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THE ANTIQUITIES 
 
 OF 
 
 HAMPSHIRE: 
 
 CONSISTING OP 
 
 PLANS, SECTIONS, ELEVATIONS, DETAILS, AND PERSPECTIVE VIEWS, 
 
 OF THE PRESENT CHURCH. 
 
 BY 
 
 BENJAMIN FERREY, Architect, 
 
 FELLOW OF "THE ROVAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS," AND HONORARY FELLOW OF 
 "THE OXFORD SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING THE STUDY OF GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE." 
 
 ACCOMPANIED BY 
 
 HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME, 
 By EDW. WEDLAKE BRAYLEY, Esq. F.S.A. &c. 
 
 Sbwontr 1Et»(tion. 
 Revised by JOHN BRITTON, Esq. F.S.A. &c. 
 
 LONDON: 
 HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 
 
 1841. 
 
LOAN STACK 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTBO BY MOV^S AND BARCLAY, CASTLE STREET, 
 LBICK8TER sgUARE. 
 
 
p' 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 TO THE 
 
 SECOND EDITION. 
 
 In publishing a new edition of the present volume, the proprietor 
 deems it proper to apprise the reader that the work is now limited 
 entirely to the history and architecture of the church. The first 
 edition contained some historical and descriptive particulars of the 
 town, the manor, the rivers, and other local matters, which, however 
 interesting to the inhabitant, may be deemed either irrelevant or 
 superfluous to the architect and antiquary, who seeks in this class 
 of publications for such information only as appertains to their own 
 immediate studies. Indeed, Mr. Ferrey commenced the volume 
 originally with reference merely to his own professional pursuits, 
 and made his surveys and delineations for that object only. 
 
 In the following pages are particularly specified the alterations 
 and improvements that were made to the church before the time 
 of publication (viz. 1834). Subsequently to that date very little 
 has been done, but subscriptions to the amount of above 1000/. 
 have been raised to continue such other additional and improving 
 works as may further tend to render the edifice more conformable 
 to its pristine beauties, and better adapted for the accommodation 
 and comforts of its occupants. 
 
 York Street, April 1841. H. G. B. 
 
 020 
 
LIST OF ENGRAVINGS, 
 
 WITH REFERENCES TO PAGES. 
 
 Plate *'•«* 
 
 1. Ground Plan, with Plan of and Pier of the Nave, Fig. 2, and Tracery op 
 
 Roof of the Salisbury Chapel noticed 14, 19, 26, 32, 40, 44 
 
 2. View of the Priory Church from the North-west to face Title — 19, 38, 59 
 
 3. View of the Church from the North-east noticed 19, 23, 59 
 
 4. Inner Doorway of the North Porch, and the Conventual and Town Seals, 22, 73 
 
 5. Longitudinal Section, with References 18, 23, 25, 27, 30, 47, 62, 63 
 
 6. Transverse Section through the Choir and Lady Chapel, with References 
 
 and Measurements 18, 23, 25, 47 
 
 7. View of the Nave, looking East 25, 31 
 
 7.*Etching of the Oratories in the Northern part of the Choir 29 
 
 8. Compartments of the Screens of the Choir and Lady Chapel 47 
 
 9. Grotesque Carvings on the Choir Stalls 33, 34 
 
 10. Interior of the Choir Stalls, Altar Screen, &c 19 
 
 1 1 . Elevation of the Altar Screen 36 
 
 12. Monument of the Viscountess Fitzharris 35 
 
 13. North Aisle of the Choir, with the Monumental Chapel of the Countess of 
 
 Salisbury, &c 39, 41 
 
 14. Interior of the Countess of Salisbury's Chapel 39 
 
 15. South Aisle of the Choir, with the Monumental Chapels op Robert Harys 
 
 and Prior Draper 41, 44 
 
 16. Transverse Section across the Nave and Aisles, with Elevation of East Side 
 
 of North Porch, and of the Tower 20 
 
 17. Apostle Spoons, Initial and other Inscriptions, &c 30, 32, 70 
 
 18. Monuments in the North Aisle and Lady Chapel 42-48 
 
 19. View of the Castle Ruins 72, 73 
 
 .i* 
 
THE 
 
 istorg anti ^inttqutttes 
 
 OF 
 
 THE PRIORY CHURCH 
 
 OP 
 
 CHRIST-CHURCH, HAMPSHIRE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 HISTORICAL PARTICULARS OF THE PRIORY OF CHRIST-CHURCH ESTATES OF 
 
 THE CANONS, ETC., FROM THE DOMESDAY BOOK BISHOP RANULPH FLAM- 
 BARD REBUILDING OF THE PRIORY CHURCH CONSTITUTED A PRIORY 
 
 OF CANONS REGULAR BENEFACTIONS AND PRIVILEGES LIST OF SUPE- 
 RIORS, DEANS, AND PRIORS SURRENDER OF THE PRIORY TO HENRY VIII 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 
 
 Christ-Church, or Christ-Church Twynham, as it was called in former 
 ages, is situated on the southern coast of Hampshire, near the head of the hay, 
 or haven of Christ-Church, which opens to the sea ahout a mile and a half 
 south of the town. This bay is formed by the junction of two considerable 
 rivers, namely, the Avon and the Stour, which, deriving their origin from 
 dilFerent parts of Wiltshire and Somersetshire, flow in a devious course to 
 
 B 
 
2 COLLEGIATE, OR PRIORY ESTATES AT THE CONQUEST. 
 
 Christ-Church, and include all the ancient parts of the town within their point 
 of confluence. It was from this peculiarity of situation that the place, in the 
 Saxon times, obtained the appellation of Tweon-ea, or Twynham bourne; — 
 that of Christ-Church being conferred at a subsequent period, after the 
 dedication of the priory church to Christ the Saviour. 
 
