Beckington, a large village on the Bath road, 3 m.  N.E. from Frome.  It was once famous for its cloth, and the number of old houses which it possesses and its general appearance of spaciousness bear testimony to its former importance.  The church stands back from the main street, and is well worth a visit.  It is chiefly Perp., but has a Norm.  W. tower with Perp. windows, and a richly groined vault.  A fine octagonal E.E. font stands in the S. aisle.  Note (1) squints, (2) piscinas in sanctuary and S. aisle.  The monuments are—­(1) in N. wall of chancel, the effigy of a knight in armour, supposed to be J. de Evleigh (1360-70) and wife; (2) a little higher up, effigy of lady, Mary de Evleigh (1380-1400); (3) brass on chancel floor to John St Maur and wife (1485), though the lady, who, after John St Maur’s death, married Sir John Biconyll, lies elsewhere; (4) brass on S. pier of chancel arch bearing a merchant’s mark (said to belong to John Compton, d. 1510); (5) in N. aisle, slab and bust to S. Daniell (1619), reputed to have been poet-laureate (but see p. 29).  Bishop Beckington of Wells (1443-65) was born here.  At the corner of the lane leading to the church is Beckington Castle, a fine old gabled house with mullioned windows. Standerwick Court, a Queen Anne mansion, is a mile away; and in the neighbourhood is Seymour Court, a farmhouse, once the abode of Protector Somerset.

Beer Crocombe, a small village 1-1/2 m.  S.E. from Hatch Beauchamp Station (G.W.R. branch to Chard).  The church (Perp.) is uninteresting.  The prefix Beer (thought to be a personal name) occurs in several Dorset and Devon place-names.

Berkley, a small village, 2-1/2 m.  N.E. from Frome.  It possesses a “classical” church—­a very unusual thing for a country village—­date 1751.  It is an odd little building, with a balustraded W. tower and a small central dome, said to have been copied from St Stephen’s, Walbrook.  Within is a monumental slab tracing the descent of the Newboroughs, from the time of the Conquest till 1680. Berkley House dates from the time of William III.

Berrow, a parish 2 m.  N. of Burnham, where there are good golf links.  The church is close to the shore, and contains little of interest.  Note, however, (1) stoup in S. porch, (2) curious piscina in chancel, (3) small Jacobean pulpit, (4) gallery dated 1637.  Outside of the S. wall are two slabs with much defaced effigies, probably from an earlier building.

Bickenhall, a parish 1 m.  S.W. of Hatch Beauchamp station.  The church is modern, but contains on the chancel wall a monument, with a kneeling effigy, to a lady of the Portman family (1632).