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<DIV><FONT size=2 face="Comic Sans MS">I've been in touch with the
Cambridgeshire Archaeology people who, although not involved themselves, have
contacted Tim Reynolds, the Diocesan Archaeologist, who has visited Easton. The
current entry for the church on the Cambs HER is at:<BR></FONT><A
href="http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCB948&resourceID=1000"><FONT
size=2
face="Comic Sans MS">http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCB948&resourceID=1000</FONT></A><FONT
size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"> <BR><BR>and (provisionally) this is what will be
added: <BR><BR>"A small brick-lined feature in the base of the tower floor was
uncovered during renovations at St Peter's Church, Easton in 2010. It was
backfilled with clean earth with some ash but lower layers in it had rubble,
metal working waste and a few late C18th sherds. It may possibly have been a
bell working pit. A sample of the metal waste was removed for analysis. The
feature will be left in situ and covered with geotextile before a new floor is
laid above it. "<BR><BR>In other words the interpretation is still very much
open to clarification. Since their initial reply, the HER officer has sent
this further comment:<BR><BR>"... our expert in church archaeology believes it
to be more likely a small lead working pit for sundry fixings (fixing objects to
stonework) rather than a bell pit which I must confess I queried when I saw
the video on the BBC. He too thinks that the pit is too small even for a treble
bell and charcoal would have been insufficient to reach the necessary heat for
bell casting." </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face="Comic Sans MS">They've promised to let me know th
results of the metal analysis. In the meantime I've summarised for them the
points made so far in our discussions</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face="Comic Sans MS">On casting in churches, there seem to be
quite a few documented instances. To those mentioned I can add South Littleton
(Worcs)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face="Comic Sans MS">CP</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>