 The origin and early history of the Priory of Christ-Church are unknown ; 
 and although we may reasonably presume that it was founded in the seventh 
 century, soon after the introduction of the order of St. Augustine into this 
 kingdom, yet there are no records of the Saxon times extant relating to this 
 establishment. The earliest documentary evidence concerning it is contained 
 in the Domesday Book, from which the following are extracts, the contractions 
 being supplied. 
 
 " Terra Canonicorum de Thuinam.* In Egheiete Himd. Canonici Sanctae 
 Trinitatis de Thuinam tenent in ipsa Villa 5 hidas et una virgata : et in Wit 
 Insula unam hidam. Hse hidge semper fuerant in ipsa ^cclesia. Tunc se 
 
 defendit pro 6 hidis Tempore Regis Edwardi et una 
 
 virgata et modo * In Dominio sunt 5 Carucatae, et 11 Villani, et 
 
 13 Bordarii cum una carucata. Ibi 2 Servi, et Molinum de 30 denariis, et 
 108 acrae Prati. Silva de 2 Porcariis. In Burgo 6 Masurse de 13 Solidis et 
 4 denariis. Ad banc Ecclesiam pertinent tota Decima de Tuinam, et tertia 
 pars Decimarum de Holeherst.t 
 
 *' Tempore Regis Edwardi val. 6 libras : Modo 8 libras. 
 
 " Alnod Prebendarius tenet de Rege Bortel.J In paragio tenuit de Rege 
 Edwardo. Tunc se defendit pro una Virgata et dimidio: modo similiter. 
 Terra est dimidium carucatae, et ibi est cum duobus Servis, et tertia pars unius 
 Molini de 25 denariis ; et 10 acrae Prati et dimidium, et duae Masurae in 
 Tuinam. Valuit 5 Solidos ; modo 10 Solidos. 
 
 " Alsi Prebendarius tenet de Rege Bailocheslei.§ Ipse tenuit de Rege 
 Edwardo. Tunc se defendit pro una Hida et 3 Virgatis : modo pro 3 Virgatis 
 tantum. Terra cum 1 Carucata ibi est in dominio, cum duobus Servis, et uno 
 Villano, et uno Bordario; et dimidio Molini de tribtis Solidis: et 16 acris 
 Prati. Valet et valuit 20 Solidos. 
 
 * Now Christ-Church. f Now Holdenhurst. 
 
 X Now Barton. § Now Bashley. 
 
CANONICAL ESTABLISHMENT. S 
 
 " In Bovere Hund.* habuit Ecclesia Sanctse Trinitatis de Thuinam 8 acras 
 terrse in Andret. Modo est in Foresta hsec terra." t 
 
 It appears then, from the Domesday survey, that, in the reign of Edward 
 the Confessor, there was at Twynham a priory, or college of secular canons, 
 holding possessions in the township of Twynham, in the Isle of Wight, and else- 
 where, within the county of Southampton, and that the priory church had been 
 dedicated to the Holy Trinity. From the specification of the land it seems 
 that some portions belonged to the members of the convent generally, and 
 others to two of the prebendaries or canons, who are distinctly mentioned by 
 name. The general property of the prior}^ consisted of five hides and one 
 virgate of land in the township of Twynham, one hide in the Isle of Wight, 
 eight acres in the hundred of Bovere, the whole of the tithes of Twynham, and 
 a third part of the tithes of Holeherst. It is stated that the hides of land here 
 Mentioned had always belonged to this church, whilst the eight acres in Bovere 
 are merely mentioned as having been the property of the church in the time of 
 King Edward the Confessor, but, when the Domesday Book was compiled, as 
 being included in the [New] Forest. 
 
 Dugdale and Bishop Tanner state that, in the time of King Edward the 
 Confessor, there were a dean and twenty-four canons belonging to this church ; 
 and Tanner further says, that they " continued till after the conquest." Strictly 
 speaking, however, these averments are not authorised by existing records, 
 although not unfairly surmised from the known state of this establishment in 
 the reign of William Rufus. Neither a dean nor any fixed number of canons 
 is mentioned in the Domesday Book as belonging to this priory ; yet it appears 
 from the *' Historia Fundationis Coenobii de Twynham," in Dugdale's " Mo- 
 nasticon,"t that after the accession of the Conqueror the office of dean was held 
 by Ranulph Flambard, or riammard,§ who is said to have been the son of a 
 priest of Bayeux, in Normandy, and whose name is registered among the 
 feudal tenants of the crown in the Domesday Survey of Hampshire. 
 
 * Now Boldre Hundred. f Domesday Book, vol. i. fol. 44 a. 
 
 I Ex Registro de Twynham, in Bibl. Cotton., sub effigie Tiberii, D. 6, fol. 194 a. The 
 Register itself was destroyed in the fire which burnt a part of the Cottonian Library in the 
 year 1731. 
 
 § In the " Saxon Chronicle," and other annals of a subsequent age, Ranulph is called Passe- 
 fiaynhard. 
 
