Even here in Victoria Australia such things are still, rarely, to be seen. St James Old Cathedral by Flagstaff Gardens in central Melbourne still has gated pews. And little, very little, old Talbot up near Marybourough on the Ballarat road, has paupers pews in the Anglican church (C of E in England) - at the back. A sort of grandstand arrangement - benches going up the wall. No steps - climb like a mountain goat. Wooden. Not at all comfortable looking. They were for those who could not afford to pay for a pew, well, rent it, I believe - it was one way revenue was raised to support the upkeep etc etc. I presume there was a collection too just as there is today. At the English churches like you visited those higher or hidden sort of pews would have been for the gentry methinks - they were not to be seen by the common folk! And apparently, very comfortable they were - not like the rest of those attending church. Hot food, drinks, could sleep if they wished... Dawn (Melbourne Australia) -----Original Message----- From: oxfordshire-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:oxfordshire-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of eve@varneys.org.uk Sent: Wednesday, 20 June 2012 10:58 PM To: woodcom@ihug.co.nz; oxfordshire@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [OXF] Shorthampton church When I visited Shorthampton Church where our Bartletts were baptised and married I was surprised to see gates on the pews. There were 3 higher pews that you could not easily look into and on the other side a number of lower pews. What was the purpose of the gates? To keep out the common people who might otherwise have decided seats were for sitting on. Most pews were paid for by renting and this ensured that no casual invaded. Older pews might be allocated to the current inhabitants of Xfarm or Y house. there were generally a few common pews at the back - or people just stood around. EVE author of The McLaughlin Guides for Family Historians Secretary, Bucks Genealogical Society ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oxfordshire FHS "wills library" is at http://wills.oxfordshirefhs.org.uk/ , with references to 47,347 people and 3,980 testators. Can you offer a will? ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to OXFORDSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 7234 (20120620) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 7234 (20120620) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com