OS1/14/5/62

Continued entries/extra info

[page] 62

[continued from page 61]
of thirty four parish Churches. In Thomson's account of the abbey the following state-
ments are given of revenues at the time of the Reformation. +++++++++++++++++++++++++
In the year 1815 the Barons of Exchequer ordered the ruins of the abbey to be so far
repaired as to preserve them from total dilapidation. On this occasion the rubbish was
removed and a portion of the pavement of the Church again exposed to view. A
search was also made with a view to discover if possible the tomb of the royal founder.
The lid of a stone coffin was found with the mutilated figure of a man in alto relievo.
But no evident tokens of King William's Sepulchre appeared, although since that time
the old wily sexton has been accustomed to exhibit to credulous visitors a few moul-
dering bones in a wooden box as those of the monarch:- and although bone after bone
has been abstracted new ones have always been found to supply their place.
New Stat Acct. [New Statistical Account]