4 NOTICES OF BISHOP FLAMBARD KING WILLIAM RUFUS. 
 
 Although of ignoble origin (Malmesbury says "ex infimo genere"), and 
 probably of restricted education, the superior talents and address of Flambard 
 advanced him to rank and power. He was removed from Twynham by 
 Maurice, bishop of London, who made him his chaplain, and gave him the 
 deanery of St. Paul's, London. Not satisfied, however, with ecclesiastical 
 preferment, the ambition and enterprise of Flambard sought for temporal 
 ascendancy j and, by his unprincipled servility, he so highly ingratiated himself 
 in the favour of William Rufus, that the tyrannical prince invested him in the 
 high offices of Justiciary of England and Procurator-General, and made him 
 his chief counsellor. Whilst thus situated he became the willing instrument of 
 the grievous exactions and oppressions of the monarch, who, in 1099, rewarded 
 his docility by raising him to the bishopric of Durham, which he had retained 
 from the time of the decease of William de Karilipho in 1095. Even in 
 this instance the king-'s avarice was not ungratified, for the bishop elect 
 found it prudent to secure his own nomination by a present of one thousand 
 marks. 
 
 It was probably through the influence of his favourite that William Rufus 
 was induced to become a benefactor to the church of Twjuham, for he is 
 recorded to have bestowed on this church the manor of Prestipidela [Priest's 
 Puddle] in the county of Dorset, with all the liberties and customs belonging 
 to it. If, however, the grant originated in the suggestion of Flambard, his 
 purpose in obtaining it was rather to benefit himself than to enrich the 
 ostensible objects of the king's bounty. 
 
 On his elevation to the deanery of St. Paul's he had probably resigned that 
 of Twynham, in which he appears to have been succeeded by Godric, a clerk, 
 or canon, distinguished for the respectability of his character ; who yet, however, 
 did not assume the title of dean, but was reverenced by the canons (now stated 
 to be twenty-four in number) as their senior and president. Under his govern- 
 ment they lived in concord and tranquillity, sharing among themselves, accord- 
 ing to certain established regulations, the income arising from the ecclesiastical 
 estates and from the offerings of the people. Their repose was soon disturbed 
 by the interference of their former superior, Flambard, who, not content with 
 the aggrandisement of his fortune by promotion in the church, and the power 
 and influence which he had obtained as the king's favourite minister, employed 
 that influence to procure for himself a royal grant of the church and convent. 
 
/ 
 
 OPPRESSIVE CONDUCT OF BISHOP FLAMBARD AT TWYNHAM. 5 
 
 in order that he might, as their patron, become possessed of the chief control 
 of the revenues of that foundation. 
 
 Among the estates held in common at this period by the canons, are men- 
 tioned Heme, Burton, and Preston. But it appears that it was not the extent 
 of the landed property alone belonging to this convent that excited the cupidity 
 of Flambard, for the church is also stated to have been enriched with treasures 
 of various kinds, and precious relics of saints, which, doubtless, proved an 
 abundant source of profit to the community. As an effectual method of securing 
 to himself the entire disposal of the church property, the bishop proposed to 
 pull down the church and other conventual buildings, and re-erect them on a 
 larger scale, taking possession of the whole income, and, after allowing the 
 canons what was sufficient for their support, retaining the remainder for the 
 ostensible purpose of executing his intended architectural improvements. All 
 the canons agreed to submit to this disposition of the property except the dean, 
 or superior, Godric, whose opposition, however, served only to expose him to 
 the resentment of his powerful oppressor, by whom he was degraded from his 
 office, and pursued with unceasing hostility, until he was obliged to quit the 
 kingdom. He was eventually compelled to appeal to the compassion of the 
 bishop, who, finding that he had become sufficiently tractable, restored him to 
 his former situation. 
 
 Flambard, in pursuance of his design, proceeded to destroy the old con- 
 ventual church, and nine other buildings near, with certain houses belonging to 
 the canons. He likewise fixed on a place within the town as adapted for the 
 conventual offices and for the future residence of the canons. 
 
 The foundation of the present church, and of the religious houses and 
 offices formerly connected with it, by Flambard, is distinctly recorded ; but it 
 does not appear how far he proceeded towards their completion. He seems to 
 have intended to alter the constitution of this establishment, by placing canons 
 regular in the convent instead of secular canons — a scheme subsequently carried 
 into execution. When any one of the canons died he kept the benefice of the 
 deceased unoccupied, in order that the alteration might be the more readily 
 efiected. Godric, the senior canon or president of the convent, and ten of his 
 brethren, had already paid the debt of nature, when the sudden and violent 
 death of William Rufus, and the consequent downfall of his favourite, termi- 
 
6 SEIZURE OF CHURCH PROPERTY BY HENRY I. 
 
 nated the authority of the latter, and released the remaining canons of Twynham 
 from his overbearing control. 
 
 Henry I., soon after his accession, in consequence of the numerous accusa- 
 tions preferred against Flambard, caused him to be arrested and imprisoned in 
 the Tower of London ; his estates, offices, and benefices, being probably at the 
 same time forfeited or placed under sequestration. The church of the Holy 
 Trinity, at Twynham, is expressly stated to have been seized by the king ; and 
 after being, with force and violence, stripped of all the valuable property which 
 the bishop had there accumulated, it was given, m frank ahnoigney to a clerk 
 named Gilbert de Dousgunels, who, on taking possession, found that there were 
 only five canons belonging to the establishment remaining. At first he appears 
 to have appropriated the revenues of the convent to himself, after providing for 
 the support of his companions ; but at length he was induced, probably by their 
 solicitation, or certainly with their concurrence, to go to Rome, in order to 
 obtain from the pope privileges and immunities for the new church, with a 
 license to complete the new church and collect contributions for that purpose. 
 He accordingly went to Rome, but his journey proved fruitless, as he died on 
 his return to this country. 
 
