By John Harding. 



Ill 



contain many items of interest to the archaeologist, and historian of 

 the Cathedral. As an instance it may be mentioned that the 

 accounts for 1479 and 1480 contain the charges in connection with 

 the stone vault under the tower, the date of this work not being 

 known until it was found in these accounts. 



Notwithstanding St. Osmund's provision for the care of the bells, 

 it is evident that in course of time they were much neglected, for 

 Dodsworth relates that as early as 1331 a letter of remonstrance 

 was addressed by the Chapter to the Treasurer, upon the danger to 

 which the rich treasures of the Church were exposed, and further : — 



" That the bells in the belfry with much art suspended, of great weight and 

 price, and sweet sounding to the ears, by the fault of your officers are suffered 

 to decay, and rendered totally useless for ringing." 



There was also a clock in the Belfry at an early date, for there is, 

 among the Clerk of the Works' papers a lease or grant for forty 

 years, bearing date 1386, from the Dean and Chapter to Reginald 

 Clover and Alice his wife, of 



" A shop built over the fosse of the Close of the Canons of the Church of 

 Sarum on the eastern side of the north gate of the Close for the sustentation of 

 the clock in the belfry of the s d . Close." 



There is a charge in the account for 1473 of 4s. 2d. to Walter 

 the Sexton for the care of the clock for one quarter, and the same 

 salary was paid until 1661. The clock remained in the Belfry until 

 the latter was taken down in 1790, when it was removed to the 

 Cathedral tower, where it was kept going until 1884, when it was 

 superseded by the excellent clock and chimes presented to the 

 Cathedral by the officers of the 62nd, or Wiltshire Regiment. 



There is also mention of a dial on the Belfry, to which the fol- 

 lowing payments refer. 



In 1613 



"To Thomas Devorant the smith for making the elevation for the dial 

 11*. Sd. ; to Cobell the painter 15*.; to the joyuer for his pay nes 15*. ; to 

 Orpen (carpenter) for three days about the same dial 3*. tid. ; to Singer for so 

 many days work 2*. 4id. n 



