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



37 



The timbers of the tower and roof have been strengthened — only 

 a few which were absolutely rotten have been renewed. 



The pulpit and the pews of different ages and kinds (reduced in 

 height and the doors omitted) have been replaced in the re-built 

 Church and the bells re-hung in the old frame which is of very 

 curious design. The oak boarded and panelled ceiling to the eastern- 

 most bay of the nave, illustrated in my former paper, proved to be 

 fifteenth century work, re-fixed here by the J acobean builders in 

 1638, and was probably part of the roof put on at the re-modelling 

 of the Church, which took place circa 1450 : the bosses are of 

 extremely rich and delicate detail. A panelled ceiling in a similar 

 position existed at Mere Church, where it was limited to this one 

 bay, presumably as an enrichment of the part over the rood. 



The fifteenth century door, which had been stowed away under 

 the tower, has been repaired and re-used. 



A new screen has been erected between the two eastern posts of 

 the tower, to form a vestry. 



The original font of the Church has been restored to it 

 under remarkable circumstances. While the nave was being taken 

 down the Vicar discovered the bowl used for a cheese-press at an 

 inn at Ashton Keynes, and was informed that it had been previously 

 used as a cattle trough. On seeing it I at once pronounced it to be 

 the font from The Leigh — a judgment which was subsequently 

 verified, for, some time afterwards, the stem, which exactly corres- 

 ponded to the peculiar fiat quatrefoil form of the bowl, was found 

 under the floor of the nave, where it had been used to support the 

 north-east post of the. tower, which was probably re- constructed 

 when the roof was put on in 1638 — the subsequent raising of the 

 floor level having hidden it. Thus, after having been alienated for 

 nearly two hundred and seventy years, this interesting font has 

 k been restored to its original use, and the circumstances are recorded 

 on a brass plate attached to the step on which it now stands. 



The inside stone arch of the north doorway was found in the 

 i churchyard, and has been reinstated, in lieu of the slight wooden 

 0 lintel which had taken its place. 



A new chancel, witli recess for the organ and archway into the 