 The patronage of the church and the government of the whole province 
 were bestowed by King Henry on one of his barons, Richard de Redvers the 
 elder. Earl of Devon, who appointed to the vacant presidency of the church of 
 Twynham a clerk named Peter de Oglandres, or Oglandes, granting him all 
 the rights and franchises possessed by Ranulph and Gilbert, the former deans, 
 with a reservation of the claims of the existing canons on the conventual pro- 
 perty. The earl also gave to this church and convent an estate in the Isle of 
 Wight, called Ningwood ; one of his retainers gave some land at Apse, near 
 Medina, in that island ; and the parishioners, as Dean Gilbert had appointed, 
 gave all their tithes. Peter de Oglandres, who was, perhaps, the chaplain and 
 favourite of Richard de Redvers, seems to have greatly abused the bounty of 
 his patron ; for, instead of applying the revenues of the establishment to the 
 support of the five remaining canons, and the completion of the church, he 
 associated to himself other clerks, whom he entertained in a sort of common 
 hall, assuming the authoritative regulation and distribution of the conventual 
 income. On his death, the adventitious clerks expelled the old canons from 
 
INTRODUCTION OF CANONS REGULAR AT TWYNHAM. 7 
 
 their society and council, and appropriated to themselves the oblations intended 
 for the purpose of finishing the building of the church ; alleging, on their own 
 testimony, that the right to those ofibrings had been assigned to them by 
 the dean. 
 
 A new dean, however, was appointed, named Radulph, who, leaving the 
 claims of these clerks undecided, for future examination, applied himself to the 
 prosecution of the architectural improvements commenced by Flambard, and 
 with so much success, that before his death several of the conventual offices 
 were covered in, and likewise a part of the church itself. He was succeeded 
 by Hillary, a clerk or chaplain of the Bishop of Winchester, who is reported to 
 have been distinguished for his humility and uprightness of conduct. 
 
 During the supremacy of Dean Hillary the religious establishment at 
 Twynham was made a priory of canons regular of St. Augustine, the college 
 of secular clerks, or canons, which had hitherto existed, being thus utterly 
 superseded. This alteration was effected under the sanction of Baldwin de 
 Redvers, earl of Devon, the son of Earl Richard, to whom the patronage of 
 the convent had been granted by Henry I. ; and the former nobleman, in con- 
 junction with his son and heir, Richard de Redvers, junior, gave to the newly- 
 introduced Augustinian canons a charter of confirmation of their title to the 
 lands, rights, and privileges bestowed on their predecessors.* Henry de Blois, 
 bishop of Winchester, also granted a charter to the canons on this occasion ; 
 indeed it appears to have been chiefly through the influence of that prelate 
 that the regulars were placed here ; for, in a subsequent charter of Richard de 
 Redvers, junior, it is stated that his father and himself had adopted that measure 
 in pursuance of the exhortation of the bishop.t To the same influence may 
 likewise be ascribed the grant of a charter of confirmation from King Stephen, 
 dated a.d. 1150, in which the possessions and privileges enjoyed by the secular 
 canons are recited, and assigned to the regulars, with a reservation of a life- 
 interest to the former. When the charter was granted, Hillary (" Hillarius 
 Decanus") was still dean, but he appears to have soon obtained higher prefer- 
 
 * V. Carta Baldwini de Redveriis, Sen., Com. Devon., et Ricardi Fil. sui, de Introductione 
 Canonicorum Regularium : apud Dugdale. 
 
 t V. Carta Ric. de Redveriis, Jun., Com. Devon., de Introd. Canon. Regular, a. d. 1161 : 
 apud Dugdale. 
 
8 NAMES OF THE DEANS OF CHRIST-CHURCH. 
 
 ment in the church ; and his connexion with the convent of Twynham most 
 probably terminated about that period. 
 
 Earl Baldwin, with the assent of his son and heir, Richard, conferred by 
 charter on the canons regular of Twynham the right of freely electing their 
 own prior or superior; and from subsequent grants and charters of confirmation 
 of various royal and noble benefactors and others, they derived a large accession 
 of property and new immunities. Among those by whom they were thus bene- 
 fited were the kings Richard I., John, Edward I., Edward II., Edward III., 
 Richard II., and Henry IV., whose respective grants and ordinances were con- 
 firmed by Henry V., in the third year of his reign.* But their most liberal 
 benefactors appear to have been Earl Richard de Redvers, junior, already 
 mentioned ; his son and heir, Baldwin de Redvers, junior ; his sister, Hawisa 
 de Redvers ; and Isabella de Fortibus, countess of Albemarle, and Hugh de 
 Courtenay, the first earl of Devon of that name, both of whom were lineal 
 descendants, through females, from the family of Redvers. 
 
 'There is a continued list of the priors of Christ-Church, from 1150 to 
 1477j in the Excerpta from the Priory Register, among the Cottonian MSS. in 
 the British Museum ; t and from a comparison with the monumental inscriptions 
 on the tombs of some of the later priors still remaining in the priory [now the 
 parochial] church, it may be inferred that that list is complete so far as it 
 extends. Apparently, two names only are required to make up the whole 
 number of the priors of Christ- Church, from the introduction of the regular 
 canons, in King Stephen's reign, to the dissolution of the monastery by Henry 
 VIII. The Deans of Christ-Church were Ranulph Flambard, Godric, Gilbert 
 de Dousgunels, Peter de Oglandres, Radulph, and Hillary. 
 
 * Rot. Pat. 3 Hen. V., P. 2, M. 3. 
 
 f Cott. MS., Claud. A. VIII. 13. The editors of Dugdale's <* Monasticon " observe, that 
 " The register of this house, which Dugdale saw and copied from [Tiberius, D. VI.], was lost in 
 the Cottonian fire of 1731. The Excerpts from it, in Cotton. MS. Claud. A. VIII., which still 
 remain, consist of five pages only, and are of little consequence." — Monasticon, new edit. V. vi. 
 part i. p. 302. Without attempting to controvert the assertion of the learned editors, so far as 
 relates to the abstracts of charters in this manuscript, which are certainly slight and unimportant, 
 we may, perhaps, be permitted to lament that they did not more accurately examine it, as it would 
 have enabled them to have given a complete catalogue of the priors of Christ- Church, instead of 
 the very meagre and apparently incorrect list of eight names only, which they gathered from 
 Browne Willis's " Mitred Abbies," and Cole's " Collections." 
 
