a wide berth on account of the plague.  In the Great Rebellion a Parliamentary garrison used the town as a base of operations against Sherborne Castle.  In the Revolution the Prince of Orange (William III.) had here a brisk but successful skirmish with a squad of James’s Dragoons.  The prince’s lodgings are still pointed out in South Street.  The town, however, contains no antiquities.  It has a modern town hall, and virtually a modern church, for of the original fabric nothing now remains but an unimpressive Dec. tower.  The present building is a twin structure.  The authorities, apparently disgusted at their predecessors’ ideas of reconstruction, have lately replaced the N. aisle by a new church of much better design and proportions.  The N. porch of the new building contains a curious mediaeval bas-relief, brought here for preservation.

Winford, a parish 4 m.  S.S.E. of Flax Bourton station.  Its church possesses a stately tower, but retains no other feature of interest.

Winscombe (with a station) is a parish 2 m.  N.W. of Axbridge.  Its church, which stands conspicuously on rising ground and commands a fine view, has a graceful tower resembling that of Cheddar, with triple belfry windows.  Its chief defect is the shallowness of its buttresses.  Note the lily on the stone-work of the central window (cp.  Banwell).  There is a good parapet along the aisles, and the rood-loft stair has an external turret.  Within note (1) wooden roof of N. aisle; (2) ancient glass in E. windows of N. aisle and N. window of chancel; (3) some carved seat-ends; (4) old stone coffin in churchyard.

Winsford, a village on the Exe, 8 m.  N. of Dulverton Station.  It is a pleasant and picturesque little place, situated in a valley just where the Exe as a tumbling brook emerges from the moors to settle down into a sober stream; and is a favourite meet for the staghounds.  The church is a good-sized building, with a gaunt-looking tower, but is of no particular interest.  The font, is Norm., and so probably is the round-headed S. doorway.  The windows at the E. of the nave are peculiar.

Winsham, a village on the Axe, near the Dorset border, 2-1/2 m.  N.N.E. of Chard Junction.  Its church, which has been extensively restored, possesses a good central tower (though there are no transepts), with a turret at the S.W. angle.  The chancel inclines S. from the axis of the nave.  The walls of the nave are older than the present Perp. windows, and traces of an earlier window are still visible on the S. wall.  The chancel lights are partly E.E., partly early Dec.  Note (1) the small squint; (2)the oak screen with its loft; (3) the monument (1639), on the E. wall of the chancel; (4) the old copy of Foxe’s “Book of Martyrs”; (5) the much-defaced painting (on wood) of the Crucifixion (said to date from the 14th cent.), which is now hung on the N. wall under the tower, but was formerly placed above the screen, serving to complete the separation of the sanctuary from the nave.  The Crucifixion as a subject for representation on such tympana is said to be rare, the Last Judgment being the one usually selected.  Opposite the “George Inn” is the base of an old market cross with a modern shaft.