Welsh Journals

July, 1883. BYE-GONES. 261 The foundation stone was laid on June 28, of a new dock which is being constructed at Cardiff by the Marquis of Bute, at a cost of £500,000. Beaumaris Church was lately entered by some person or persons, presumably church " restorers," who smashed and removed the old fashioned pews, among which was that belonging to the Baron Hill family. Amongst the recent publications of the Cymmrodorion Society we may note Part II. of "The G-ododin," and "Ystorya de Carolo Magno" from the "lied Book of Hergest," edited by Mr. Thomas Powell, M.A. The Society is doing a useful work, and deserves the popularity it has obtained. The Parish Church of Barrow, Chester, which has been restored at a cost of over £2,000, was re-opened on June 20. The church, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, is a low building with a north aisle separated from the bodv by a range of obtuse arches. A chancel was added in 1671 by Henry Bridgeman, rector, while Bishop of Sodor and Man and Dean of Chester. In 1741 a new tower was strongly built with stone, but in a style incongruous with the rest of the building. Roderic Lloyd, prothonotary of North Wales, and a relative of Sir John Trevor's, being near-sighted, one evening being obstructed in the street drew his sword and plunged it against his antagonist, who immediately fell. The choleric Welsh gentleman then fled and took refuge in a coal-hole at the house of Sir John, then Master of the Bolls. A faithful valet was sent out to make enquiries, as to who had been slaughtered, and discovered on thespot a decayed and fallen pump, with Mr. Lloyd's sword sticking in it. A statue of Sicilian marble has just been completed by Mr. Edward Griffiths of Chester, of the Rev. Daniel Rowlands of Llangeitho. The pedestal rises 7ft. Gin. to the plinth of the figure. The latter iu itself is about 5ft. Sin., or life size. The subject is represented as in the act of preaching—the body attired in a surplice, the lips barely parted, the left hand holding a Bible, and the right hand slightly uplifted. On the right-hand side of the figure there is an upright pedestal, on which rests another copy of Holy Writ. The inscription. " Daniel Rowlands, born A.D. 1713 ; died September 16th, 1790," is engraved on the pedestal. The statue is to be erected in the village of Llangeitho, near the chapel where Mr. Rowlands ministered. The Antiquary for June (London : Elliot Stock) con¬ tains articles on "Gold and Silver Plate," " Simon de tents, it will be seen, are varied. In "Our Great Rivers," the Severn is described and old statutes affecting it are un¬ earthed, one of which imposes penalties on ferry-keepers who carry offenders into or from Wales between sunset and sunrise. One of the entries in the Norton-in-Hales registers records the marriage of an ancestor of Mr. Stanley Leighton's in 1709 — " Edwardius Leighton, Parochiae Alberberry, in Com. Salop. Armiger, et Rachel Fforester de Appley, Parochia? de Wellington in Com. prsedicto, nup'ti erant undecimo dieMaij." Ludlow School, at which the senior wrangler for the year was educated, is one of the oldest in the kingdom. It owes its origin to a community called The Palmers' Guild, incorporated in the reign of Edward I. This com¬ munity devoted itself to the religious and intellectual benefit of Ludlow, as well as to the secular interests of its members, and at a very early period, probably at the end of the thirteenth century, it founded the school. In the reign of Henry VII. the present building began to be used as the school-house, the earlier one being in or near the churchyard of St. Lawrence. In the reign of Henry VIII. the Palmers'Guild was dissolved, but its revenues were restored to the town by Edward VI., for the maintenance of a preacher, a reader, or assistant to the rector, a high schoolmaster, an usher, and about thirty almsfolk. The Scho »1 has several Exhibitions to the Univeisities, which often laose for want of claimants. RE-OPENING OF EDSTASTON CHURCH. This ancient church was re-opened on Saturday, June 16, by the Bishop of Lichfield, having been closed during the carrying out of repairs. The buildi: g dates from the twelfth century, no earlier remains having been discovered, and was probably built by one of the Pautolfs, who then held the Manor and township of Wem. Attempts have lately been made to beautify the church, and several costly stained-glass windows have been presented by the family at Eaton Hall, but at the beginning of the present year it was found that the service of God could not be carried on in decent order with such surrouudings, and it was decided to make the building more worthy of its use and purpose. Accordingly it has been re-seated with open seats, iu which the old oak paneling of the pews has been used. The floors have been renewed with solid wooden block paving laid in herring bone pattern, and the ancient sacristy has been rebuilt on its old foundations. The remains of the eld sedilia have not been "restored" but have been covered with a wooden seat, under which they exist untouched. The old roof was sound and good, and has been left. The ring post is now concealed by a cross over six feet high with quatrefoil ends and centre, in which are carved the Agnus Dei, and the four symbols of the Evangelists. These were given by Mr. G. H. Birch of London. The rough plaster of the walls has only been repaired where necessary, and the remains of the ancient fresco and dedication crosses have been preserved. A new font '/wew "in meuioriam" of the late Miss Bowen of Coton Hall is made of white and red Mansfield stone, and the bowl is decorated with four circular panels repre¬ senting the four rivers of Paradise, and conventional lilies. The south porch, built originally in 1710, had become ruinous, and was rebuilt a few years ago in memory of Sir George Essex Honyman, Bart., by his brother and sister the present Baronet and Mrs. Bearcroft, who also presented the dossal hangings and brass lectern. The altar cross and the vases were given by Miss Bearcroft. The altar cloth of crimson cloth and velvet embroidered over the whole face is the gift of Ladv Honyman. A splendid alms dish was also given by Mr. Birch of London. Sir W. M. Honyman, Bart., presented a handsome Prayer Book, and the Vicar and Mrs. Laugford S. Brown presented a beau¬ tiful Bible. Morning service was held at eleven o'clock. The Venerable Archdeacon Allen, the Revs. L. S. Brown, Vicar of Edstastou, H. V. Russel, rector of Wem, J. L. Spencer, Wem, and J. L. Hope, Vicar of Newtown, took part in the service, which was full choral. The Bishop of Lichfield pre.iched a very earnest and impressive sermon from the 11th chapter of St. Luke, 28. Holy communion was afterwards celebrated. At two o'clock a public lunch was provided in the Waterloo tent, when the usual toasts were given. Service was again held in the evening, when the Rev. T. H. Egerton, rural Dean, preached, and the anthem, "Too much praise cannot be given," was sung by the choir. The offertory for the day amounted to £25 10s. An excellent tea was provided for the school children and visitors, after which danciug,racing, and other amuse¬ ments were carried on. 34