NAMES OF THE PRIORS OF CHRIST-CHURCH. 
 
 PRIORS OF CHRIST-CHURCH. 
 
 1. Reginald, chosen into office in 1150, 
 
 and who, as appears from a memo- 
 randum in the Cott. MS., was still 
 prior in 1169. 
 
 2. Radulph. 
 
 3. Peter, probably elected in 1195, the 
 
 6th of Richard I. 
 
 4. Roger, in 1225, the 9th of Hen. III. 
 
 5. Richard, temp. Hen. III. 
 
 6. Nicholas deWarham, temp. Hen. III. 
 
 7. Nicholas de Sturminster, temp. Hen. 
 
 III. 
 
 8. John de Abingdon, in 1272. 
 
 9. William de Netheravon, in 1277, the 
 
 5th of Edward I. 
 
 10. Richard Maury, admitted prior in 
 
 May 1286, and held the office till 
 his death in 1302. 
 
 1 1 . Wm. Quintin, admitted prior April 3, 
 
 1302. 
 
 12. Walter Tholveshide, or Tidolneshide, 
 
 elected in 1317. 
 
 13. Edmund de Remmesbury, or Rams- 
 
 bury, who is mentioned as prior in 
 a grant in fee from the abbey of 
 Quarre of a messuage, land, &c., to 
 the priory of Christ-Church, at a 
 
 yearly rent, dated 1323, the 17th 
 of Edward II.* 
 
 14. Richard de Busthorn, or Butesthorne, 
 
 chosen on the death of the last 
 prior in 1337, and installed March 
 the 28th following. 
 
 15. Robert de Leighe, became prior Au- 
 
 gust 21, 1340. 
 
 16. William Tirewache, installed March 
 
 18, 1345. 
 
 17. Hen. Eyr, came into office in March 
 
 1347. 
 
 18. John Wodenham, was installed July 
 
 21, 1.376. 
 
 19. John Borard, who was confirmed in 
 
 office November 8, 1397. 
 
 20. Thomas Talbot, temp. Hen. IV. 
 
 21. John Wimborne, temp. Hen. V. 
 
 22. William Norton, temp. Hen. VI. 
 
 23. John Dorchester, who died in 1477. 
 
 24. John Draper, installed on the festival 
 
 of St. Matthew, 1477. 
 
 25. William Eyre, made prior January 
 
 26, 1502. 
 
 26. John Draper, elected January 31, 
 
 1520.t 
 
 * Madox's " Formulare Anglicanum," pp. 164-5. 
 
 t On comparison of the preceding list of the priors of Christ-Church with that published in 
 the recent edition of Dugdale's " Monasticon," it will appear that the latter, brief as it is, contains 
 two names not inserted in the list given above. The omission of these, however, is by no means 
 an oversight. The names in question are those of Julianus, a.d. 1162, and John de Combe, 
 A.D. 1297, which are introduced on the authority of printed records. Julianus is mentioned with 
 the designation of prior in a deed published by Madox ("Formulare Anglicanum," p. 2), dated 
 the 8th of Henry II. ; but it appears from a memorandum in the Cottonian MS. Claud. A. VIII. 
 13, before cited, that Reginald, the first prior, was in office at least seven years after the date of 
 
 - C 
 
10 SURRENDER OF THE PRIORY TO HENRY VIII. 
 
 Browne Willis, misled by the similarity of name, has confounded the last 
 prior with the last but two (No. 24), although he was aware of the difficulty, 
 on that supposition, which would arise from the length of the period between 
 the installation of the first John Draper in 1477> and the suppression of the 
 convent in 1539. 
 
 John Draper, the second prior of that name, who was Suffragan Bishop of 
 Neopolitanus, surrendered the priory to the king's (Henry VIII.) commis- 
 sioners on the 28th of November, 1539, and he obtained as the reward of his 
 pliability a pension of 133/. 6s. 8rf., with permission to hold during his life the 
 prior's lodgings and grange at Somerford, near Christ- Church, and also his 
 countrj'-house of Heme or Heron Court. SmaU pensions (eighteen in number), 
 varying from 10/. to 31. 6s. 8d., were likewise granted to the canons belonging 
 to the establishment. At the time of the surrender the ecclesiastical and tem- 
 poral possessions of this priory were returned by the commissioners at the clear 
 annual value of 519/. 3s. 6^d., independently of the sum of 95/. 4>s. 5d. granted 
 to sundry persons in fees and annuities.* The very ample allowance made to 
 Draper most probably originated in the good report of the commissioners, who 
 in a letter, supposed to have been addressed to Lord Cromwell, described the 
 prior as "a very honest confortable person." They also state that the house 
 
 this instrument : whence, perhaps, it may be reasonably conjectured that the word prior has been 
 inserted by mistake instead of presbyter ; or at least that Julianus could not have been prior of 
 Christ-Church, unless he officiated as locum tenens for Prior Reginald, and might therefore have 
 been considered a titular functionary. John de Cumbe is mentioned by Prynne (" Brevia Par- 
 liament." vol. iii. p. 709) as prior of Twynham in the 25th of Edward I., 1297 : but the office 
 was at that period certainly held by Richard Maury, who died in 1302; and in the inscription on 
 his gravestone, still existing in the church, he is called the tenth prior, as in the above catalogue. 
 Among the gravestones also is that of Thomas Talbot, who is called the twentieth prior ; and, 
 besides these, there are other inscriptions which tend to establish the authenticity of the list of 
 priors in the Cottonian MS., and as above recorded. 
 
