Bells for Benighted Travellers

Chambers gathers old bequests made for travellers lost at night. At Barton in Lincolnshire, tradition said a lady benighted on the Wolds was guided to safety by the evening bell of St Peter’s church, and in gratitude gave land to the parish clerk on condition that a bell was rung from seven to eight each evening, from the carrying of the first load of barley until Shrove Tuesday. Woodstock and Wokingham had money left for evening bells, and by his will of 29 August 1650 John Wardall paid for a lantern at St Botolph’s, Billingsgate, to light passengers to the waterside from St Bartholomew’s Day to Lady Day.