By C. E. ranting, F.S.A. 



45 



* 1640. Paied to Willm Walter the Joyner of Bradley for setting up the 

 womans seates in the south and north side of the Church 



£j 



xxvii =00=00." 



" 1610. Paied to Richard Olliffe the Joyner for a newe ffourme to set in the 



passage to sitt uppon 00 . viij . 00." 

 "1641. Item p d Willim Walter of Mayden Bradley for the new seating 

 £i 



xxiv=00==00." 



It is not quite clear to what extent the Church was thus seated 

 but the men and women sat apart, the latter in the south and north 

 aisles, and in 1635 a special seat was provided for the "midwyfe." 



There are many interesting entries as to the sale of seats and 

 single sittings for life between 1(310 and 1850. 1 Towards the end 

 of this period parishioners began to erect seats for themselves. Sir 

 R. C. Hoare 2 refers to the rood-loft being "much disfigured by a 

 pew which rises up to a considerable height, and in a very heavy 

 form, above it." 



The two long benches in the tower are also part of Walter the 

 Joyner' s work, and were evidently made for their present position, 

 for the use of sponsors. They had been removed to the north 

 chapel, but were found to fit their present places, except that the 

 one on the south had been shortened. 



The bridge across the north aisle appears from entries as to the 

 letting of seats to have been widened in 1686-7 and divided into 

 two pews — one (the northern) having four sittings, the other five 

 sittings ; total, nine. A gallery of similar size was set up at the 

 east end of the south aisle about 1704, containing ten seats. 



A faculty was granted for the erection of another gallery in the 



1 This seems to have led to difficulties. In 1685 is an entry : — " The old 

 reading pew sold to James Harding 8s." And thirteen years later is the following 

 entry: — "Mem. May y e 30 th , 1698. Memoranded y t . upon debate this day 

 before mee concerning y e sale of y e Old Reading Pew above mencon'd to James 

 Harding (it appearing y l y e Parish Clerk for y e time being was better provided 

 for of a seat in y e Chancell) y e sale of y e same to y e s d James Harding was by 

 and w th y e approbacou of divers-of y e Inhabitants of y G Parish then p'seut ratifyed 

 and confirmed by me. Robte: Woodward Doi Sarum." 



2 Hund. of Mere, p. 10. 



