/— I U If I ^artsl) C|)urt|)es; PEESPECTIVE VIEWS ENGLISH ECCLESIASTICAL STRUCTURES. LONDON : WILLIAM STEVENS, PBINTER, BELL YARD, TEMPLE BAH. i^ansfj €\)nvci)ts; PERSPECTIVE VIEWS ENGLISH ECCLESIASTICAL STRUCTURES: ACCOMPANIED BY PLANS DRAWN TO A UNIFORM SCALE, LETTEE-PEESS DESCEIPTIONS. BY RAPHAEL AND J. ARTHUR BRANDON, ■IrcfjitEcts, Authors of " Analysis of Gothick Aechitectuhe," " Open Timbee Roofs of the Middle Ages," ETC. ETC, LONDON: aEOPvGE BELL, 186, FLEET STREET. MDCCCXLVIII. This Work, by Eapliael Brandon, and J. Arthur Brandon, Architects, was origi- nally published in Twelve Parts : of these. Part I. aj)peared March, 1846, and Part XI. November 1st, 1847. J. Arthur Brandon, after a few days' illness, departed this life, December 11th, 1847, in the 26th year of his age. THIS VOLUME, PROJECTED, COMMENCED, AND ALMOST COMPLETED BY TWO BROTHERS, 5s IBctiicatcti TO THE BELOVED MEMORY OF ONE BROTHER, BT THE SUEVIVOE. 373tt9i ALPHABETICAL ODEX, ARRANGED IN COUNTIES. Name of Church. Exterior View. Interior View. Page BEDFOEDSHIRE. Felmaesham . . . North East 95 Ditto . . . Soutli "West ib. Ditto .... Soiitk East ib. Ditto . . . . ... South East . . . ib. Makston .... South East 91 WiMMiNGTON . . South East 93 Ditto .... .... East . . . . ib. CAMBRIDGESHIRE. LoiiG Stanton . . South West 33 Ditto ..... .... East . . . . ib. GLOUCESTERSHIRE. Badgworth . . . South West 67 Ditto .... North West ib. Barnwood . . . North East 71 Ditto .... .... North East . . ib. Leckhamptox . . South East . . . . . . . 65 HERTFORDSHIRE. North Mims . . . South East 23 KENT. Herne . . . North West 7 Ditto .... .... North West . . ib. SouTHFLEET . . . North West 19 ALPHABETICAL INDEX, ARRANGED IN COUNTIES. Name of Churt-h. Exterior View. .Interior View. LEICESTERSHIEE. Page Burton Lazaes . North West 111 Ditto .... West LINCOLNSHIRE. . ib. DONNINGTON . South West . 53 EWEKBY South West . 77 Ditto . South East . ib. Fleet . South West . 51 Howell . . South West NORFOLK. 9 Deopham Southwest . 43 Elsing . South East . . .... 119 FiLBY . Southwest . 37 HiNGHAM . . South East ...... . 41 Ditto South West . ib. Maetham . . South East 39 Moeley South East 47 Outwell . . South East 105 Ditto West . 121 South Ceeak . West . ib. Teunch Northwest . 29 TUNSTEAD . . Southwest 73 Ditto West . ib. Walpole . . South West 107 Ditto South East ib. Ditto . . S. W. of Clearstory .... ib. Ditto Of Stalls in Chancel ib. Westwick . Southwest 27 1 WiGENHALE, St. Magdalen ^^^^} South West 101 Ditto South East . ib. Wigenhale, St. THE ViEGIN ^^^^1 North West 103 Ditto South West ib. "WOESTEAD . North West 35 Ditto . South West . . . . , ib. Ditto West . ib. Name of Chirrch. ACHUECH . Aldwinkle . Baenwell Beampton Ceansley . Ditto Dttddington Etton . Flooee ISLIP Ditto Ditto Ratjnds Ditto Stanwick . Waemington Weekley . Ditto Wiley Exterior View. Interior View. NOETHAMPTONSHERE. . South West West . Southwest North West .... . North West West . . North East North West . South East . South East . North East . North East . South West North West South West South East . South West West East Page 55 59 31 11 81 ib. 5 13 21 61 ih. ib. 69 ib. 57 17 83 ib. 87 Ayston . Little Casteeton Ditto Manton . Whitwell . Ditto ETJTLANDSHIRE. South East South East South West South West . South East South West 3 1 ib. 25 85 SOMEESETSHIEE. Bishop's Lydeaed . South West . . 63 Ceowcombe . . . South East 79 Ditto ... .... North East . . . ib. suefolb:. Bacton .... South West 123 Ditto South East . . . ib. ALPHABETICAL INDEX, ARRANGED IN COUNTIES. Name of Church. Bramfoed Ditto Ditto Fkeslingfielc RlCKENHALL WOOLPIT Exterior View. Interior View. SJTFFOIjK— continued. Nortli West Soutli West Of Font . North West Soutli East North East Page 125 ib. ib. 117 45 49 Mekstham Shieee SUEEEY. South East South East 99 97 Clymping Ditto Tangmere SUSSEX. North East South East . Southwest . 75 89 Baginton . Solihull Ditto Temple Balsal Ditto . WAEWICKSHIEE. South East 113 North East 115 . North East . . ib. Southwest ■ . . 15 South East ib. Beedon Ditto Ditto WORCESTEESHIRE. Southwest 109 North Porch ib. . Southwest . . ib. 1 ATiPHABETICAL LIST OF CHURCHES. 1 Name of Church. County. Exterior View. Interior View. I Page ACHTTECH . Northamptonslm-e South West . 55 Aldwinkle West 59 Ayston EutlandsMre South East . 3 Bacton . Suffolk . South West . 123 Ditto . South East ih. Badgwoeth . Gloucestershire South West . 67 Ditto North West . . ih. Baginton Warwicksliire South East . . 113 Baenwell . JNortliamptonslLire South West 31 Baenwood Gloucestershire North East . 71 Ditto North East lb. Bishop's Ltdeabd . Somersetshire South West . 63 Beamfoed . Suffolk . North West . 125 Ditto . . South West ib. Ditto OfEont ib. Beampton Northamptonshire North West . 11 Beedon Worcestershire South West 109 Ditto . North Porch ib. Ditto . South West ib. Bueton Lazaes Leicestershire North West Ill Ditto . . West . ib. Clymping Sussex . North East 75 Ditto South West ib. Ceansley Northamptonshire North West . 81 Ditto West . ib. Ceowcombe . Somersetshire . . South East • 79 Ditto . . North East ib. Deopham Norfolk South West . 43 DONNINGTON Lincolnshire South West 53 ALPHABETICAL LIST OF CHURCHES. ! Name of Cliurch. County. Exterior View. Interior View. Page DUDDINGTON . Nortliamptonsliire North East 5 Elsing Norfolk South East . 119 Etton Northamptonsliire North West . 13 EWEEBY Lincolnshire . South West . 77 Ditto . South East . ib. Felmaesham Bedfordshire North East , 95 Ditto . . South West . ib. Ditto . . South East . ib. Ditto . . South East ib. ElLBY Norfolk South West 37 Fleet . Lincolnshire South West . 61 Flooee . Northamptonshire South East . . 21 Feeslingfield . Suffolk . North West 117 Heene . Xent North West 7 Ditto . . North West ib. HiNGHAM Norfolk . South East . 41 Ditto . South West ib. Howell . Lincolnshire South West 9 ISLIP . Northamptonshire South East . 61 Ditto . . North East . ib. Ditto . East . . ib. Little Casteeton Hutlandshire South East , 1 1 Ditto . . South West ib. \ Leckhampton . Gloucestershire South East . 65 Long Stanton Cambridgeshire South West 33 Ditto East . ■ ib. Manton . Rutlandshire South West 25 Maeston . Bedfordshire . South East . 91 Maetham Norfolk South East 39 Merstham Surrey South East 99 MOELEY . Norfolk South East . 47 NOETH MiMS Hertfordshire . South East 23 OUTWELL Norfolk South East 105 Ditto . West . ib. Eatjnds . Northamptonshire North East 69 Ditto South West ib. RiCKENHALL . Suffolk . South East 45 Shieee Surrey . South East . 97 Solihull Warwickshire . North East 115 Ditto North East ib. A.LPHABETICAL LIST OF CHURCHES. Name of Church. County. Exterior View. Interior View. 1 Page j South Cbeak Norfolk West . . 121 1 SotJTHFLEET Kent . . . North West . 19 1 1 Stanwick . Northamptonshire North West . 57 1 Tangmeke Sussex . . South East . 89 Temple Baxsal . Warwickshire . South West 15 Ditto . South East . . ib. Teunch Norfolk North West 29 TUNSTEAD Southwest . 73 Ditto . . . West . ib. Walpole Southwest . 107 Ditto . . South East ib. Ditto . f South West of 1 \ Clearstory J ib. Ditto . /Of Stalls in \ Chancel \ ib. Waemington Northamptonshire South West 17 Weekly . . South East 83 Ditto . South West ib. Westwick . Norfolk . . South West . 27 Whitwell Eutlandshire . South East 85 Ditto South West ib. Wigenhale, St. Maby Magda- I Norfolk . . Southwest 101 len J Ditto . . . South East ib. Wigenhale, MaEY THl St. VlE- I . . . Northwest 103 GIN J Ditto , . South West ib. WiLBY Northamptonshire West .... 87 WiMMINGTON Bedfordshire . South East 93 Ditto . • . . East . . ib. WOOLPIT . Suffolk North East 49 Woestead . Norfolk . . Northwest 35 Ditto . Southwest . . . . ib. Ditto • West . ib. (!>(^ -.. , , . , .^:^.^^^_^ .,,b 4=J= -ITTLE CASTERTON C HURCH .KU T L ANOSHIRE. ARISH CHUHCli 3LittU Casterton Cljmdj, '^ This Church appears to have been rebuilt in the Early English style : that one existed here previously is unquestionable, as the nave- piers and arches are of Norman character. With the exception of the clear-story, which is Perpendicular, this Structure is a simple yet admirable model for a small Parish Church. The effect of the west end with its belfry is much injured by the addition of the clear-story, but as originally designed, it must have formed a very beautiful specimen of the most appropriate arrangement for so small a Church.* In the south wall of the Chancel is a very good piscina of Decorated character ; and immediately beneath it, on the floor, is another formed by a large four-leaved flower with holes in the centre for the drain. A piscina in this position is ver}' unusual, and in the present in- stance it probably dates back to the beginning of the thirteenth century, if it be not cotemporary with the nave-piers and arches. On the Chancel floor is a very excellent (though unfortunately rather mutilated) brass of a Knight and his Lady ; the Knight bearing the collar of S. S. * The crosses which terminate the gables are all similar, and will be found illustrated in the Analysis of Gothick Architecture, (Section I. Earlj^ English, Plate 16.) The lower part of the rood-screen still remains, and exhibits some very good carving. In the south wall of the south aisle is an interesting sepulchral recess containing a cross on a coped stone of Early English character : there is also a piscina in this wall. This Church will afford accommodation for about 200 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In. Length of Chancel . . . . 32 Width of Chancel . . 14 8 Length of Nave 31 6 Width of Nave 15 4 Length of North Aisle 32 Width of North Aisle 7 7 Length of South Aisle 32 Width of South Aisle 7 9 1> With the exception of parts of the tower, and two windows, which are Decorated, this Church is of the Perpendicular style externally, though in the interior there are evidences of a much earlier origin, which exhibit themselves in the Serai-Norman piers and arches of the nave, the arches on the north side are circular, and those on the south segmental pointed. The Church is built entirely of dressed stone, and is beautifully situated amidst magnificent trees. The Chancel which is very regular in its composition, is rather more ornamented than the rest of the Edifice, having an enriched string-course running all round it under the parapet, and two crocketed pinnacles at the north-east and south-east angles. It is lighted by a five-light window at the east end, and by a three- light and a two-light window on the north and south sides ; the sills of the westernmost windows, north and south, being lower than the others. The Chancel arch is supported on corbels, the upper parts of which alone remain. The ascent to the rood-loft, now destroyed, was on the north. There are remains of excellent stained glass in some of the win- dows. The tower contains three bells ; the staircase to the belfry is at the south-west angle. In the Church-yard, near the south aisle, is a monumental slab, on which are carved the effigies of a Knight with his shield and sword lying over him, and his lady by his side ; they are now very much defaced, and it does not appear to be known whom they repre- sent ; the absurd tradition in the village is, that two twin brothers were born united together, and lived in these parts, and that after their decease, these, their effigies, were placed over their grave. The Church will accommodate about 260 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In. Length of Chancel . . . .27 Width of Chancel . . . . 15 6 Length of Nave . . . . 38 10 Width of Nave . . . . 