Anno 1556. Mariae tertio.
Imprimis, For coles to undermine a piece of the Steeple which stood after the first fall, two shillings.] This Steeple formerly stood in the middle (now East end) of the Church; and, being ruined past possibilitie of repair, fell down of it self, onely a remaining part was blown up by underminers. How quickly can a few destroy what required the age and industry of many in long time to raise and advance?
It soundeth not a little to the praise of this Parish, that neither burthen∣some nor beholding to the Vicinage for a collection, they re-built the Stee∣ple at the West end of the Church, on their own proper cost, enabled there∣unto, partly by their stock in the Church-box, arising from the sale (as is aforesaid) of the goods of the Brotherhood and partly by the voluntary contribution of the Parishioners. This Tower-Steeple is eighty six foot high From the foundation to the battlements, eachb foot whereof (besides the mate∣rials preprovided) costing thirty three shillings four pence the building. Three years passed from the founding to the finishing thereof (every years work discernable by the discolouration of the stones) and the Parish was forced, for the perfecting of the building, to fell their Bells, hanging before in a wooden frame in the Church-yard; so that Waltham, which formerly had Steeple-less-Bells, now had for some years a Bell-less-Steeple.