Recent Wiltshire Books, Pamphlets, Articles, &c. 127 



at E. End ; old Key of N. Door ; Lady Chapel ; Nave, interior ; Bells, 

 on the ground ; Parvise and old books ; First pages of old Church- 

 wardens' Book ; Begisters (2) ; Church Plate ; Pulpit ; six Clerestory- 

 windows ; Church, exterior from N.E. 



This is a very useful and nicely illustrated popular handbook to the 

 Church and its history. A few words by way of introduction remind 

 us that ecclesiastically Melksham formerly included Seend, Erlestoke, 

 and Shaw, the first being made a separate parish in 1873, and Erlestoke 

 in 1877. Shaw, separated ecclesiastically in 1838, is still part of the 

 civil parisb of Melksham. Beanacre Church, built in 1886, is not 

 consecrated. The architecture of the Church is described in very 

 simple language, but with considerable exactness. In 1845 — 47 the 

 Church was delivered into the hands of Wyatt, who pulled down the 

 central Perpendicular Tower with its finely panelled belfry stage and 

 rebuilt it, more or less on the same lines, but by no means exactly, at 

 the west end. A not very exact sketch gives an idea of the appearance 

 of the Church before this alteration. Canon Wyld gives from the 

 Churchwardens' Account Books, (of which there are three preserved, 

 1574—1672, 1740—1798, 1799—1896,) the principal alterations and 

 repairs to which the building has been subjected since the Beformation, 

 and in more detail describes the many additions made to its furniture 

 and decorations of late years, which have converted it during his own 

 incumbency from a somewhat commonplace interior, to one of the 

 richest and most tastefully decorated Churches in the county. It is 

 now particularly notable for good modern woodwork and glass ; indeed 

 few Churches have so many good modern windows and what is the 

 more remarkable, perhaps, no really bad ones. The glass of the six 

 windows of the clerestory, illustrating the early history of Christianity 

 in Britain and Wessex, by Messrs. Powell, are a recent and striking 

 embellishment due, as were many other things in the Church, to the 

 generosity of the late Mr. White, of Whitley. A full account of the 

 subjects of these windows is given. Canon Wyld reproduces the Bow 

 Street notice of £40 reward offered by the churchwardens, for the 

 conviction of the thieves who on May 31st, 1803, broke open the Church 

 and carried away the Communion Plate : — 



" One large Silver Flaggon, Inscribed 'The Gift of Ellen Long to the Parish Church of 

 Melksham, dated (sic) 1734,' one large silver Salver, one small silver Salver, and one Silver 

 Cup." 



The inscriptions on the eight bells, (two new ones were added 1896), 

 a list of the vicars, and some account of the chief monuments are given. 

 Among the vermin for the destruction of which the churchwardens 

 paid, were martincats and whoops (bullfinches). 



little Ridge, Wiltshire, a seat of Mr. Hugh Morrison. An 

 illustrated article in Country Life, October 26th, 1912. When Mr. 

 Hugh Morrison decided on building a house in the extreme corner of 

 Fonthill Park he employed Mr. Detmar Blow to remove to that site 

 the old Manor House of Berwick St. Leonard, some three miles off. 

 The writer of the article says that this house " certainly had three 



