16 



The Twenty-Eighth General Meeting. 



spot, and he could keep a look out from this chamber over the 

 whole Church. 



Dr. Jennings said that an old inhabitant of the borough (now in 

 his 90th year) had told him that at the beginning of the present 

 century it was the private pew of the chief magistrate, who was a 

 lawyer, and that he sat there on Sundays and watched who attended 

 Church, in order that those who did not attend a certain number of 

 times might have a fine inflicted on them. 



Mr. Talbot thought this was possible, and added that whatever 

 its use might have been, it was certainly medieval, and no post- 

 Reformation work. 



The party were then conducted round the exterior of the building, 

 the porch being first examined. The figures on the side walls 

 of the porch, Mr. Talbot believed, were of earlier workmanship 

 than the series of sculptures on the arch, being much ruder in 

 execution. 



Mr. Croome, the parish clerk, pointed out the subjects of all the 

 sculptured medallions with which the porch is enriched, and which 

 represent events in both Old and New Testament History, beginning 

 at the Creation, and closing with the Resurrection and the descent 

 of the Holy Ghost ; besides eight — four on each side — representing 

 St. Michael and his encounter with the dragon. A very careful and 

 complete inspection of the exterior of the church was then made, 

 the party throughout having the advantage of Mr. Talbot's explana- 

 tions and suggestions ; and before leaving this interesting spot, a 

 vote of thanks was most cordially presented to him, on the motion 

 of the President. 



The Members then visited the Abbey House, where a fine old 

 solid oak staircase was seen, and the cellars, which really formed a 

 portion of the old monastic buildings. Before leaving, the party 

 were kindly invited by Dr. Jennings to refresh themselves with a 

 cup of tea, and this was gratefully accepted. 



The day's perambulation included a visit to St. John's Hospital, 

 part of which is now used as the Court House of the Corporation : 

 and the Market Cross, which has recently been very carefully- 

 restored. 



