• 10 PARISH CHURCH OF WEAVERHAM

structed with huge oak tie-beams, queen posts, and struts, and that part directly over the chapel is the original twelfth or thirteenth century roof. TllC whole ceiling is bolted to these tie-beams with strong iron rods and so hangs from tliern ; the side brackets arc in a great measure simply ornamental.

The linenfold panels round the sanctuary came originally from Norton Priory to Aston Hall, and were brought to the church from Aston in 1854. This was confirmed to me by the late Lord Barrymore as recently as 1924, his Lordship telling me he well remembered the panelling being brought from Aston and also the particulars of their Norton origin. He also said that when they were brought here the vicar, the Rev. C. Spcncer Stanhope, wanted to have them fixed round his pulpit. This was opposed by his (Lord Barrymore's) father and Mr. Wilbraham. They were successful in their opposition and so the panelling was finally set round the sanctuary. Mr. R. E. Warburton, of Arley, who was very fond of rhyming 011 current events, hearing of this, wrote the following lines, which Lord Barrymorc copicd and sent to me :—

Lines by R. E. Warburton to the Rev. C. S. S. when lie heaid of his Fitting up his Pulpit with Panels of the Napkin or Linenfold Pattern.

" A large D'Oyley Bible a sermon in sheets, A carved linen panel your Pulpit completes, But beware how you hang up that Napkin outside, Or the Sermon within it may possibly hide. Beware lest intent on that Napkin outspread You lose of your own exposition the thread. Or lest betwixt preaching and bleaching perplexed Instead of the Napkin, you mangle the text. Though that Napkin may be like yourself high and dry And plain country Protestants pass the thing by, But when Westerton hears of your doings in town He'll soon have that last rag of Popery down."

The aptness of the reference to the " sermon in sheets," " losing the thread," " mangling the text " and " high