the church plate, and the village is proud of its bells.  One bears the words “Ave Maria”; another not so old is inscribed “1587 Give thanks to God.”  Across the stream the hamlet of Deptford stands on the main road, which goes by Fisherton de la Mere to Codford St. Mary.  Here another quiet valley opens up into the Plain and leads to the remote villages of Chitterne St. Mary and All Saints, among many relics of the prehistoric past—­“British” villages and circles, tumuli and ditches.  Codford St. Mary Church, though partly rebuilt, is still of interest and has a Transitional Norman chancel arch and fine Norman font.  The Jacobean pulpit and Tudor altar tomb of Sir Richard Mompesson should be noticed.  The altar is said to have been made from the woodwork of a derelict pulpit from St. Mary’s, Oxford.  Cobbett was enthusiastic about the well-being of the country and its farmers hereabouts, and was especially delighted with the rich picture that this part of the Wylye makes from the Down above.  Codford is the village taken by Trollope for the scene of The Vicar of Bulhampton.

Codford St. Peter, where there is a railway station, has a much-restored church, practically rebuilt.  The ancient sculptured stonework in the chancel, discovered during the rebuilding, is said to be Saxon.  The font with its curious Norman carvings is noteworthy.  On the other side of the vale are three interesting villages, beautifully placed—­Stockton, Sherrington and Boyton.  Stockton Church is Transitional with an Early English chancel.  Its screen was erected by the former Bishop of Worcester, Dr. Yeatman-Biggs, in memory of his wife and brother.  The wall separating nave and chancel is uncommon in its solidity, the small opening being more in the nature of a doorway than of a chancel arch.  Two squints made it possible for the people to see the movements of the minister at the altar.  In the north aisle is the canopied tomb of John Topp (1640) and on the other side of the church, that of Jerome Poticary.  Both these worthies were wealthy clothiers, and the first-named built the beautiful manor house which we may still see near by.  The old panelling and moulded ceilings of this mansion are very fine specimens of seventeenth-century workmanship.  Jerome Poticary also built himself a fair dwelling that is now a farmhouse.  The picturesque Topp almshouses and pleasant old cottages together with the charm of the natural surroundings make this village a delightful one.  Sherrington once had a castle owned by the Giffards, but all that is now to be seen is the green mound where once it stood, close to the little old church.  Boyton church is a fine example of the Decorated style.  It has some older Early English portions.  The windows in the Lambert chapel are much admired.  Here are also two altar tombs; that with a figure in chain armour, cross-legged, represents the crusading Sir Alexander Giffard.  An interesting discovery was made of a headless skeleton under the chancel floor, supposed to have been the remains of a Giffard who lost his head for rebellion in the reign of Edward II.  Boyton Manor, a beautiful old house, is not far away.  It was built in the early seventeenth century and was for a time the residence of Queen Victoria’s youngest son.