 * From an original document in the Augmentation Office, intituled " Certificates of Monas- 
 teries," &c. The particulars which it incidentally furnishes of the state and splendour of the 
 priory establishment of Twynham at the time of its surrender are very interesting. In the 
 "Valor Ecclesiasticus " of the 26th of Henry VIII. (also in the same office), from which Speed 
 and Dugdale appear to have taken their respective valuations, the revenues of Christ-Church 
 are thus stated : — 
 
 " Prioratus Ecclesia Christi Twynham Ordinis Sancti Augustini. Johannes Draper 
 raodo prior. 
 
CONFISCATION OF THE CHURCH PROPERTY. 11 
 
 was well furnished with jewels and plate, " whereof," they continue, " some be 
 mete for the kings Majestie is use."* 
 
 After the surrender, on the 14th of September, 1540, Henry the Eighth 
 granted the immediate site of the priory and precinct (reserving the church 
 and churchyard) to Stephen Kirton and Margaret his wife, their heirs and 
 
 " Valet in firma terrarum unacum alijs redditibus tam spiritualibus quam temporalibus, ut 
 patet per quaternum manibus comraissariorum doraini regis signatum, 528/. 6*. O^d, 1 lib. piperis, 
 I lib. cuminis. 
 
 " Profic' vicar' de Christchurch officio sacristae pertinen' prius non onerat' ut patet per dictum 
 quaternum, 15/. ..-_..- 543/. 6*. 0|c?. 
 
 " Reprisse. In elemosinus feodis et alijs resolutis ut patet per dictum quaternum, 130/. 195. 
 Et valet ultra - . - . .... 312/. 7s. Old" 
 
 * Bibl. Cott. Mus. Brit. Cleopatra, E. IV. fo. 267, b. As the whole letter relates to this 
 church, and is, besides, extremely characteristic of the confiscation of valuables "to the use" of 
 the stern Harry, it is here given in the words of the original : — 
 
 Ow"" humble dewties observyd unto yo"" gudde Lordeschippe It may lyke the same 
 to be advertised that we have taken the surrendre of the late priorye of Christ Churche 
 Twynhm wher we found the Prior a very honest confortable psoii and the howse well 
 furnysshede w* Juellys and plate wherof som be mete for the kingf majestie is use as a 
 litill chalys of golde, a gudly lardg crosse doble gylt w* the foote garnysshyd w* stone 
 and perle, two gudly basons doble gylt having the Kingf arrays well inamyled, a gudly 
 greet pyxe for the sacramet doble gylt, And ther be also other thingf of sylv* right 
 honest and of gudde valewe as well for the churche use as for the table re^vyd and kept 
 to the kingf use. In thys churche we founde a chaple and monumet curiosly made of 
 cane stone ppared by the late mother of Raynolde Pole for herre buriall, wiche we have 
 causyd to be defacyd and all the armys and badgis to be delete. The surveyng of the 
 demayngs of thys howse wich be lardge and baryn and som partt therof xx" mylys from 
 the monastery wich we also do survey and mesure hathe causyd usse to mak long' abode 
 at thys plac then we intendyd And now we be in joiney towardf Amysbery wher we 
 shall use like diligens for the accoplisshng of the kingf highnes comission And assone 
 as we have don then we shall farther certifie yo"^ lordeshippe of o"^ doingf And thus we 
 beseke almyhtie Jlis longe to p^sve yo"" gudde lordeschippe w* increse of moche hono^ 
 At Christchurche ij° Decebris. 
 
 Yo"^ lordschipf humbly to comand 
 
 Ro^t Sowthwell Rychard Poulet Edward Carne 
 
 Willm Berners Jhon London. 
 
12 GRANT OF THE CHURCH TO THE PARISHIONERS. 
 
 assigns, " to hold of the aforesaid lord the king, his heirs and successors, in 
 capitey by the service of the fortieth part of a knight's fee, and the annual 
 rent of 3\s. Q\d" Since that period the priory estate has had various pos- 
 sessors, but it now belongs to J. S. Brander, Esq., whose uncle, the late well- 
 known Gustavus Brander, Esq., F.R.S., purchased the property about seventy 
 years ago. 
 
 On the 23d of October, 1540, the site and entire fabric of the priory 
 
 church, with all its appurtenances, and the churchyard, were, at the intercession 
 
 of the wardens and other persons, granted by the king to the wardens and 
 
 inhabitants of Christ- Church, for ever ; to be held by fealty only, and occupied 
 
 and used as the parish church of all the parishioners. By the same grant, 
 
 which has undoubtedly been the means of preserving the church from the 
 
 destruction that has befallen the other buildings of the priory, the wardens 
 
 and inhabitants of the town were constituted " one body, to have a perpetuall 
 
 \ succession, and to be able and capable in law." James the First, on the 12th 
 
 of February, in the ninth year of his reign (a.d. 1612), exemplified and con- 
 
 : firmed the above grant by his own letters patent, which also testified that the 
 
 J original grant had been enrolled in chancery. 
 
 The nave or body of the priory church had been appropriated for the pur- 
 pose of parochial worship for many centuries before the Reformation (as was 
 customary in most of the larger religious foundations) ; whilst the choir, or 
 chancel, was reserved for the prior and canons. 
 