15 9 Width of North Aisle . . . .58 Width of South Aisle . . . .86 ^ 4. iM ^iilr'#^^(f^ 1i This Church appears to have been rebuilt very shortly after its first erection, for while the north aisle is of Norman workmanship, all the rest of the Church was constructed during the period of transition from Norman to Early English. The plan is valuable, as it probably remains exactly as it was first designed, without any subsequent alteration or addition. The tower, situated at the east end of the south aisle, is of the same date as the main body of the Church. It has no staircase turret ; the ascent to the upper stages being by means of a wide ladder ; this fact, were other features wanting, would help to indicate its early origin. The addition of a Perpendicular clear-story, and the lowering of the nave roof, have done much to destroy the original character of the Building. The door in the south porch has some curious but very rude iron work covering the whole of its surface. The Church contains accommodation for about 270 worshippers. DUDDINGTON CHURCH, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel . 38 Width of Chancel . 15 4 Length of Nave , 40 6 Width of Nave . 15 4 Width of North Aisle . . 7 Width of South Aisle . . 9 2 £^T~? •■.'f; l/'. \'.'' i '/-l I INTERIOR OF TOWER, HERNE CHURCH, KENT S» CHUBCHES mxt €ijnxt% Hent. y The principal feature of interest in this Church is its noble tower and elegant staircase turret, situated very happily at the west end of the north aisle. The time of its erection is the early part of the Decorated period; the lower stage, which is open to the Church, is groined over, and answers the purpose of a baptistry, and contains a very fine font of Perpendicular character. The corbels supporting the ribs of the groin are extremely beautiful, and present valuable examples of the head dresses of the period. The construction of the tower is remarkable and well worthy of notice, having been built entirely separate from the main body of the Church, with its but- tresses coming down boldly into the interior : the clear-story, instead of being a continuation of the wall of the tower, is in this instance carried on an arch, as shown in the interior view.* The body of the Church partakes of the same character as the tower, but the Chancel, as well as the two large chapels, appear to have been restored at a subsequent period. The curious pro- * One of the beautiful windows of the Tower is illustrated in the Analysis of Gothick Architecture, (Section I. Decorated, Plate 20.) jection of the north wall of the Chancel is to make room for a tomb which is placed under the window, and is probably that of the founder, or at any rate a great benefactor to the Church. The sedilia of three seats and a piscina remain in the south wall. The screen dividing the north chapel from the aisle, is a mixture of Perpendicular and Elizabethan, and does not possess much interest. The Church contains some fine and curious brasses, both eccle- siastical and civil, and also many of its old encaustic tiles. A hagio- scope, as shown on the plan, exists in the north chapel. The Church, independent of the chapels and tower, offers accom- modation for about 820 worshipped. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel . 41 Width of Chancel . 20 6 Length of Nave . 71 Width of Nave . 25 9 Width of North Aisle . . 22 6 Width of South Aisle . . 15 8 i The earliest parts of this structure are the piers and arches of the nave, which are of late Norman character, and very plain. The Chancel is lighted by a small two-light Decorated window at the east, and by two similar windows at the south ; the sill of the east- ernmost window on the south side is lowered to form the sedilia. The Chancel arch, if it ever existed, has been cut away. There is a good specimen of an incised slab on the floor. The north Chapel must have been added during the Decorated period, when most of the windows appear to have been inserted. In the north wall of this Chapel, between the two windows, is a very interesting sepulchral recess. The font is plain and of Decorated character. The porch is also Decorated. Some of the old seats still exist in the Church, though much mutilated.* Externally, though plain, this Church is a valuable specimen, especially for its bell gable, and for the general arrangement of the west end. The Church will accommodate about 180 worshippers. * A finial from one of these seats will be found illustrated in the Analysis of Gothic Architecture, Section ii.. Woodwork, Plate 1 6. 10 HOWELL CHURCH, LINCOLNSHIRE. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel . 24 Width of Chancel . 15 Length of Nave . 34 Width of Nave . 13 9 Width of North Aisle . . 6 Length of North Chapel . 21 9 Width of North Chapel . 10 4 ^ a BRAMPTON CHURCH, N ORTHAMPTON SHIRT.. USH CHURCHES, Brampton C|)urt|), #oitl)antpti:msI)ire^ ^ With the exception of the Chancel, the whole of this beautiful Church is Perpendicular : remarkable for its regularity, it presents a striking instance of how much may be effected with but little ornament, if judiciously arranged. The Building consists of a Chancel, nave and aisles, north and south porch, and a noble west steeple, the simplicity and severity of which are only to be exceeded by its beauty and magnificent appearance. There is no western entrance. Some of the old seats may still be seen in the nave, but they are quite plain, and devoid of architectural interest. The Chancel is of late Early English character, which was probably the style of the original Building. The windows are interesting, and possess good mouldings; especially the east window, which is of four lights, and of rather peculiar design. There is a north priest's door. The Church offers accommodation for about 418 worshippers. 12 BRAMPTON CHURCH, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel . 31 10 Width of Chancel . 18 3 Length of Nave . 46 6 Width of Nave . 19 Width of North Aisle . . 8 3 Width of South Aisle . . 8 8 i Ctton €\jmti), j5ort|)antptonsI)irc. i A SIMPLE and pure specimen of an Early English Church, the whole being of one date, with the exception perhaps of the clear-story, which was probably added towards the close of the style. The tower is surmounted by a plain stone broach spire with two rows of lights alternated. The arrangement of the broach is rather peculiar. The windows in the aisles are all similar, and consist of two lancets with a circle above, the whole being under one dripstone. The east end of the north aisle appears to have opened formerly into a chapel, which communicated also by an arch with the chancel : the chapel however is now destroyed and the arches are blocked up, though still visible. An altar formerly stood at the end of the south aisle, and here some highly interesting and beautiful distemper painting, in a tolerable state of preservation has been lately discovered ; it extends over the entire surface of the wall, with the exception of the place occupied by the altar. The piscina in the south aisle occupies its usual position, and there is also a double piscina in the chancel, and adjoining this last are sedilia of three seats of simple yet excellent design. In the same wall of the chancel occurs the Priest's door and a lychnoscope. In the north wall there remains the door which opened into a vestry, now destroyed, also a very small aumbrie. The east window consists of five lancets under one arch ; the ar- rangement is peculiar and effective ; the other windows in the chancel are partly filled with the incipient and characteristick tracery of the Early English period. On the east jamb of the south doorway occurs the rather unusual feature of a dedication cross. It consists in this instance of a small diamond-shaped piece of purbeck of about the usual size of a window quarrel, on which has been sunk a cross fleury ; the whole being let into the jamb of the door. This Church affords accommodation for about 245 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel . 35 9 Width of Chancel . 14 Length of Nave . 37 6 Width of Nave . 14 6 Width of North Aisle . . 11 9 Width of South Aisle . . 11 6 (8(*^ -k-QtCi] Ccmpit Balsal Cljiutlj, 2l8aai1«tdt§|)ivc. ^ This truly elegant specimen of the early Decorated style of archi- tecture was formerly the Church belonging to the preceptory of the Knight Templars at their manor of Balsal. After the suppression of the Order, (Edw. II. 1312,) the Church was suffered to fall into a state of dilapidation, and it so remained until the year 1677, when it was restored in accordance with the will of Lady Catherine Leveson, to whom the manor had descended : she having devised the whole of this property in trust for the building and endowment of an almshouse for the perpetual sustenance of aged and infirm females, by the same instrument directed that the Church should be put into a complete state of repair. The roof, gable-terminations, and the upper part of the tower were probably rebuilt at this period ; the rather unusual arrangement of their latter constitutes one of the most interesting features in the Building. The south doorway is now blocked up ; it was originally covered by a stone porch, of which the springers for the groined roof still remain. The windows generally throughout the Church are of extraordinary 16 TEMPLE BALSAL CHURCH, WARWICKSHIRE. beauty, and only two are similar in design. The east window is a magnificent opening of five lights, and offers some little peculiarity in the construction of the tracery. At the west end there are two windows, the lower one of five lights, but considerably smaller than that in the chancel, and above in the gable, is an elegant wheel or circular window. The two most easterly windows on the north side are higher than the others, and therefore probably a difference in level helped to indicate the distinction between the chancel and the nave. On the south side the most westerly window in the chancel is lychnoscopic, the other is rather stilted to make room for the piscina and sedilia : the latter of three seats is richly wrought with mouldings, and of most exquisite design. The Church will afford accommodation for about 220 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In. Length . . . , . . 93 Width . . . . . . 30 1 '^ #ort|)amptcinsI)irt> This is a very interesting Church, of pure Early Enghsh character, with a clear-story also of the same date. The tower at the west end of the nave is a noble structure and deserving of especial attention. The west doorway is of unusual magnificence, with four rows of shafts, and richly ornamented with dog-tooth and circular flowers.