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



53 



" 1705. Paid John Cowlyes bill for setting up the pinicle and other work. 

 £3. 7. 9." 



"1717. Bowden the mason in part of his money towards setting up the 

 pinnical. £20." 



Repairs to pinnacles are recorded in 1745, 1793, and 1847. 



In 1878 the north- west pinnacle was struck by lightning, and 

 the top had to be re-built. 



In 1888 the north-east pinnacle was in a dangerous state and 

 was re -built stone for stone — the entire tower being scaffolded and 

 re-pointed at the same time. On this occasion it was not found 

 to be necessary to go out of Mere for a builder to do this, as in 

 1640 and 1704, for it was well done by Mr. John Avery. 



The lead roof of the tower was renewed in 1616, and again in 

 1700 (at an outlay of £61 15s. 2d.) and for the third time this 

 month (November, 1896), at a cost almost the same as in 1700. 



It was a frequent practice to play games in the churchyard, and 

 the plain faces of the south and north walls of the tower afforded 

 good opportunity for fives : the former was called the great fives 

 place and the latter the little fives place, and the west windows of 

 the aisles overlooking them were called "fives place windows." 

 There are the following entries : — 



"1691. Itm for casting the earth abroad in the ffives place." 

 " 1705. Itm sold to Philip Strong ju the whole intire seat under the Little 

 ffives place window for his life and paid for y e same 2/-." 

 "Paid for mending y e fives place windowe. 4/-." 



There was formerly a cross in the churchyard, although there is 

 no trace of it left, and it is even doubtful where it stood. The 

 churchwardens' book records : — 



"1556. For two lode of stones w th the cariage for the new makeynge of 



the Crosse yn the Churcheyard. 4/-." 

 " For the Base stone and the stemme for the same Crosse 2/-." 

 " To the Masons for their labo r for the newe makyng of the same 



Crosse in the Churchyard. 17/6." 



From this it is evident that the cross was only re-built in 1556, 

 and that one existed previously. This one does not appear to have 

 been great in size or ornamentation, judging from the smallness of 

 the cost. 



