but the porch 

 is supposed to have been erected in Charles the First's reign. 

 The hall formerly contained a fountain, supplied from St. 



* Lady Miller and her literary gatherings in Batheaston Villa have already 

 been referred to. (See p. 125. ) 