 Although very great praise is due to the influential persons of this establish- 
 ment for the attention and care which, in former ages, must have been lavished 
 on the architectural beauties of the priory church, yet we have to regret that 
 the names of so few of them should have descended to posterity in connexion 
 with any record of their scientific or literary attainments. Except Flambard, 
 indeed, whose intellect and acquirements (however devoted to unworthy pur- 
 poses) were evidently of a superior order, there is scarcely one of its inmates 
 who is known to have been distinguished either for his learning or for any 
 other quality which dignifies the possessor. Their library, if we may credit 
 Leland, merely comprised *' a Saxon version of a few laws ;" * and tradition 
 
 * " Leges aliquot regum Saxonice." — Lelandi Coll. torn. iv. p. 149, edit, altera. 
 
" ABBEY LUBBERS." 13 
 
 has avouched that the towns-people, their contemporaries, distinguished the 
 canons by the ignoble appellation of " Abbey Lubbers," in allusion to their 
 ignorance and indolence.* These facts are the more remarkable, perhaps, 
 because there is evidence that a school was, at a very early period, attached to 
 this foundation for the use of the towns-people, " villae scilicit ipsius scolam," 
 as appears from the confirmatory grant of the ancient rights of the priory, 
 given by Baldwin de Redvers, senior, Earl of Devon. 
 
 * It appears from the " Parliamentary Writs," vol. i. p. 531, that the priory of Christ-Church 
 was returned (anno 1297) as holding lands or rents in the counties of Somerset and Dorset, to 
 the amount of 20/. and upwards, in yearly value, either in capita or otherwise, and as such was 
 summoned under the general writs to perform military service in parts beyond the seas ; to 
 muster at London on the 7th of July, 25th of Edward the First. Three years afterwards the 
 priory was again returned as holding lands, &c. to the amount of 40/. yearly and upwards, and as 
 such summoned to perform military service against the Scotch ; to muster at Carlisle on the 24th 
 of June, 28 th of Edward the First. 
 
CHAPTER IL 
 
 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS OF THE PRIORY CHURCH, AND OF ITS ARCHITEC- 
 TURAL AND OTHER ORNAMENTS PRESENT STATE OF THE EDIFICE 
 
 MATERIALS REPAIRS AND RECENT IMPROVEMENTS EXTERIOR AND IN- 
 TERIOR DESCRIBED, VIZ. TOWER, NORTH PORCH, NAVE AND TRANSEPT, 
 CHOIR-SCREEN, CHOIR, CARVINGS OF THE STALLS, POLITICAL CARICATURES, 
 ALTAR-SCREEN, CHOIR AISLES, AND CHAPELS, LADY CHAPEL, CRYPT, GRAVE- 
 STONES AND MONUMENTS MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 
 
 This edifice, which, equally in its extent and arrangement, as in its principal 
 details, exhibits all the magnificence of a cathedral, stands on slightly elevated 
 ground, near the south-western extremity of the town, at the head of Christ- 
 church Bay. From the leads, both of the tower and the roof, it commands a 
 most beautiful prospect, seaward, over the bay, Hengistbury-Head, the English 
 Channel, and the western parts of the Isle of Wight ; and on the land side, of 
 the rich meadows surrounding the town, watered by the sinuous streams of the 
 Avon and the Stour ; of St. Catherine's Hill, and of a widely-spread reach of 
 country, extending over great part of the New Forest. 
 
 In its general design this church, as may be understood by referring to the 
 annexed Ground Plan, Plate 1, comprehends a nave and aisles, a transept, with 
 chapels projecting eastward, a choir and its aisles, a Lady-chapel, a western 
 tower, and a capacious north porch. So much variety and grandeur, intel- 
 ligence and taste, are displayed in its architecture, that we cannot but regret 
 the deficiency of records which prevents our ascertaining by whom and at what 
 exact periods the different divisions of this noble fabric were respectively 
 erected. With the exception, indeed, of the Norman part, the undoubted work 
 of Bishop Flambard and his successors in this deanery, we are unacquainted 
 
STONES USED IN THE CHURCH. 15 
 
 with any historical document that will enahle us indubitahly to assign any other 
 portion of the church to a known individual ; and we can scarcely affix a 
 date to any part beyond the transept, except by inferences drawn from the style . 
 and execution of other similar buildings, of which the age is unquestionable. 
 
 In commencing the more particular details, it may be expedient to insert a 
 few memoranda on the various kinds of Stone of which this edifice is built, and 
 for which we are indebted to the scientific examination of Charles Lyell, Esq., 
 F.R.S., the eminent geologist. 
 
 The foundations of the church are filled up with the ferruginous sandstone 
 concretions of Hengistbury-Head. 
 
 The stones of the Gothic entrance-porch consist chiefly of the fresh- water 
 limestone of the Binstead quarries in the Isle of Wight, which contain so many 
 casts of bivalve shells. The Gothic exterior of the nave on the north side is of 
 the same kind of material. 
 
 The projecting Norman round tower is of fresh- water limestone, containing 
 LimnecB ; which shells have left hollows in the stone where it is weathered. 
 This limestone probably came from some of the quarries in the north-western 
 part of the Isle of Wight, near Hendon HiU. The clustered columns are of 
 the same limestone, but their pediments are of the Binstead stone before 
 mentioned. 
 
 The Portland oolite enters largely into the Gothic exterior east of the 
 transept, and into the Norman round tower. There are columns also in the 
 intersected arches of Portland oolite. There are likewise clustered pillars of 
 Purbeck marble at the sides of the great entrance porch, the Purbeck limestone 
 containing small univalves. 
 
 The only stones of foreign countries noticed are of Caen oolite, which 
 appears in the Countess of Salisbury's chapel, and in the chapel erected 
 by John Draper, the last prior of Christ-Church. 
 