* The belfry windows partake of the same degree of richness, and the beautiful broach spire with its three rows of non-alternated spire- lights is equally deserving of commendation ; these latter are sur- mounted by crosses of elegant design. The large circular openings which occur on three sides of the tower form a feature peculiar to this neighbourhood ; they are found in several of the surrounding Churches. The south aisle is lighted at the west end by a Perpendicular window of three lights, and at the east by a window of five lights, apparently original, and consisting simply of four mullions running quite up to the soffit of the arch. A series of beautiful triplets of good proportions light the south side, the two most easterly being * This Doorway is illustrated in the Analysis of Gothick Architecture (Section I. Early English, Plate 21). enriched with dog-tooth. Over the porch there is a small quatrefoil opening. The windows on the north are principally couplets of lancets with a circle above, the whole under one dripstone ; one of these windows is placed over the north doorway, curtailed of its proper proportion to make room for the porch roof. The nave is groined in wood, the ribs starting from stone springers ; it is probable that the vaulting was not continued in stone from an apprehended weakness in the walls ; the ribs spring from small shafts terminating in capitals of the most exquisite foliage, which are sup- ported on corbels chiefly representing heads of Bishops and Priests. Similar shafts with equally beautiful foliage supported the second order of mouldings of the chancel arch, of which the capitals alone remain. The extreme flatness of the roofs as well of the chancel as the nave, aisles and porches is deserving of notice, there being every reason to believe that they are of the original pitch. An old oak chest clamped with iron, may still be seen in the chancel. The Church will accommodate about 550 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Length of Chancel Width of Chancel Length of Nave Width of Nave Width of North Aisle Width of South Aisle Ft. In 42 3 .19 G 74 G 17 13 G 13 6 )out|)flcet C|)iirdj, The whole of this spacious and very interesting Building is of pure Decorated character. The west tower and staircase turret at the north-east angle is of the kind so frequently met with in this part of Kent ; remarkable for extreme plainness, and entirely devoid of buttresses, it still pro- duces an excellent effect, in consequence of its boldness of outline and solidity of construction ; in this instance the appearance of the tower is the more effective, because the aisles do not extend so far westward as the nave, and it is thereby detached as it were, from the body of the Church. The windows generally in this Church are excellent in design and well moulded ; the east window of the chancel is of five lights, and several square-headed windows occur in various parts of the Church. The plan of the Church is peculiar, owing to the shortness of the aisles already alluded to ; this however does not mar the general good effect of the interior ; the vestry with its door into the chancel is original, and of the same date as the rest of the Church, though it has undergone some restorations during the Perpendicular period. It it worthy of notice that it contains in the south wall a water drain. 20 SOUTHFLEET CHURCH, KENT. yet it is hardly possible that it could ever have been used as a chapel.* The piscina and sedilia of three seats still remain in the south wall of the chancel ; the sedilia are enriched with purbeck shafts and crocketted canopies ; they are both of Decorated character. A few of the old miserere seats are left, but are not remarkable for their carving. The chancel still contains a fine collection of beautiful encaustic tiles. The Church is rich in monuments and sepulchral brasses ; five of the latter are in tolerable preservation, and the stone matrices of many others are scattered about the pavement. In the south aisle are the remains of a very early Decorated wooden screen, the mould- ings of which are nearly similar to the beautiful one still existing in Northfleet Church. The font is octagonal, of early Perpendicular character ; it is well sculptured and forms a very good specimen. A sill mould runs uninterruptedly inside the Church, under the windows and over the doorways, and adds very much to the general good effect. Relics of the stained glass that once filled the windows attest the pristine magnificence of the building. The Church will accommodate about 500 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel . 43 Width of Chancel . 20 6 Length of Nave . 60 Width of Nave . 21 6 Width of North Aisle . . 18 6 Width of South Aisle . . 17 6 * A similar drain occupies the same position in the beautiful vestry of Willingham Church, Cambridgeshire. ^ Several parts of this Church, and especially the chancel, indicate its Early English origin, though considerable additions have been made to it during the Decorated period. The tower situate at the west end of the nave is partly engaged, and of unusually massive construction, with walls six feet thick. It is of three stages and embattled above. The west door is deeply recessed with very bold mouldings and above it is a lancet. The piers in the nave have a very good effect though their foliated caps are somewhat rudely carved ; their plan is peculiar, and consists of a central pillar, on the cardinal points of which are clusters of three small shafts. There are no responds in the east wall of the nave, and the arches are carried on foliated corbels of the same style as the caps of the piers. The clear-story is of very late insertion, with square-headed windows entirely devoid of tracery or mullions ; the old pitch of the roof is still visible on the wall of the tower. The windows in the aisles are decorated, of two and three lights, and filled mostly with net tracery. The chancel is separated from the nave by the rood screen, the lower part of which, with its folding doors, opening inward, still remains. The ascent is on the north side, the staircase being partly corbelled 22 FLOORE CHURCH, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. out into the chancel. The east window is a Perpendicular insertion of four lights, and immediately below it externally occurs the small buttress, so highly characteristick of the Semi-Norman and Early English periods. The west window on the south side is of three lights, and transomed ; the lower part, consisting of three short lights, forms a lychnoscope. The Priest's door is a beautiful and well known example. A very complete aumbrie, with its original doors, ornamented hinges and closing ring, remains in the north wall. The Church is rich in interesting brasses ; one especially of unusual design represents a cross in perspective with a nail lying at the foot ; the arms of the cross are lost, or probably the two other nails would be found represented one on each. The date of this brass is 1537. The piscina is double, and consists of two trefoiled arches under one hood-mould, with a disengaged shaft between them and a quatrefoil above. Adjoining is a plain pointed sedile. The Church affords accommodation for about 435 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In. Length of Chancel . . . . 33 6 Width of Chancel 20 6 Length of Nave 46 Width of Nave » 20 9 Length of North Aisle 62 3 Width of North Aisle 11 6 Length of South Aisle 62 3 Width of South Aisle 12 ^Vi-'^^v^ ^ A BEAUTIFUL and interesting structure of pure Decorated character : apparently it was originally intended to be a cross Church with an intersection tower, but for some reason this plan was abandoned, and the tower placed west of the nave. Remains of the piers that were prepared to carry the tower may be traced on either side of the chancel arch, and at the east end of the north aisle, the arch that in the original design would have opened into the north transept now communicates with a chapel *, and a similar arch remains in the south aisle, and may be traced on the exterior. A small vestry is partitioned off from the chapel, with a door opening into the chancel ; and this appears to have formed part of the original construction. The beautiful west doorway in the tower, with its foliated caps and mouldings richly studded with flowers, is figured in the Analysis of Gothick architecture, Section 1, Decorated Plate 25. * This chantry, mentioned as St. Catherine's Chapel, was founded by Simon Swanlond, 1328, anno 3 Ed. III., for the daily celebration of mass during his life and that of his wife, and after their death for their souls and those of their ances- tors. — Clutterbuck's History of Hertfordshire. 24 NORTH MIMS CHURCH, HERTFORDSHIRE. Some excellent corbels remain in the nave, illustrating in some instances the head-dresses of the period, and at other times consisting of beautiful knots of foliage. The Church is rich in sepulchral brasses ; one of a Priest especially is of extraordinary beauty, and closely resembles in its design and execution the noble brass of Abbot Delamere in St. Alban's Abbey Church. Against one of the seats in the nave is the poor's box of the date of 1637, with the inscription " remember the poor." The greater number of the windows are filled with net tracery. This Church affords accommodation for about 305 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel . . . . 32 3 Width of Chancel 18 6 Length of Nave 43 Width of Nave 17 Width of North Aisle . 12 3 Width of South Aisle . 11 Length of North Chapel 23 Width of North Chapel 14 (S> jWanton djurdj, 3^utlanlrs]^ire. i The west front of this Church affords such a valuable and perfect specimen of a Serai-Norraan Bell turret, that it has been considered worthy of being published, although the remainder of the Church does not present the same amount of interest. In this instance, as in many others, the addition of the clear-story has done much to destroy the original beauty of the design. I ^ The whole of this Httle Church belongs to the Decorated period, with the exception of some windows and the western tower;* the latter is an elegant and well-proportioned structure, and the distant effect of its gray battlements appearing above the thick foliage which surrounds the Church is truly beautiful. Its base mouldings are particularly good, and represent in quatrefoils some of the emblems of the Crucifixion. In the third stage occur the square windows so common in the towers of this part of Norfolk : in this instance they are all precisely similar to those occupying the same position in St. George's Church, Norwich. *|" A well-managed turret staircase runs up in the N. E. angle of the tower, and is lighted by small openings of rather peculiar character. ;[: If there were any windows on the north side of the chancel they have been blocked up. The situation of the rood turret may still * The following passage occurs in Blomefield's History of Norfolk. " John Grundesburgh, senior, of Westwick, was buried in 1473 in this Church, and leaves to the building of the tower £9; and John Batayle, buried in the Church- yard, 1460, was a benefactor to its building." t See Analysis of Gothick Architecture, Plate XXII. Perpendicular, Section 1. X See also Analysis of Gothick Architecture, Plate XXII. Perpendicular, Sec- tion 1. 28 WESTWICK CHURCH, NORFOLK. be traced. A piscina remains in the south wall of the south aisle with a beautiful basin formed by a quatrefoil, the cusps terminating in roses and a well-carved flower in the centre, with holes under its leaves for the escape of the water. A piscina of plainer design occupies a similar position in the north aisle. A benatura occurs inside to the east of the south door, and a recess near the north door may possibly have served for the same purpose. There is a very beautiful octagonal font, and three wooden screens of Perpendicular design, and probably of about the same date as the tower. The Church will afford accommodation for about 254 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In. Length of Chancel . 31 10 Width of Chancel . 16 6 Length of Nave . 48 Width of Nave . 16 10 Width of North Aisle . 8 9 Width of South Aisle . 9 INTERIOR OF TRUNCH OMURCH NORFOLK I CHURCHES Cruncl) CI)virc|), A FINE and interesting Decorated Building, with however con- siderable alterations and additions of Perpendicular date. The priest's entrance has a curious Perpendicular porch covered with lead and supporting a boldly projecting buttress.