Chapter I: Part I: Inscription on the Alms-box, p. 3

Date on the Great Bell (Tenor), p. 20.

Map of Grasmere Parish, to face Part II.

From the Great Bell: Churchwardens' names (Hird), p. 23.

From the Great Bell: Churchwardens' names (Wilson. Rigg),
p. 39.

Structure of the Interior of St. Oswald's, Grasmere, p. 41.

From the Great Bell: Churchwardens' names (Mackereth). p. 45.

From the Great Bell: "Churchwardens," p. 93.

Font (from Table Book of W. Hone), copied by Miss S. Armitt, p. 95.

From the Great Bell: "Gloria in Altissimis Deo," p. 99.

Ancient Window in the South Wall. Outside View, p. 101.

Profile of Stone Head, p. 104.

Carved Stone Head, p. 105.

Date on Old Bench End, p. 108.

Old Bench End, p. 109.

Old Pitch Pipe, p. 119.

Old Altar, now used as a Credence Table, p. 127.

The le Fleming Arms on the Great and Middle Bells, p. 140.

Great Bell and Hammer, p. 142.

Iron Work on the Inner Door of the Porch, p. 146.

Hinges of the Outer Door of the Porch, p. 147.

Door Handle within the Porch, p. 147.

Old Collecting-plate with Handle, p. 150.

Plan of Grasmere Church, drawn by W. Buckton, to face Part V.

From the Great Bell: "Deo," p. 161.

Founder's Mark from the Middle Bell: "E. Seller, Ebor," p. 180.

From the Middle Bell: "Soli Deo Gloria," p. 188.

The Treble, or Little Bell, p. 203.

Recess in the Porch for Holy Water Stoup, p. 209.

EDITOR'S PREFACE

The History of Grasmere contained in this little volume was
nearly ready for the press when the author, who was working
on it to the very last, was taken away. For several years she
had been collecting material, leaving no stone unturned to get
at facts and records from the earliest times, and at last she
was arranging for its publication. Her modest estimate of the
value of her work made her often anxious, but her keen love of
investigating the antiquities of her neighbourhood and country
kept her always eager. To a kindred spirit nothing could be more
interesting than to visit with her some old hall or farm or
even a site which her historic knowledge could furnish with its
original buildings, and people with its old-world inhabitants.
What she most desired was to see for herself what she wished to
write about, or, if that were impossible, something similar which
still existed, and she had a genius for reconstructing, which
made her deductions and suggestions singularly valuable.

She was at no time strong, and for this reason her work was
perpetually liable to interruption, still her indomitable courage
and her endless patience enabled her to do wonders, and, though
never able to work for long together, bit by bit she got through
a great deal. How hard she worked and how carefully, no one
who reads her book, and sees the number of facts she has got
together, and notes the numerous references to books which she
had examined, can fail to perceive. Over and over again she
had to give in for a time, but her bright intelligence quickly
reasserted itself, and she was ready on most days to discuss the
subjects which for the time absorbed her. And this she did with
a delighted eagerness, and always with that humour which is the
salt of all conversation and companionship. On birds and their
habits she spoke with authority, and could always contribute much
valuable information obtained by personal observation. Generally
the first to hear and see the newly arrived summer migrants, and
able to distinguish the note of each, she thought no trouble too
great if it led to the chance of seeing some rare kind nesting in
the neighbourhood. Equally keenly would she follow up the threads
of some local history, for she had the true scientific spirit
and a genuine passion for archæology, so that by constant study
she had accumulated a surprising mass of information relating to
old historic Westmorland, and to Ambleside, Rydal and Grasmere
in particular. Of Ambleside she has already published a little
pamphlet, called _Ambleside Town and Chapel_. The present volume
is her completed work on Grasmere; and the History of Rydal, and
more especially of Rydal Hall, a more considerable work on which
she had been engaged for many years, has advanced so far that we
hope soon to see it published. Indeed some chapters of it have
already appeared in the columns of the _Westmorland Gazette_.

We had long ago arranged that I should help in seeing her work
through the press; and with her usual thoroughness and care, she
had got the present volume so far ready that my task has been but
a superficial one, accompanied throughout by the "one pure image
of regret" that she did not live to see, herself, the fruits of
her long labour.

W. F. RAWNSLEY.

THE CHURCH OF GRASMERE.

ERRATA.

Page 6, _for_ Galway _read_ Galloway.

" 19, _note_ 25 this pavement is not really old.

" 130, _for_ Lough _read_ Luff.

" 141, _Copia Pax Sapientia_. No Latin words are on this bell.

" 182, _note_ 182 _for_ Fox _read_ Cox.

" 191, _for_ Tremenhere _read_ Tremenheere, _and for_ Philipps _read_
Phillipps.

" 199, _for_ Swathmoor _read_ Swarthmoor.

" 208, _for_ customery _read_ customary, _and in note_, _for_ Brown
_read_ Browne.

_Photo. by Green, by permission of G. P. Abraham, Keswick._ TO FACE PART I.]