Old Hampshire Mapped
Cox's Hampshire
Transcription (58)Warnford
de Portu, Adam
Portsdown
Warnford, where Adam de Portu, a Man of great Wealth in the Norman Times, rebuilt the Church, as we are informed by an Inscription on the North Side, in Verses agreeable to the low Estate of Learning in those Times.
Adae hic de Portu solis benedicat ab ortuIn English thus
Gens cruce signata, per quem sic sum renovata.
For Adam Port, let all God's People pray,And as these Verses discover the Person who repaired this Church, so there are others on the South Side, which tell us, who was the Founder, in the Words:
Who me repaired, as soon as it is Day.
Fratres OrateIn English thus:
Prece vestra sanctificate
Templi factores
Seniores & Juniores.
Wilfrid fundavit,
Bonus Adam sic renovavit.
All you that come here,The Hills between this and Southwick, are called Portsdown, either from Portsmouth, or from the Port, which was anciently at the upper End of the Country. The Roads and Grounds below these are very miry in wet Weather; but as Travellers pass thro' them slowly, they have a lovely Prospect of the Isle of Wight and the Sea, to satisfy their Toil. Having thus viewed the Borders of the County on each Side, and next the Sea, we shall ascend to the North, where
Bestow a kind Prayer,
On the Church's Builders;
Both young Men and Elders:
What pious Wilfrid rear'd
Good Adam repair'd.
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