278 Great Bedwyn. 



the head, on each face of the tower ; and on the north and east 

 sides there is a small opening which gives light and air to the ring- 

 ing-floor. The staircase turret is modern, having been built in 

 1840. The tower contains an harmonious peal of six heavy bells. 

 Their inscriptions are as follows : — 



1. 2. 3. Henry Knight of Reading made mee 1671. 



4. William Burd, Robert Wells, C. W. 1671. H. K. 



5. Edward Brunsden, John Shadwell, Churchwardens, 1656. Wj^P^N^B. 



6. In the Lord doo I trust. I. W : D. 1623. 

 Priest's Bell:— " John Corr. B. F. 1741." 



The 5th and 6th were cast in Salisbury ; the former, by William 

 Purdue and Nathaniel Bolter, is the best bell in the tower ; the 

 latter by John Wallis and John Dauton, weighs about 28 cwt. 



The priest's bell was cast at Aldbourne by John Corr bell founder. 

 The bells were entirely new hung with new frame work, stocks, 

 wheels, &c, in 1855, and some of them turned one quarter round. 



The Interior. The oldest portions of the church are the piers 

 and arches of the nave. The style is Transition Norman, but it is 

 combined with so much Early English ornament, that it cannot be 

 dated earlier than the reign of Bichard I. 



There are three round piers and two responds on each side, 

 between the tower piers and the west end ; the base mouldings of 

 these piers are decidedly of Early English character, and there are 

 foot ornaments of that style on the angles of the plinth. The capi- 

 tals rise from a round fillet ; and a profusion of Norman and Early 

 English ornament fills the space between the fillet and the abacus 

 above, which is square. Each capital has different ornaments, and 

 in only one instance does the same pattern run round every side. 

 The foliage of the second or middle capital on the south side is al- 

 together Early English, having three heads, also of that character, 

 mixed with the foliage, on the face next to the nave ; this is the 

 richest capital of the whole, and has been the least injured. The 

 arches springing from these piers and capitals are pointed, and are 

 what are called drop arches. The archivolt is recessed and cham- 

 fered ; the recess on the nave side being filled with a zigzag or 

 chevron moulding, surmounted by a hollow label, billctted. A 

 niche, containing a figure of the Virgin, carved in stone, and highly 