* This arrangement was probably had recourse to after the construction of the Priest's doorway, which is Decorated, to resist an apprehended spreading of the wall in that spot, and is a remarkable instance of the simple vet elegant manner in which the ancient architects surmounted any difficulty of the kind. The remains of the vestry, with a piscina in the south wall, may be traced on the north side of the chancel. Some of the copings of the roof are terminated with very good gablets, and a magnifi- cent Cross, t in a very good condition, still crowns the Chancel. The remains of another may also be seen over the nave. Traces of a benatura exist in the porch. The interior effect however of the Church is far finer than the ex- terior. The nave, lighted by a fine Perpendicular clearstory and still retaining its old open seats, is spanned by a noble hammer beam roof with spandrels, filled with the most beautiful and intricate tracery. Deeply is it to be regretted that such a splendid work, in common * A somewhat similar arrangement occurs in Grundisburgh Church, SuflFolk. t See Analysis of Gothick Architecture, Plate XXI. Perpendicular, Section 1. 30 TRUNCH CHURCH, NORFOLK. with many others equally good that abound in the county, should be fast hurrying to decay, from sheer neglect. The wall plates literally crumble to dust on being touched. The arrangement of the font is very unusual ; it is surrounded by screenwork of late Perpendicular character sufficiently spacious to accommodate several persons and supporting a crocketed canopy : a similar plan occurs in Luton Church, Bedfordshire. The rood screen, though but the wreck of a once glorious compo- sition, still glows with its ancient colouring ; its lower panels are filled with paintings of Saints and Martyrs, on beautifully diapered grounds. The carvings are of exquisite design and masterly execu- tion. Some of the stalls in the Chancel remain in their orimnal position, and in a tolerable state of preservation. The Priest's door is particularly well • managed internally with very good mouldings ; opposite it is the entrance to the vestry, now blocked up. The easternmost window is lowered to form the sedilia. A brass occurs in the nave, which originally consisted of a heart with three legends issuing from it : it is in a mutilated condition and one of the legends is missing. The matrix of a chalice may be seen in the south aisle. This Church will accommodate about 810 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Length of Chancel Width of Chancel Length of Nave Width of Nave Width of North Aisle Width of South Aisle Ft. In 34 6 18 3 55 8 19 3 9 5 9 10 '^■KC^h "V llU. BARNWELL CHURCH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. BainiucU Cijurcl), iBtmtf)amptoiisl)irc. This beautiful Structure exhibits the features peculiar to the Churches of this county and is principally of Early English work, although some portion of it must be assigned to the Decorated period. The examination however of the Church in its present state requires a critical and practised eye, for on the demolition of a neighbouring Church of about the same date, which took place some years back, many of its beautiful fragments were brought for preservation to Barnwell, and have been applied with more good feeling than taste to divers parts of the Building: thus the heads of the spire lights now figure internally as canopies to the Priest's and vestry doorways ; the caps of Early English shafts have been used as bases, Sec. &c., and from the circumstance of the style being similar, much perplexity has been caused to many worthy Ecclesiologists. The Tower is devoid of buttresses, and has a considerable set off level with the belfry floor ; it is surmounted by an elegant broach spire with three rows of spire lights non-alternated ; the belfry windows are particularly rich and beautiful, and are ornamented with rows of dog-tooth and circular flowers. The west doorway has 32 BARNWELL CHURCH, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. some good mouldings, but it is now almost hid by the ivy that grows thickly around it. The windows in the north aisle are Decorated of two lights and very good. The south doorway is an excellent Early English example with banded shafts and dog-tooth in the hollows ; the mouldings are of precisely the same character as those of the west doorway of Warmington Church, and probably of the same date. The Chancel arch is carried on beautiful corbels, consisting of three small detached shafts with caps and bases supported by notch-heads ; this arrangement is particularly good and well worthy of imitation. The Vestry is modern, built out of the fragments of the Church already mentioned : the opening into it from the Chancel is however original, and proves the existence of a former vestry. On the south side of the Churchyard, lies a stone slab with an Early English cross cut upon it of extraordinary beauty and, perhaps, unrivalled elegance of design : it had been stolen, and used as a step- ping stone in a neighbouring brook, but was reclaimed by the present Rector, and placed in the position it now occupies. A small brass of the date of 1610 is nailed up against one of the walls. The Church will accommodate about 290 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel . 29 4 Width of Chancel . 16 3 Length of Nave . 48 6 Width of Nave . 18 4 Width of North Aisle . . 10 6 Width of South Aisle . 9 10 h^$^ yv-^^' /^■■&?^ INTERIOR OF LONG STANTON CHURCH C A M B HIOCE S HIRE aLonti Stanton Ctjurcl), CamliiiDflcsijirc. This is a very beautiful yet. simple specimen of a small Early English Church. It consists of Chancel, with a nave and aisles under the same roof, a south porch, north doorway and western bell gable, and presents a remarkable similarity in its plan and general design to the well-known and exquisite little Chapel at Skelton;* in the latter however the bell gable is between the Chancel and nave. The Chancel with the exception of a huge modern fire place (which greatly disfigures it both within and without), remains very nearly in its original condition : a beautiful triplet adorns the east end, and to the present day coloured rays of light find their way through the ancient glass that remains in some of the narrow side lancets. There is a large and interesting double piscina with intersecting arches in its usual position, and an aumbrie on the north side. Three stone brackets remain over the Altar, the central one being the largest. A plain string runs round the Chancel internally, under the windows and over the Priest's door. The old roof of trussed rafters has been under- drawn and lime whited. A wooden sill is all that remains of the rood screen. * See Ewan Christian's excellent work on Skelton Church, Yorkshire. — G. Bell, Fleet Street. The aisles retain but one of the original lancets, the other windows are mostly Decorated : the two easternmost are of three lights, and apparently have contained good tracery ; the upper parts however have been cut off, and are now level with the eaves of the roof : it is not improbable that formerly the roof over these windows was gabled transept-wise, and thus allowed room for the heads of the windows ; it would be difficult otherwise to account for their present mutilated condition. There are no responds against the eastern wall of the nave and the arches are carried on well designed brackets. Both the north and south doorways are good plain Early English, with jamb shafts. The original roof* covering both nave and aisles still remains, though treated in a similar manner to that of the Chancel. The present seats in the Church are mere deal boxes, which completely hide the proportions of the piers. This Church affords accommodation for about 200 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel . 29 3 Width of Chancel . 14 9 Length of Nave . 49 2 Width of Nave . 14 Width of North Aisle , . 5 9 Width of South Aisle . . 5 9 * Dehneated in the " Open Timber Roofs of the Middle Ages." — G. Bell, Fleet Street. 1^ fARISH CHUnCHES, i A SPACIOUS and magnificent Church of rather late Decorated. It is impossible to comprise within the limits of such a brief account a description of the many and varied beauties of this Edifice.* The tower forms a conspicuous object from all points, and although partaking of the usual characteristicks of the towers in these parts, is of superior beauty in its proportions and ornamental accessories. The base mouldings are unusually fine, and are worked in stone and flint. The arrangement of the western doorway, surmounted by a four-light window of very good tracery, is somewhat Perpendicular. The ball flower occurs in the casement of the belfry windows ; the pinnacles are modern. Similar mouldings to those in the tower, enriched with quatrefoils, run all round the Church. The south porch is groined, with a parvise above, and forms an important feature in the south elevation. The vestry occupies the same position with regard to the north chapel, as in North Minis Church, Hertfordshire : it has a room over it lighted by windows of two lights ; the vestry probably for security is lighted by narrow lancets. The interior of this noble Structure is most complete, and fully reahses the highly favourable impression which the contemplation of the exterior cannot fail to produce. The beautiful roof and clearstory to the nave were added during the Perpendicular period, when it was * For various parts of this Church see the Analysis of Gothick Architecture. found necessary to strengthen the piers, which had been thrust out a little, by the addition on either side of two strong flying buttresses* The roof is of the ordinary hammer beam kind, with however con- siderable elegance of outline and very rich tracery in the spandrels. There is a good Perpendicular font and cover. The chancel screen is not unlike the screen in Trunch Church, and retains much of its original colouring. At the foot of it is a small brass, bearing the name of John Alblastyr, who is said to have been the donor of this screen : he deceased in 1520, leaving to his wife the finishing of the work, an inscription to whose memory, of the date of 1524, is placed by the side of his. This Church was formerly very rich in brasses, but owing to gross carelessness and ignorance on the one part, and sacrilegious cupidity on the other, almost the whole have been stolen at different times. The south-east window of the chancel is lowered to form the sedilia. This Church will afford accommodation for about 700 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel . 39 Width of Chancel . 29 3 Length of Nave . 89 Width of Nave . 29 Width of North Aisle . . 11 11 Width of South Aisle . . 