The handsome cruciform church, in the midst of its fine chestnut trees, is of much interest.  Originally Norman, the greater part of the present building is early Perpendicular.  The dingified central tower and the spaciousness of the interior will be admired.  On the south of the chancel is the Willoughby Chapel, on the north, that of the Maudits.  The south transept contains a monument of Sir James Ley, created Earl of Marlborough by Charles I. The chained book, a copy of Erasmus’ Paraphrase, and also the fine, though modern, stained glass in the east and west windows is worthy of notice.

A new suburb has grown up on the western side between the original town and the railway junction nearly a mile away and the immediate surroundings of the station, as we enter it from the south, are reminiscent of a northern industrial town.  Smoke and clangour, and odours not often met with in Wiltshire, are very insistent.  Not so many years ago Westbury was in a backwater, if that term may be applied to railways, but now that it is on the new main route to Devon and Cornwall the industrial aspect of the town may increase greatly during the next few years.

Frome, six miles away over the border in Somersetshire and on this same new way to the west, has shaken off its ancient air of bucolic peace and now prints books and weaves cloth and does a little in the manufacture of art metal work.  The town, nevertheless, is very pleasant despite its strenuous endeavour to make money in a way Mercian rather than West Saxon.  Its broad market place and steep and picturesque streets leading thereto, especially that one named “Cheap,” and the rural throng that congregates on market and fair days is distinctly that of Wessex.  Frome Church is more beautiful within than without.  It is approached, however, by a picturesque and steep ascent of steps, on the left-hand wall of which are sculptures of the Stations of the Cross.  The church is extraordinary for the number of its side chapels and its amazing mixture of styles, but the interior has an air of much dignity and even beauty, which was greatly added to by a restoration which took place during the fifties of the last century.  Perhaps the most interesting item about the church is the tomb of Bishop Ken, who was brought here from Longleat “at sunrising.”  His body lies just without the east window and the grave is thus described by Lord Houghton:—­

  A basket-work where bars are bent,
  Iron in place of osier;
  And shapes above that represent
  A mitre and a crosier.

[Illustration:  FROME CHURCH.]