• 10 PARISH CHURCH OF WEAVERHAM

condition by Mr. G. E. Bebbington during alterations to Weaverham Church in 1923, is probably all that remains of an ancient ' Abecedarium' (or ' Horn Book ') formerly used for the purpose of teaching children the alphabet, the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, Ave Maria, and so on. Unfortunately the handle which it may at one time have possessed is missing, but a fracture on one of its longer sides probably indicates its former position." ,

Passing through the door of the parclose screen the visitor enters the Crowton Hall Chapel, which was probably built by, and has been maintained by, die owners of Crowton Hall Estate down to the present day. The earliest recorded conncction widi the Hall is, I believe, in the account of a baptism (rccordcd in the Vincent MSS. in the College of Arms) of Richard, son of Richard Done, of Crowton Hall, in 1376, who, it states, " was born at Crowton and baptized in the church in the Villc of Weaverham, and his name and date of birth were entered in an old missalc in the church." The chapel was in those days entered from outside by a doorway where the second window from the east end now is. It was screened round by a heavy oak screen, the lower part of which may still be seen forming the lower part of the pews along the west and part of the north side. The head of the present parclose scrccn is made from the head of the old Godiic screen, as may be seen by lifting the capping at the cast end. The head has been turned over to suit the construction of this screen, and on it the gesso work and paint are still visible. The base of the respond of die easternmost arch here has a projecting mould, the like of which is not found on any other pillar in the church, and I fancy this is a bit of the old wall of die early church. As this has on it a very clearly cut mason's mark (similar to Fig. V) which is one of die most prevalent of the marks found nearly all round the building, except the north aisle, one is inclined to think that tiiese particular stones were so marked in die earlier building, and tiiat in the rebuilding they were used again in their former order