256 



Notes on the History of Mere. 



strapping and bolting it up to the joists where loose with \m. or fin. iron 

 ' coach screws,' having '2x2' thin plates of iron (or copper would be better) 

 under the heads, let in flush with the surface. (This is a treatment I have 

 recently adopted with a similar ceiling, and with great success.) The cracks 

 and defective parts might then be cut out and stopped with plaster. 



" The tiling of the roof should be stripped and re-laid on cleft oak laths, as 

 specified, and opportunity should at the same time be taken to strengthen the 

 framing of the principals by straps or bolts at the joints. 



" Mr. Hooper pointed out an interesting oak Jacobean window in the furnace - 

 house, which he has instructions to take out and supersede by one of deal. I 

 think an examination of the old one will show that it is in a sufficiently sound 

 state to last longer than the new, and it would be a pity to remove it. 



"I earnestly hope that some such repair as I have above indicated may be 

 carried out, and that this interesting structure may be spared the well-meant 

 but injurious handling with which it was threatened. 



" C. E. PONTING." 



In explanation of the above it should be stated that in 1888 it 

 came to the knowledge of the Eev. E. Gr. Wyld, then Vicar of 

 Mere, that a contract had been signed by a local builder to carry 

 out certain repairs and alterations in the chapel, which would 

 have completely destroyed all the leading architectural features of 

 the building ; consequently he immediately communicated with 

 Mrs. Banks (the owner) and with the Secretary of the Wilts 

 Archaeological Society, begging that the work might not be begun 

 till a report had been made on the state of the chapel and as to the 

 possibility of its being restored without being vandalised. Mr. 

 Ponting was instructed to examine the building, and the report 

 given above was the outcome of his inspection. It is a satisfaction 

 to be able to say that Mr. Ponting's suggestions were to a great 

 extent carried out, and the structure has been judiciously restored, 

 and its original architectural features retained. 



Barrow Street 



is another hamlet of Mere, lying between Mere Park and Chaden- 

 wyche. It consists of three farms, two of which are part of the 

 Duchy of Cornwall, the other belongs to Sir H. H. Hoare, Bart. 

 Of the former, Breaches Farm — originally La Breche — is about 

 322 acres in extent, and is annexed to Conwich, which till the 

 early part of this century was a separate holding. 