11 8 * Blomefield, in his History of Norfolk, mentions that " John de Kynneburle, being vicar in the 2nd year of Richard II., the chancel of this Church was new built ; the prior of the convent of Norwich granted fifteen oaks out of Plumstead Wood, and timber also out of St. Leonard's Wood, and the expenses in money were £24 4s. 4d" It is very probable that the nave roof and clearstory, together with some win- dows of Perpendicular tracery, were added at the same time. I JJC.CoZZiny iit/i. INTERIOR OFFILBY C H U R C H , N R r O L K , dfill)? Cijurdj, This little Church is beautifully situated in a magnificent grove of trees, and its elegant Perpendicular tower rises nobly from the thick foliage which surrounds it. On a near inspection of the Building we find that here as in so many other places, time and neglect have done their work ; the Chancel roof is lowered, the south porch suffered to fall into ruins, the upper part of the finely painted rood-screen demolished, and the well carved and solid seats of former days concealed by high deal pues. Still the interior has not suffered nearly so much as the exterior ; its proportions are excellent, and the clearstory of small quatrefoils,* contributes considerably to the general good effect. The removal of the lath and plaster with which the roof is underdrawn, would be an immense gain to the beauty of the interior. The roof is composed of trussed rafters : this construction was deservedly very general during the Early English and Decorated periods, combining a simple appearance with great security, durability, and economy of material. The belfry arch is Perpendicular as well as the rest of the tower, the latter is a fine structure with angle buttresses terminating in small octagonal turrets, each supporting a figure ; * The diameter of the window externally, from outside to outside, is 1 ft. 5 in. 38 FILBY CHURCH, NORFOLK. the parapet is enriched with flint panels and stepped after a fashion very prevalent in this county. The west door has been richly carved, and the remains of a good closing ring may be seen on the north door. The door to the turret staircase is crossed and re-crossed with bands of iron closely set together, and is fastened by seven locks curiously wrought. This excess of precaution seems to have been taken with a view of converting, on an emergency, the tower into a stronghold : the turret door of Hingham Church is similarly protected. This Church affords accommodation for about 380 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel . 34 Length of Nave . 56 Width of Chancel . 17 9 Width of Nave . 19 5 Width of North Aisle . . 10 8 Width of South Aisle . . 10 8 © iWaitljam CJjuitlj, i^orfolfe. i This fine Church is a pure Perpendicular Structure, of great magnificence, but now much neglected. The tower is of noble proportions, with a rich embattled parapet and excellent base mouldings worked in flint and stone which continue round the body of the Church, the Chancel being left singularly plain. The absence of parapets is a peculiar feature in the Norfolk Churches and stamps them, as in this case, with a remarkable character, the thin line of overlapping lead sharply defining the junction of the roof with the walls. The south door has been a beautiful piece of wood work exquisitely carved, with a very good closing- ring and key plate, it is now sadly mutilated ; most of the old benches remain, without backs and with very well executed finials. The ascent to the rood loft is on the north side, and a post- reformation roodscreen with doors, locks, &c. complete, separates the Chancel from the nave. Considerable portions of the old stained glass are scattered throughout the different windows of the Church. There is a fine hammer-beam roof over the nave, of the same date as the rest of the Church; it is in a very dangerous state, and unless immediately attended to must shortly fall. It is lamentable to think how many of these noble roofs, which with common attention would yet last many centuries, are being lost by the neglect of those whose duty it is to repair and hand down to posterity the Churches which their more pious ancestors so liberally bequeathed to them. There is one brass in the Church, a heart with three legends issuing from it. The Font is octagonal, Perpendicular, and carved on its different faces. The Church affords accommodation for about 470 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel . 34 Width of Nave . 71 3 Width of Chancel . 20 6 Length of Nave . 19 3 Width of North Aisle . . 10 9 Width of South Aisle . . 10 9 *t* ■^KColtmg jft^ INTERIOR OFHINOHAM CHURCH. N OR F O LK . I 5WtU.t«&T0N s' ST«ft» ^ This Church was entirely rebuilt by Remegius de Hethersete, Rector, with the assistance of John le Marshall his patron, who contributed largely to the perfection of the work. Remegius became Rector in 1316, and was succeeded in 1359 by John de Ulford. The Building therefore was probably begun in the early part of the reign of Edward III. and completed towards the middle of it. It is a perfect and beautiful specimen of a Church of this period, and a comparison of it, both in plan and elevation, with St. Mary's at Martham, a valuable example of a fine Perpendicular Structure, will be of infinite use in enabling us to detect the peculiarities of each style. Both are magnificent Buildings, yet the grand appearance of Hingham must be attributed to the massiveness of its different parts, and the steepness of its roofs, rather than to its ornamental accessories ; and of Martham, on the contrary, to its great height combined with considerable lightness, and richness in details and tracery. The difference in the two embattled parapets is worthy of remark, also the relative proportions of the Chancel and nave in each Church. There is great regularity in the arrangement of the plan, the windows on either side being made to correspond even to the numbers of their lights. It is also to be noticed that all the buttresses, with the exception of those of the porch, are placed at right angles to the walls; this is a feature more universal in Decorated work than is generally admitted. Blomfield mentions that "there were several Chapels of which the most remarkable were at the end of each aisle, that on the north being dedicated to the Holy Trinity, that on the south to the Holy Virgin," this explains a peculiarity, otherwise not accounted for, in the arrangement of the easternmost windows of the aisles, which are of three lights, all the others in the body of the Church being only of two. That at the east of the south aisle is of great beauty and presents a curious mixture of geometrical and flowing tracery : the other three- light windows were probably similar, but have all been replaced by Perpendicular insertions; in one case on the north side the Decorated mullions remain with Perpendicular tracery. The string- course under the windows is effectively managed and is continued all round the Church. The west doorway, with three rows of shafts, well sunk mouldings and crocketed dripstone, and the beautiful base mouldings of the tower, are especially deserving of attention. In the Chancel is a stately monument to the memory of Thomas^ Lord Morley, who died about 1435. The vestry now partly in ruins is a Perpendicular addition, and blocks up one of the fine Decorated windows. It had formerly a room over it. The masonry of the Church is of rough flints with stone dressings. The roofs over the nave and Chancel have been considerably lowered ; they are restored in the exterior sketch by following the weather moulds which still remain against the tower and east wall of the nave, in order to obtain the full effect of the Building in its perfect state. The aisle roofs retain the original pitch. The probable age of the present roof over the nave is indicated by one of the shields under the hammer beams: it bears the date of 1664, and on the corresponding shield are the initials C. W. R. D. A. R. The Church affords accommodation for about 830 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DLMENSIONS. Length of Chancel Length of Nave Width of Chancel Width of Nave Width of North Aisle Width of South Aisle Ft. In. 60 97 6 27 6 27 6 14 1 14 1 PLAN OF HINCHAM CHURCH, NORFOLK. t aHEASURED 9V ni J ft 9r nE£TSTPftNO_ DEOPHAM C H U RCH, N O R F LK . IRISH CHURCHES y The noble tower of this Church is perhaps not excelled by any in Norfolk. It is of pure Perpendicular, with good base mouldings,* well graduated buttresses and excellent window tracery. The turrets which terminate the buttresses are hexagonal, and with the crocketed gables surmounted by crosses that rise out of the parapet, form a rather unusual and very beautiful arrangement. The west and south doorways are richly carved, the latter has an embattled label over the doorway with spandrels filled with tracery. Both within and without, this Church is in a sad state of decay ; most of the windows of the tower are blocked up, also those in the porch, and the east window of the Chancel, a fine piece of Perpendicular tracery . There were formerly Chapels at the east end of the aisles; parts of the screens remain, retaining some of their ancient colouring. The Chapel in the south aisle was that of the Assumption, and in the north that of St. John the Baptist. There is a piscina in each. * Published in the Analysis of Gothick Architecture, Section 1., Perpendicular, Plate XXV. 44 DEOPHAM CHURCH, NORFOLK. There is a good plain roof over the nave, and many of the old benches, (for they have no backs,) still remain, A very remarkable monument occurs in the north aisle ; the foot of it is partly buried in the east wall. It is of Purbeck marble, and the upper part instead of being coped, is raised in gradations, probably with a view to gain more room for an inscription which covers the whole surface. The Church affords accommodation for about 430 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In. Length of Chancel . 32 4 Length of Nave . 72 1 Width of Chancel . 18 Width of Nave . 17 5 Width of South Aisle . 11 Width of North Aisle . 11 i -. i; ^ A VERY early Decorated Building, highly interesting, with a south aisle of great magnificence. The tower, which is Norman, is the only part that has been preserved of the old Church, it is circular on plan, with the upper stage Perpendicular and octagonal, and terminating in a richly embattled parapet with pinnacles at the angles. A great proportion of the round towers both in this county and in Norfolk have been similarly treated. The parvise over the porch, the Priests' doorway, and three windows on the north side of rather poor tracery, seem to have been added at the same time as the upper stage of the tower. All the rest of the Church is of one date and veiy beautiful ; considerable care has been bestowed on the south aisle, the windows in which are beautifully moulded with excellent tracery. The most interesting feature, however, is the east window of the south aisle. It possesses every characteristick of a late Perpen- dicular design, and a casual observer would most probably assign it to that period ; it is only by attentive examination and comparison of it with the other windows that convincing proofs are afforded that they are identical in date and workmanship.* The mouldings are precisely similar in all of them. * A window of the early Decorated period occurs in Evington Church, Leicester- shire, with most of the peculiarities of Perpendicular tracery, such as transoms, super-mullions, &c. The roof is of trussed rafters of seven cants; it is unfortunately underdrawn ; that over the Chancel, which appears to have rafters with circular ribs, is in the same condition. The nave roof is of very poor construction and late. The piers are simply but effectively moulded, and are of pleasing proportions. The Font is early Decorated with characteristick panels. The tower communicates with the nave through a low Norman archway. The Church affords accommodation for about 190 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Width of Chancel . 17 2 Width of Nave . 18 6 Length of Chancel . 24 5 Length of Nave . 38 8 Width of South Aisle . . 17 Length of South Aisle . 