By the Rev. Canon J. E. Jackson. 3£7 



burst, with an exceeding loud noise, like the firing of several cannons 

 at once. They were both stunned, one had his watch-glass shivered, 

 part of his money melted in his pocket, and his shoe split into several 

 pieces."" 



The west end of the south aisle is called u Beach's Chapel/' from 

 a family at West Ashton about 1610, but as that part of the church 

 is much older, it is doubtful by what right they gave their name to it. 



An old font in the vicarage garden, of handsome work, is com- 

 monly supposed to have come out of Steeple Ashton Church, but 

 this was not so. It was bought by Mr. Hey, vicar, some years ago, 

 from a stonemason at Seend, who had been making a new one for 

 Bromham Church, and this came from Bromham. 1 



1 The present Font was placed by Rev. Richard Crawley (late Vicar) and his 

 sisters to the memory of thmr mother. On it is this inscription : — "ifi Pietatis 

 ergo in Matrem carissimam mariam crawley quae viduitatis annis in hoc pago 

 placid e et sancte peractis, Bathonise in fide Christi obiit xvi° die Martii A 0 . 

 Dom: MDCCCxli 0 aetatis suae lxxvi° etin cemeterio huic ecclesise adjacente sepulta 

 est, hoc Baptismi lavacrum sacris usibus dicant films filireque superstites." 



The chancel was rebuilt in 1853. The church windows were once filled with 

 stained glass, of which many fragments remain. In one near the south en- 

 trance is the device of a boar's head often repeated. In others are figures of 

 saints, evangelists, and angels, the Passion, &c. On the north side, on a stone 

 corbel, is a merchant's mark. The ohancel east window was lately erected by 

 R. P. Long, Esq., to the memory of his father, Walter Long, Esq. On the 

 walls are tablets to some of the Long family : on one, a coat of arms, Long im- 

 paling Wrey. On the floor was, a few years ago, a little brass, with the in- 

 scription : " Virgo quid loquitur, quoeris ? Lege: ' Tu morieris.' Maria 

 Carpenter." This was probably the daughter of Henry Carpenter, Vicar, 1636. 

 Robert Beach, 1672, and Mrs. Grace Beach, 1685. Arms, vaire G. & A. on a 

 canton a buck's head cabossed, Beach : impaling within a bordure a fleur de 

 lys, Flower. Samuel Martyn of East Town, 1687. Arms, A. a double- 

 headed eagle displayed gules. John, his son, 1714. 



In the north chancel, east end, is a large monument to Thomas Bennett, Esq., 

 of Steeple Ashton and Combhay, 1728. Arms, Bennett impaling Yerbury. 



In the south aisle, Mrs. Ann Cary, 1772. Arms, Gary impaling Smith of 

 Combhay. John Smith of Combhay, 1775, and his wife Ann Tracy. Aims, Smith 

 quartering Bennett, impaling Tracy. 



In the arch on the north side : Thomas Beach (son of Thomas Beach of 

 West Ashton and Wolley) ; formerly Chief Justice in Jamaica, d. 1774. Arms, 

 quarterly Beach and Turner; on an escutcheon of pretence, llynes quartering 

 Guthrie. At the west end, Lt. Col. Thomas de la Beohe, 1801. John llynes 

 de la Beche, 1803. Thomas Beach, West Ashton, 1729. Miss Grace his 



