Visited by the Society in 1890. 



263 



to neutralise the effects of this by putting in large sandstone boulders 

 as a foundation instead of digging deeper. The result was that 

 these were crushed down into the sand, and the tower became split 

 and distorted. At some period — probably when the bells were put 

 in 1 — an attempt was made to arrest this damage by putting large 

 oak beams right through the walls from east to west and north to 

 south. These were keyed on the outside and the exposed parts 

 protected by a kind of stone hood. Then, as if to compensate for 

 the additional weight imposed by the bells, the top of the tower 

 was taken off for about 7ft. in height, and the cornice and parapet 

 were re-set at a lower level. 



I have here two drawings, one showing the tower as it was before 

 the restoration in 1885, and the other showing it as it is now (and 

 as the evidences afforded by the stones indicated that it originally 

 was) . You will see that the cornice is broken through to avoid 

 interfering with the window labels, and the shaft of the pinnacle 

 on the upper set-off of the buttresses was reduced to about a foot in 

 height; but the bases of these shafts remained, excepting, in one 

 instance, where the central cusping of the panelling of the face had 

 been re-fixed in lieu of the base : this, and the fact that the 

 pinnacles on the set off below were of equal height, gave the key to 

 the original design. 



All the precautions taken for the safety of the tower were of no 

 avail ! the settlements went on, and the rotten state of the mortar 

 offered no resistance, so that the whole structure was on the verge 

 of collapse, and Mr. Butterfield condemned it forty years ago. 

 When I was called to advise as to its treatment I at first hoped to 

 re-build only the upper part and to underpin the rest, but on 

 discovering the inferiority of the mortar I was obliged to abandon 

 this intention and to re-build the whole. The entire structure was, 

 therefore, taken down and re-built stone for stone, each being 

 marked, and a plan of the joints made to ensure its being re-placed 



1 The dates on the bells are, 1627, 1740, 1757 (twice), 1788, and the following 

 inscription is cut on the bell frame : — 



W. H.") C\ W n9 . 

 B. H.j 1780. 