39 6 i ? f This Church ilhistrates a class of plans of peculiar proportion and well worthy of notice. Where they occur the Churches are generally of early date, in most cases Norman, as at Kisly Church, Suffolk, which has a round tower at the west. The earliest parts of Morley Church may be assigned to the end of the thirteenth century. St. James's, Cowley, Oxford, is of this period and with a similar plan ; Flempton Church, Suffolk, is another example ; its Chancel was rebuilt about the middle of the fourteenth century. In all these instances the proportions are precisely similar, the Chancel and nave forming four squares. Sir Thomas Warde, who was instituted Rector of St. Botolph's Morley in 1480, fitted up and adorned the Chancel ; the two square- headed windows on the south side, of very questionable elegance, are pi-obably part of his work. The Tower and other portions of the Church are also Perpendicular, but appear to be very much anterior to 1480. Two flat coffin-shaped stones, probably those of the founders, form the sill to the south doorway.* * It was a usual practice in the early days of Church Architecture for the founders or benefactors to be buried at the sill of the doonvays, as at Deopham Church, Norfolk; or under the walls of the Church, as at Bottisham, Cambridgeshire, where the whole of the south aisle is arcaded both within and without, with low arches, under each of which rests a stone coffin. Afterwards the founder's tomb was frequently placed on the north side of the Chancel, as at Heme Church, Kent. The crosses over the gables are modern. The Church affords accommodation for about 140 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Length of Chancel Width of Chancel Length of Nave Width of Nave Ft. In 34 6 18 53 18 3 ^ I KdtR'OR OF WOQLPIT C HU R C H. S iJ "F l ^ This Church is a Decorated Structure with numerous Perpen- dicular additions ; of these the south porch is the most important ; it is a beautiful and elaborate design, richly groined, with a parvise over it and fine open parapet. The angle buttresses to the Chancel are Decorated, worked in two stages with niches, cinquefoiled and ogeed. The vestry is modern, but built on the old site ; the door into it from the Chancel is original. The interior however is deserving of the most attention ; a lofty clearstory added during the Perpendicular period is spanned by a splendid double hammer-beam roof of the most costly description. The wall pieces are wrought into niches filled with figures of Saints supported by Angels with expanded wings. A similar roof with the timbers finely moulded and coloured remains over the Nave of Knapton Church, Norfolk.* The aisle roofs are of the same date as those over the nave, and equally rich in detail. Happily in this instance they have all been well restored, and appear now in good preservation. The seats are very perfect and beautiful, the roodscreen also is a fine specimen of the carver's art, though much mutilated. * See the " Open Timber Roofs of the Middle Ages."— G. Bell, Fleet Street. 50 WOOLPIT CHURCH, SUFFOLK. The easternmost window in the south aisle is lowered to form the sedilia, and an elegant piscina is cut out of the angles of the jamb which is supported by a small shaft. In the Chancel is a double piscina with trefoiled heads, a stone shelf and quatrefoil orifices. The masonry of the Church is composed of stone dressings with flints laid in random courses. The Church affords accommodation for 360 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Width of Chancel . 18 5 Width of Nave . 18 5 Length of Chancel . 32 8 Length of Nave . 68 Width of South Aisle . . 8 5 Width of North Aisle . 8 8 Length of Aisle . 65 7 -^ \ I -^-rLEET CH^RtH,''^]>lCt)LNSHIRe S«V(»»Mti4UREB BV Rs J » BSANDON mnaEY pRuntFJ'W.auN&TON.y strhno fflnt Cfjmrij, i,intoIns!)trt. I.N the midst of a district famed for the maomificence of its ecclesiastical Structures, Fleet Church might formerly have vied with any in beauty and richness ; its present neglected condition offers a miserable contrast to its former splendour. Most of the windows have lost their tracery, and although the old arches remain, circular-headed openings have been built up within them and filled with common square glazing ; the pitch of the roof has been lowered, (it is restored in the accompanying view) and the Chancel aisles suffered to fall into ruins. It is only by examining closely the walls of the Chancel, in which the piers and arches yet remain, that their former existence can be ascertained, and their position determined. The south priest's doorway seems at present singularly placed in the east buttress of the south aisle ; this, however, was continued on and formed the south wall of the Chapel. The buttresses on the north side are of great beauty, and are gabled ; especially those to the Chancel, which clearly belonged formerly to the north Chapel, and on its destruction were built up in their present position. The east window is blocked up. There are very good Decorated sedilia of three seats with crocketed canopies, and a piscina similarly enriched. 52 FLEET CHURCH, LINCOLNSHIRE. The nave piers are circular, they are of unusual height, and ])articularly elegant proportions. The Font is octagonal. Perpen- dicular, with rather plain panelling. The detached position of the tower, a very unusual arrange- ment, makes it a commanding feature in the design, and imparts considerable originality to the exterior of the Church, though inside, the absence of the belfry arch is much felt. It is of the same date as the Church (early Decorated), and in every respect worthy of it. Outside, by the north doorway, is a slab with a beautifully incised cross fleurie ; only part of the inscription remains PASEY : PUR : LES ALMES RICHARD : ATTEGREiME AGNEYS : SA : FEMME : PRIEZ : QUATRE : VINGS lOUR : DE : PA On either side of the Chancel are two coffin stones, with very good raised crosses ; they were formerly no doubt inclosed within the Chapels that have been destroyed. The Church affords aceonnnodation for about 450 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel . 42 Width of Chancel . 17 5 Length of Nave . 61 Width of Nave . 20 Width of North Aisle . . 14 4 Width of South Aisle . . 15 4 ^y i aiiJiJL . T /i^g^gm^^S JKCoLlinj hth. DONINCTON CHURCH, LINCOLNSHIRE . The priest's doorway, and the steep pitch of a former roof still visible, indicate the prior existence of an Early English Church, which was probably almost entirely pulled dowji to make room for the present beautiful Structure.* From the general style of the work, it would appear extremely probable that this Church was rebuilt at the same time, perhaps even by the same hands that erected the glorious Churches of Heckington and Ewerby. The Tower and Spire are particularly good, and built of excellent masonry ; the lower portion of the tower forms the porch, and is very richly groined ; the entrance into the Church is through a beautifully moulded doorway liaving jamb shafts with good caps and bases. The nave piers are lofty and well proportioned, with crenellated caps of rather unusual character. The windows in the south aisle are segraental-pointed, with good tracery, jamb shafts, and excellent mouldings, of pure Decorated outline. The north windows, on the contrary, are quite different, they are acutely pointed, and their jambs consist of a plain broad * It is interesting to notice how very reluctant our forefathers were to destroy all traces of their predecessors' pious munificence, though anxious themselves to rebuild the church with additional splendour and with the increased skill they had at their command. How very frequently a Norman doorway or font, carefully preserved, alone remains to attest the piety of a past generation. DONINGTON CHURCH, LINCOLNSHIRE. chamfer, not unfrequently met with in these parts, the effect of which however is extremely poor. The buttresses to the Church are very good, most of thera are gabled, and in every instance are placed at right angles with the wall.* The Chancel is mostly Perpendicular, with a very fine east window of five lights ; that at the west does not appear to be quite so late. The Font is octagonal, Decorated, with canopied panels. A gallery is built across the Chancel arch ; and, as likely soon to be among the things that have been, the pews are worth mentioning from their gigantic size ; they are upwards of six feet in height. Tliis Church affords accommodation for about 610 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel . 42 Width of Chancel . 19 3 Length of Nave . 81 Width of Nave . 21 9 Width of South Aisle . . 16 Width of North Aisle . . 14 * See remark on angle buttresses at page 41. ACHURCH C HURCH , NOHTHAMPT ONSHIBE . A An Early English Church, cruciform on plan, with a west tower surmounted by a beautifully proportioned spire. The staircase turret at the north-west angle is singularly well managed and is lighted by small trefoiled lancets with projecting canopies instead of dripstones. The buttresses round the Church are all very excellent Early English specimens; those to the Chancel are gabled, with the. heads filled with very early tracery*. The windows also are valuable as showing the gradual development of tracery which began to manifest itself towards the close of the Early English period of mediseval architecture. The body of the Church has lost much of its original character, the roofs are lowered and the windows and doorways in a great measure blocked up. The Chancel and transept arches are carried on corbels well moulded and carved with good Early English foliage. The space occupied by the intersection of the cross is in this instance given to the nave, the roof of which is continued eastward to the Chancel wall. The roofs to the transepts are quite distinct from, and abut against, the north and south walls of the nave. That over the * Illustrated in the Analysis, Section I. Early English, PL 22. Chancel is coved; they are unfortunately all underdrawn, but pro- bably consist of trussed rafters. The Font is octagonal, quite plain, and of the same age as the Church. The Church affords accommodation for about 210 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel . 32 Width of Chancel . 16 9 Width of Cross Transepts . 46 8 Length of Nave . 59 Width of Nave . 20 Y i^oit|)antpton$l)irt. 4^ A SMALL Early English Church deserving of notice from its peculiarly beautiful and perhaps unique tower and spire. Although all the rest of the Building is more or less mutilated and disfigured, the steeple luckily remains in its original condition. When such perfect examples as the present are met with, an exact record of their date is most desirable, but in this case we have unfortunately nothing to guide us but the peculiarities of style, which would induce us to assign its erection to the early part of the reign of Henry III. An elegant little doorway that opens from the turret staircase into the belfry, and the simple and rather early arrangement of the windows, show that up to this point the works were carried on without interruption or transition of style: the spire, however, is certainly of later date, and although a very similar one was undoubtedly intended, yet we must presume that a suspension of the works (after bringing the tower up to the underside of the corbel table) caused its details to be somewhat influenced by the gradual change which at the time was taking place. The lancet in the west front of the tower is enriched internally by two rows of jamb shafts, the caps on the north side only being foliated. The tower was formerly groined. 