A HISTORY OF BEDFORDSHIRE 



angles, capitals with plain bells and moulded abaci, 

 and arches of two moulded orders with a hollow be- 

 tween. The north aisle appears to be of the same 

 date, and has three three-light windows on the north 

 and one at the east, all much repaired or renewed, 

 with tracery of fifteenth-century style. The north 

 doorway is also in modern stonework, and in the wall 

 above it are traces of a tall two-centred arch which 

 may be that of a destroyed window. The south 

 aisle has evidently had an important altar, probably 

 the Lady altar, at the east end. The east window 

 is of four cinquefoiled lights with beautiful flowing 

 tracery in the head, cusped and feathered, and re- 

 taining a little old glass. To the north of it is a 

 fourteenth-century image-bracket in the shape of a 

 beardless human head, carrying a modern chamfered 

 abacus, and across the south-east angle of the aisle is a 

 large moulded and carved bracket, also of the four- 

 teenth century. Close to it is a contemporary piscina 

 recess, cinquefoiled. There are two windows on the 

 south, the easternmost square-headed, of three tre- 

 foiled lights, a fifteenth-century insertion, and the 

 other a good fourteenth-century example of three 

 trefoiled lights with net tracery. The west window, 

 also of three lights, is a fifteenth-century insertion 

 with a four-centred head. The south doorway, 

 of two continuous wave-moulded orders, is coeval 

 with the aisle, together with the lower part of the 

 south porch, which formerly had a steep pitched roof, 

 as the marks over the doorway show. It has small 

 modern windows on the east and west sides, and an 

 outer archway of two orders with shafts to the inner 

 order. Over it is a fifteenth-century parvise, lighted 

 by a two-light window on the south, and reached by a 

 stone stair at the north-west, the entrance to which 

 is in the aisle just west of the south doorway. 



The nave has a clearstory with four two-light win- 

 dows a side, of fifteenth-century date, the north range 

 looking older than the other. Each window has 

 cinquefoiled lights and a four-centred head, but the 

 sections are different on the two sides ; the southern 

 range may date from the end of the century. 



The tower, except for the eastern arch, of which 

 mention has already been made, is modern, with an 

 embattled parapet and tall transomed belfry windows of 

 fourteenth-century style ; at the north-east angle is a 

 projecting staircase. 



The roofs of the church are all modern, and there 

 are no old wooden fittings. The font, at the 

 west end of the north aisle, is octagonal, with two 

 cinquefoiled panels on each face ; it is probably of the 

 latter part of the fourteenth century. 



In the east window of the south aisle are a few 

 quarries of ancient glass. There are five bells in the 

 tower ; until 1887 there were only two, the treble by 

 Mears, 1839, and the second by William Haulsey, 

 i6z2. 



The plate consists of a communion cup and cover 

 paten of 1569, with a narrow engraved band of 

 ornament on the bowl, and leaf pattern on the foot, 

 and a pewter almsdish. 



The registers begin in 1553, the first book con- 

 taining all entries to 1670, and the second those 

 from 1701 to 1773. The third book contains the 



marriages 1755-87, and the fourth baptisms and 

 burials 1 774-1 8 1 2. In the fifth are the marriages 

 from 1795 to 181 1. 



The first mention that has been 

 JDFOWSON found of the church of St. Mary, 

 Dunton, is in 1 189, when Richard I 

 confirmed its possession to the priory of Holywell ; "^ 

 a subsequent confirmation was obtained from Henry III 

 in 1235.°* The advowson, which came to the crown 

 at the Dissolution, was granted to John Burgoyne in 

 1582,'' and by him alienated to Robert Spencer in 

 1599.™ It has followed the same history as that of 

 Dunton Goyes manor (q.v.) till Earl Brownlow 

 alienated his estates in Dunton to Mr. Richardson. 

 He retained the advowson till 1892," between which 

 date and 1898 it was transferred to Mrs. Sandall, 

 and is at present the property of Mrs. J. W. Adams." 



The rectory of Dunton belonged like the advowson 

 to Holywell Priory till the Dissolution. It was at 

 first the subject of temporary grants, in 1586 it was 

 granted to Richard Pickman at a rent of £\ i 6s. 8(/.," 

 and in 1607 to Roger Rogers," and by 1628 it had 

 come into the possession of Robert Lord Spencer, 

 who owned the manor of Dunton Goyes." There 

 is a Baptist Chapel in Dunton. 



The Rev. Robert Bamford, vicar, 

 CHJRITIES who died on 24 August, 1720, by 

 his will charged his property then 

 known as the Black Bull Inn, in St. Paul's parish, 

 Bedford, with an annuity of 50/. to be distributed 

 weekly in bread in the church every Lord's Day from 

 Michaelmas to Lady Day to the poor of the parish 

 not receiving benefit from the collection. The 

 rent-charge is duly paid to the vicar and church- 

 wardens by Mr. E. P. Rose from 50, High Street, 

 Bedford, being the property charged, which has- 

 been converted into a dwelling-house and draper's 

 shop. The distribution in bread is made among 

 ninety recipients. 



The charity of Banks, date unknown, formerly 



consisted of an annual charge oi £\ out of a farm 

 known as the Mills, part of an estate in this parish 

 belonging to Earl Spencer. The charge was re- 

 deemed in 1859 by the transfer to the ofiicial trustees 

 of j{^33 6s. %d. consols. 



Poors Land — This parish was formerly possessed of 

 about two acres in Dunton Fen. In 1859 the land 

 was sold and proceeds invested in j^l82 10/. jd. 

 consols with the official trustees. The dividends on 

 the two sums of stock, amounting to about £(, 8/., are 

 applied in gifts of money to poor widows, old men 

 and women, and poor householders, about seventy in 

 number. 



In 1 877 the Rev. John Taddy, vicar, by his will be- 

 queathed ;£loo, income to be applied by the vicar 

 for the time being in the distribution of money to 

 poor widows. The legacy is represented by 

 j^ioi 18/. zd. consols with the official trustees. 



In 1883 Edward Glynn Taddy by his will left 

 ;^I00, income to be distributed among the poor by the 

 vicar and churchwardens, represented by ^^97 1 3/. -jd. 

 consols, also with the official trustees, the dividends 

 being applied in gifts of \s. each to twenty poor in- 

 habitants. 



" Dugdale, Mob. iv, 393, 

 «8 Cal. of Chart. R. i, 20 1. 

 «" Pat. R. 29 Eliz. pt. 5. 



7" Feet of F. Beds. Trin. 41 Eliz. 

 n CUrgyLiit, 1858-92. 

 " Ibid. 1892-1906. 



?» Pat. R. 29 Eliz. pt. 5. 



'* Ibid. 4 Jas. I, pt. 19. 



" Chan. Inq. p.m.(Ser. z), ccccxli,No. 1 



222 



