The President's Address. 



139 



the church, it presented no feature of interest, unless as proving 

 the increase of population, as exhibited in the reconstruction of the 

 nave, which did not belong to the ancient period when the church 

 was originally built. There were however two most interesting 

 remains of antiquity in that neighbourhood — viz., the Priory of 

 Bradenstoke and the Abbey of Lacock, the latter built in the 13th, 

 the former early in the 14th century, and both of which they would 

 have an opportunity of visiting. Then again there were several 

 smaller Churches which would well repay inspection ; Langley 

 Burrell, for instance, which they would pass in the course of their 

 excursion, with very good early English and Decorated features, 

 and Draycot Cerne, which is curious as having the chancel on a lower 

 level than the nave, and contains in its chancel a fine brass of a knight 

 of the Cerne family. Sutton Benger, where there was a good Decor- 

 ated south aisle ; and Christian Malford, in which, if they were able 

 to reach it, some points of interesting construction would be found. 

 From thence they would go up to Clack, where a new Church had 

 been built by Mr. Goldney, close to which lay the interesting 

 remains of Bradenstoke Priory, which Mr. Goldney proposed to 

 shew them. The next day they proposed to go to Lacock Abbey, 

 and at the same time visit Lacock Church — originally a Decorated 

 church of the time of Edward III., as proved by its north transept 

 and tower, but to which had since been added (in the 15th century) 

 in consequence of the increase of population, a clerestory and two 

 aisles. The chancel and south transept had been rebuilt in the course 

 of the last century, the former a very good piece of masonry, but 

 constructed in entire ignorance of Gothic execution. From thence 

 they would go to Corsham, where they would see a church which 

 when he was a boy had a high spire ; and then on by the Biddestones, 

 where there were formerly two churches, one of which remained, 

 and which by an addition to the end of its chancel, was now made 

 to accommodate the population of both parishes. Attached to this 

 church was a somewhat curious bell tower, standing upon its gable, 

 much ruder than that at Leigh-de-la-mere, which had been repaired 

 with considerable splendour, but with little regard to its original. 

 At Castle Combe Church, which they also proposed to visit, there 