58 STANWICK CHURCH, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. The turret staircase on the south does not go higher than the roof over the south aisle to which it gives access ; from this level a passage through the thickness of the wall leads to another stair- case which continues up to the belfry floor. So little of the body of the Church remains in its original con- dition that but a very brief notice of it is needed. The Chancel has been rebuilt and curtailed of its proper proportions, and is now two or three feet narrower than was at first intended, as will be seen on referring to the plan. From the remains of a dripstone in the west wall of the aisle, we may infer that the roof at one time was gabled and has since been converted into a " lean-to." The little that remains of the Font (part of the bowl and the foot) shows it to have been a beautiful Decorated design ; it is octagonal, with crocketed canopies and pinnacles, with double cusped tracery. The Church contains accommodation for about 810 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In. Length of Chancel . 32 Width of Chancel . 17 4 Length of Nave . 62 Width of Nave ' 18 8 Width of Aisle . 15 4 i A SMALL Early English Church of considerable interest and beauty. The elegant spire forms in this instance, as in almost all the Churches of Northamptonshire, the distinguishing feature. It is of later date than the body of the Church, and was probably added with the porch when the Chancel and vestry were rebuilt.* The priest's doorway is a little westward of the vestry and is illustrative of the constant practice of the period to avoid external doorways in the sacristies. There is a stone seat on either side of the Chancel in lieu of stalls. The Chancel arch is carried on corbels ; the easternmost arches of the nave are similarly managed. There have been chapels at the east end of both aisles ; the piscina and step round the Altar remain in both cases. * In Bridge's History of Northamptonshire it is mentioned that, " in the east window of the chancel are the portraits of a king crowned and of a person praying ; and round him, within a label in Saxon characters, ' Orate pro anima Wil wyk Rectoris istius ecclesiae.' In the southern panel of the same window is a like portrait, and in a label this inscription, ' Orate pro ala Rogeri Travers condam Rectoris istius Ecclesise ;' " a considerable portion of this glass yet remains. Referring to the list of rectors, we find that in 1308 Roger Travers was rector, and was suc- ceeded in 1335 by William de Luswick, the party who appears to be commemorated in the stained glass. We may therefore fairly presume that these were the parties who rebuilt the Chancel and added the steeple and south porch. 60 ALDWINKLE CHURCH, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. The west window in the soutli aisle is very remarkable, from the circumstance of being transomed, and presenting every indica- tion that the lower part below the transom, though now glazed, was formerly secured by a wooden shutter. The hooks for the hinges and the bolt holes give sufficient evidence of the fact. Had this window occurred on either side of the Chancel, we should have considered it as an ordinary instance of a lychnoscope ; does it not therefore materially support the opinion of those who consider that these singular openings were for the purpose either of distributing alms, or for receiving tithes, &c., the more especially as in this instance the Chancel is without a lychnoscope ? A window of this date with a transom, and the lower part secured by a wooden shutter, remains quite perfect in the south side of the Chancel of Hartley Church, Kent. The Font is Early English, octagonal, and though plain is of good character. This Church affords accommodation for about 200 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel . 32 Width of Chancel . 17 6 Length of Nave . 37 3 Width of Nave , 14 G Width of North Aisle . . 9 I Width of South Aisle . . 10 9 0!?R-litarlr Cljuvdj, $ The noble tower of this Church is an excellent speciilien of a style peculiar to this county : erected towards the close of the Perpendicular era, and with many symptoms of a declining art, in all of them we find nevertheless such admirable and dignified proportions as almost to compensate for the loss of that purity of detail so conspicuous in the works of the previous century. In the example before us, the tower is of four stages and dimi- nishes gradually as it rises, and such is the consummate skill dis- played in the arrangement of the buttresses that the eye is completely satisfied, no awkward break occurring to disturb the beautiful tapering outline. The upper windows of the tower are filled with pierced stone panels, an excellent substitute foi' louvre boards, and con- tributing considerably to the richness of the Structure. The body of the Church appears in every respect cotemporary with the tower. On referring to the plan, we shall perceive that the south aisle is considerably wider than that on the north side, its arches are loftier and it is roofed with a distinct gable, while the north aisle is under a lean-to continuing from the nave-roof. In numerous instances we may remark the superior importance given to the south aisle, more especially in its having a gabled roof. The Chantry Chapel appears an after addition, as in con- structing it the east wall has been splayed, to allow access to the lychnoscope in the south wall of the Chancel, which would probably have been brought a little more eastward had the Chapel formed part of the original design. The Church retains all its old seats and a beautiful and richly carved screen extending across the Chancel and Chapel. It partakes of the usual elaborate character of the screens of this county, and has the whole of the Creed in raised letters in a casement at the top, , In a Church of this date the absence of a clearstory is very remarkable. An elaborate Ionic altar-piece in stucco, blocks up the east window. The priest's door is on the north side. The Font is octagonal, poorly panelled, and of the same date as the Church. The Church affords accommodation (exclusive of the Chapel) for about 280 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel . 26 5 Width of Chancel . 16 Length of Nave . 48 Width of Nave , 20 .5 Width of South Aisle . . 12 3 Width of North Aisle . , 7 1 ««DElEY PniNTERJ^ffttlNCTON S'^ STR«NO. 0louttsttrs|)ire. V The peculiarity of this Church consists in its decidedly Norman arrangement of plan, whilst in all other respects it is a Decorated Building. This we perceive more especially in the situation of the tower over the western extremity of the Chancel, which at once suggests the idea of a Norman Church, an idea still further strengthened on entering the Church, by the appearance of the old Font, a circular bowl, in good preservation, with the cable orna- ment twisted round it. A respond against the east wall of the nave separating it from the north aisle, confirms the belief that an earlier Building existed, and at the same time shows that the present aisle as well as the rest of the Church, was rebuilt on the site of its predecessor. The body of the Church, internally, is quite devoid of interest ; the nave piers and arches were swept away about ten years back for the greater convenience of the occupiers of the gallery which extends the length of the south aisle. Under what would be the easternmost arch of the nave, is a panelled altar-tomb with the effigies of a knight and his lady ; the figure of the knight is cross- legged, and is supposed to represent Sir John Giffard, who died in 66 LECKHAMPTON CHURCH, GLOUCESTERSHIRE. the third of Edward III. There is little doubt that through his pious munificence the present Church was built. The tomb of this once honoured benefactor is now sadly disfigured and mutilated. The Chancel, the most perfect and interesting part of the Church, is divided into two distinct parts (another characteristic feature in Norman Churches), and is groined with two bays of simple quadri- partite groining, with well carved heads and bosses ; in the first compartment a space is left for lowering the bells. The tower is remarkably small, and to save room inside, the north and south walls are very much reduced in thickness below, and carried above on corbelled arches. The old roof of trussed rafters with an occasional tie-beam remains over the Chancel. The unusual lowness of the buttresses all round the Church is deserving of notice ; possibly the builders were influenced by the unimportance of the buttresses in the former structure. In the Church-yard are several effigies, probably removed from the Church, and also many coped coffin stones. The Church affords accommodation for about 220 worshippers. I PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel . 27 Width of Chancel . 11 11 Length of Nave . 48 5 Width of Nave . 18 10 Width of North Aisle . . 12 3 I BADCWOBTH CHURCH, GLOUCESTERSHIRE NCMEKSURCO STRCJ RiWELUN^TOk i' STRMO A A SMALL Decorated Church, with much about it that is interesting and beautiful. The tower is of three stages, massy and well pro- portioned, with an embattled parapet added at a later period. The west doorway appears to have been inserted at the same time ; it has a small benatura on the south side. It is most probable, judging by the distance of the window from the ground, that in the original design no doorway was intended. The want of a spire is in this instance most palpable. The north aisle, dedicated to St. Margaret, greatly surpasses the rest of the Church in richness of decoration. The jambs of the windows* and doorway are elaborately moulded and studded inside and out with a profusion of ball flowers; a ball flower cornice also runs under the eaves of the roof. The occurrence of the circular headed doorway, a circumstance not altogether without a parallel, (it occurs in Slymbridge Church, Gloucestershire,) cannot well be accounted for otherwise than by attributing it to that thirst after improvement which led the ancient builders ever to seek some * Illustrated in the Analysis of Gothick Architecture. 68 BADGWORTH CHURCH, GLOUCESTERSHIRE. new feature, and perhaps, in some rare instances, to glance back- ward as if wishful to extract some last beauty from a style which had long been superseded. In the present instance they would seem to have had in view the grand and rich effect of the deeply recessed Norman doorways. The result, however, can hardly be considered satisfactory. The east window of the Chancel is of curious but inelegant tracery. The sill of the south doorway is formed by a flat coffin stone with a simple cross incised in it. The Church will afford accommodation for about 230 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel . 38 Width of Chancel . 18 3 Length of Nave . 39 10 Width of Nave . 25 6 Width of North Aisle . . 17 I i •^'^r.,„ ^,s^^-^ RAUNDS CHURCH, N R TH A M PT N S H r R E . iOtxiitI)aniptons|)ire* Many excellent points in this beautiful Church recommend it to notice, especially the spire, with its elegant outline and exceeding boldness of elevation.* The general design of the tower is very singular, and perhaps, as a whole, hardly to be commended, though the details are most richly and carefully wrought. The doorway is recessed, so as to form a shallow porch in the thickness of the wall, an arrangement not uncommon in this county. Immediately above is an arcade of four arches, the two centre ones being pierced with lancets, which are united inside by tre foiled arches with richly carved floriated caps. The serrated appearance of the third stage of the tower is probably unique ; its object may have been to render the set-off in this instance a more ornamental feature than usual, or, it may possibly after all be attributed to a caprice of the builder, the more especially as the north and south sides are not so treated. The body of the Church, though originally Early English, and of the same date as the tower, has undergone, at different periods, so many changes that it is at present a matter of some difficulty to trace out the plan of the original Structure. It would appear to have formerly consisted of a Chancel, of the same width and probably height as the nave, a south Chancel aisle, a vestry on the north side, of which the door-way alone remains, a nave and aisles, north doorway, south porch groined over, and the western tower. Towards * A considerable portion of the spire was destroyed by lightning in 1826. It was, however, so carefully restored that its original character does not appear in any way to have been injured. the close of the Decorated period the aisles were rebuilt, six or seven feet in length were taken from the Chancel and given to the nave, and a Chancel arch (the Early English Church was probably without one), richly ornamented with a double row of ball flowers, was awkwardly introduced across the westernmost arch of the Chancel aisle, and strengthened by a buttress projecting into the aisle. About the same time the high pitch roofs of both Chancel and nave were taken down, and clearstories with four centered windows erected, whereby the grand effect of the east end, with its fine gabled but- tresses, foliated window and strings, was entirely destroyed. In the south 'porch, the doorway and outer arch, with the vaulting shafts which carried the groining, are all that were left of the Early English work, when rebuilt with the addition of a parvise, in the fifteenth century. Under the eastern arch, dividing the Chancel from the aisle, is an altar tomb of the date of 1496 : it is panelled but of rather poor workmanship ; it marks the resting place of iDnuS ^I'^^ES SStaUS tjuonttam istius ^t\mt Vitmim. The remains of a very beautiful Cross occupy the usual position in the Churchyard ; the stem, raised on two steps, the upper one enriched with quatrefoils, has the emblems of the Evangelists carved on its four sides. The Font is Early English, quite plain with a circular bowl and stem ; a ram's head projects from the east side. The Church affords accommodation (exclusive of the Chancel aisle) for about 710 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSlOiNS. Ft. In Width of Chancel . . . .21 8 Length of Chancel 50 2 Width of Nave 21 8 Length of Nave 83 Width of South Aisle . 19 6 Length of South Aisle 76 1 Width of North Aisle . 17 5 Length of North Aisle 82 Si A. \iV;^ ^ r o o p Q i72 o ^ 3. Q CD O "- p n ^ o OQ O o p O O H^ aq O o 9r 1^ CD CD S O CD c-»- o p p 2 HJ. CD -i CD .^ ^ ^ a. s- ^ C P 35 o • c' CD c c^ CD P o a? o o 3 P f2 P 3 fe O P P; ^ CD tr; 2 •-i >-( "^ H S H- !=! |~i , CC 05 ^ ^ P " HH !Z; cr n S CD CD c S P P- C CD CD cT* (TK C 2 p . c:*- CD "3. 5' 5-* '-r Cfq ^ c^ ^ 2+^ ii '■^ ^ ct- c" '^' c (;^ c^ , ^ ^-^ c s ,.j ct rf B. CD B' CO p (-!• 3 •-i ^ h-i • a^ (Tt- c ^ ,_, 2 CD' ^j c- ^ 1 - p^ ^ p ^ c. "^ ^.. INTERIOR OF CHANCEL SOLIHULL C HURCM," X i«: o _i ' — o $ tn cc u. < O :S z < -J a. S^PETEIRAND S'fPAUL CHURCH, FRESIN OF IE LD, SUFFOLK. ^ A FINE Decorated Church, with a few Perpendicular additions, but preserving its original plan, including the north Chapel. The piers and arches are also Decorated ; the principal Perpendicular additions consist of the south porch, the clearstory, and the fine open timber roofs ;* that over the nave is particularly beautiful. The old seats with which the Church is filled are almost unequalled for richness of design, and beauty of execution ; it is much to be desired that ere long those that have been mutilated or removed to make place for the unsightly pews that now cumber the floor, will be restored. The old altar stone yet remains on the Chancel floor, and one brass in good preservation. Some of the windows contain a little of very beautiful Decorated stained glass. The south porch like many of these in this county, and in Norfolk, is a very handsome erection richly groined with a parvise over. The effect of the west end of the nave would be very much improved by a fine belfry arch ; indeed it is difficult in this and other instances * See Messrs. Brandon's work on "The Open Timber Roofs of the Middle Ages." where a tower is attached to the Church, to account satisfactorily for the omission of this feature. The font is octangular and quite plain. The wall over the Chancel arch is finished with a bell cot sur- mounted by a fine Cross. The Church affords accommodation for about 300 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel . 34 6 Width of Chancel . 19 6 Length of Nave . 48 Width of Nave . 19 6 Length of Aisle . 48 Width of Aisle . 11 6 CIsincj; €\)mt% 0otiolh A PURE Decorated Church, without any additions, and of very pecuhar character, consisting of a Chancel, with vestry, on the north, a very wide nave without aisles, a west tower, and north and south porches. The nave is so unusually wide, that at first sight it would appear as though the Church had consisted of nave and aisles under one roof, and that the piers and arches had been removed ; but on examining some of the neighbouring Churches, which are similarly constructed, the plan seems to be original. The present roof is modern and ceiled, and from that circumstance has a very disagreeable appearance, but with a fine open timber double hammer-beam roof a good effect might be produced, though scarcely to compensate for the loss of piers and arches. The windows in the body of the Church are all similar, of three lights, and retain considerable portions of very beautiful glass, as do those in the Chancel. A very good Decorated font, surmounted by the remains of a handsome Perpendicular cover, stands in the centre of the nave at the west end. The porches, north and south, are similar, and are entered under ogee trefoiled arches, with the mouldings dying into the square jambs. The dotted lines at the east of the nave indicate the foundations of a small turret, now destroyed, probably used as 120 ELSING CHURCH, NORFOLK. an ascent to the rood-loft : the lower part of the roof-screen yet remains, with some well-executed carvings. The Chancel contains a good plain piscina and sedilia, of three seats, and the remains of a glorious brass, which, when perfect, must have surpassed in beauty and execution any others in the kingdom.* This Church affords accommodation for about 380 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In. Length of Chancel . . . . 39 6 Width of Chancel . . . . 19 6 Length of Nave . . . . 71 6 Width of Nave . . . . 39 6 * For engravings and description of this splendid brass see the Rev. C. Boutell's work on " Monumental Brasses of England." *^ S'!' MARYS CHURCH, SOUTH C R E A K , N OR FO L K . r This and the neighbouring Church at North Creak are both interesting edifices ; the roof over the nave of the latter is very beau- tiful, retaining much of its ancient colouring, though the Church itself is less important than the subject of the present treatise, which is a fine and spacious Structure ; the earliest portion is the Chancel, which is just transition into Decorated, and bears traces of having been re-modelled, probably when the tower and vestry were built, which together with the east and west windows of the aisles are pure Decorated. The body of the Church is good Perpendicular, with a lofty clearstory, containing windows of three lights ; the piers of the nave are peculiar, each mounted on a separate table bench. The roof, which is somewhat similar to the one over the nave at North Creak, only plainer and of bolder construction, is still very good, the angels on the hammer- beams bear emblems of the Passion, musical instru- ments, crowns, the Pope's tiara, &c., and the whole bears evidence of having been once richly coloured. A fine Perpendicular font stands at the west end of the nave, mounted on two octagonal steps, the upper one being panelled. The stem has been enriched with figures, but the whole now is mutilated. The Church contains a good deal of fine old glass, several brasses, and good open seats. A beautiful 122 SOUTH CREAK CHURCH, NORFOLK. screen with much colour remaining on it, separates the Chancel from the nave, and above the Chancel arch is a large three-light window. The porch is entered through a beautiful Decorated arch, and bears the monogram, worked in flints, of the Blessed Virgin, in honour of whom the Church is dedicated. Judging from the weather mould, which remains, the Decorated Church does not appear to have had a clearstory ; the parapet of the Tower has been taken down and part of it used as a coping for the Churchyard wall. The Church affords accommodation for about 620 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel . 52 Width of Chancel . 20 Length of Nave . 74 Width of Nave . 25 Length of Aisle 74 Width of Aisle . 13 V TURRET STAIRCASE, BACTON CH URCH , SUFFOL K l4MCASUflC0 0T R.4J,A aRANUO ARiSH Churches flC^LGV PRlHTERSWELLIflGTUNSr INTERIOR OF BACTON C H U R C H , S U F F L K JSactott C|)urt|), i Exhibits the characteristick features of the Churches of this part of the country, being a Decorated fabrick with Perpendicular additions. The west doorway of the tower has been blocked up, and it appears as if the belfry arch had undergone the same treat- ment, at any rate the present doorway leading into the nave from the tower is modern, of brick. The turret staircase is particularly well managed : it is built of red brick, with stone quoins and dressings, and finished with a very well designed conical stone capping, terminated with a finial. It may be well here to remark that it was the general custom formerly for the entrance to these staircases to be from within the Church,* and not from the outside, as is now frequently the case. The clearstory has a particularly beautiful appearance externally, the spaces between the windows being richly panelled and orna- mented with devices worked in flints, a style of decoration for which the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk are deservedly famous. Some well- wrought old oak seats yet remain. The roof over the * The authors do not remember having met with a single instance of an original external entrance to a turret staircase. nave is very magnificent :* it is of the double hammer-beam con- struction, very similar to that over the nave of Woolpit Church, Suffolk, but in this instance the canopies and figures have been cut away. The eastern bay of this roof is still richly coloured. The Church affords accommodation for about 370 worshippers. PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS. Ft. In Length of Chancel 34 Width of Chancel 18 6 Length of Nave 68 Width of Nave 22 Length of Aisle 68 Width of Aisle 8 6 * See Messrs. Brandon's work on " The Open Timber Roofs of the Middle Ages." * j:x:cMwy uth BRAMFORO C H URC H , S U F F O L K DRAWN &ME:ASURED BV R&J \ BHHNOON PARISH CHUBCHE i KADCLEY PRINTER 3 WEUiNOTON S TR EET /I ^'"S ^rii FONT IN SOUTH A I S LE , B R AM F OR D CHU RC H , SU F F OLK . »C[LtV r>Ri»rE» 3