 For a very long period this church, notwithstanding the highly interesting 
 character of its architecture, underwent great dilapidation, and suffered from 
 extreme neglect ; scarcely any thing being done to it, excepting obliterating its 
 sculpture by thick coatings of whitewash, and blocking up the windows instead 
 of repairing them. Since the commencement, however, of the present century, 
 and more especially during the respective curacies of the late Rev. William 
 Bingley, A.M. (the well-known naturalist and antiquary), and his very estimable 
 
16 REPARATIONS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 successor, the Rev. Richard Waldy, A.M.,* and, aided by their own praise- 
 worthy exertions, such numerous repairs and alterations have been effected 
 here, that the interior has assumed an entirely new aspect, and the exterior 
 been much improved. From the prevalence of a better taste in the public 
 mind, arising from a more enlarged knowledge of architectural merit than was 
 formerly cultivated, the efforts and recommendations of the above gentlemen 
 were nobly seconded ; and as the reparations and other works were proceeded 
 with, a considerable sum was raised to defray the expense, by successive sub- 
 scriptions among the parishioners and other inhabitants of the district. 
 
 The late improvements were commenced in the year 1809, whilst Mr. 
 Bingley was curate. A subscription, which eventually amounted to 250/., was 
 then opened for a general cleansing of the interior, and opening and restoring 
 some of the smaller windows which had been stoned up. Among the works 
 executed with the proceeds was the removal, about two feet farther back, of 
 the lath-and-plaster partitions which had previously obscured the double arches 
 of the triforium on each side the nave ; and of a still more injurious screen 
 behind the organ, by which the choir had been entirely shut out from view at 
 the time that instrument was erected. 
 
 In August 1810, the new pews, which it had been proposed to erect in the 
 transept, were sold by auction in the church for the sum of 6 16/. Qs. They 
 were afterwards completed for 384/. 6^., and the balance was applied in fur- 
 therance of other improvements. From that time the repairs were progressively 
 carried on ; and in 1813 four of the choir windows were restored and new 
 glazed, at the expense of the late Earl of Malmesbury. In 1839 three others 
 of those windows were restored by the present earl. In the year 1818 a new 
 subscription, amounting to 76O/., was raised for the purpose of ceiling the nave, 
 
 * This gentleman is now Rector of AfFpuddle, and Vicar of Turner's-puddle, in Dorsetshire. 
 The distinguished honour of first commencing, if not of suggesting, the restoration of the interior 
 of this edifice " to its pristine state," must be awarded to the late Rev. Mr. Bingley, from whom 
 an interesting communication on the subject was inserted in the "Gentleman's Magazine" for 
 June 1810. It bears date on the 13th of March preceding, and includes an account of the 
 dilapidated and unsightly condition of the interior, as well as of the progress which had been then 
 already made in the cleansing and repairs. The necessity for this cleansing will be apparent 
 when it is mentioned that, in 1810, the scrapings of the whitewash alone were sold for five 
 guineas, to be used as manure. 
 
SUBSCRIPTIONS. 17 
 
 which was then entirely open to the timher roof ; and that work was eventually 
 executed from the designs and under the direction of William Garbett, Esq., 
 architect, of Winchester. In 1820 an additional subscription of 220/. was 
 made for ceiling the south transept and the western tower ; and in the same 
 year the choir-stalls were repaired and varnished by a private subscription, not 
 included in those before mentioned. A further subscription of 160/. was 
 obtained in the years 1821 and 1822, for adding a new choir front to the 
 organ, and furnishing it with two additional stops ; and in 1828 the large west 
 window was rebuilt at the expense of the parish, but, unfortunately, in a style 
 far inferior to the original, and with much less congruity of architectural 
 design. Besides the above window, and those of the choir before mentioned, 
 two of the large windows in the Lady-chapel, and seven smaller ones in 
 different parts of the church, were restored and new glazed during the recent 
 improvements.* The subscriptions collected up to the end of 1839 amounted 
 to upwards of 1000/. 
 
 Before proceeding with the architectural description of this edifice, it may 
 
 * The total amount of the subscriptions raised was 1380A, independently of the separate 
 payments made by different individuals for distinct repairs. It has been stated by the Rev. Mr. 
 Warner (vide " Literary Recollections," vol. i. p. 82, note), either from erroneous information, or 
 from a reprehensible partiality, that the recent "improvements of the church" were "principally 
 effected through the instrumentality of Mr. James Lockyer, the intelligent and respectable 
 licensed clerk of the parish," and "greatly forwarded by his liberal pecuniary subscription." Now 
 the facts are, that Mr. Lockyer's " instrumentality " was in no degree superior to that of many 
 other inhabitants of the district (who formed a committee to promote the repairs) ; and his 
 "pecuniary subscription" was under the sum of fifteen pounds ! Mr. Warner has left altogether 
 unnoticed the more active exertions and influence of Mr. Bingley and Mr. Waldy, to whom — to 
 the former for commencing the improvements, and to the latter for his perseverance in proceeding 
 with them — the great merit of the renovation of this edifice is to be ascribed. 
 
 Among the subscribers for the improvements of the church since the beginning of the year 1818, 
 were the following persons: — The Right Hon. Sir G. Rose, and the Right Hon. W. S. Bourne 
 (members for the borough of Christ-church), 216/. 10s.; the late Earl of Malmesbury, 50/.; the 
 Viscount Fitz-Harris, 21/.; Sir G.I. Tapps, Bart. 57/. 10^.; G. W. Tapps, Esq. 21/.; J. P. Ander- 
 don, Esq. 43/. ; Major-General Cameron, 41/. ; J. S. Brander, Esq. 31/. ; R. W. Sleat, Esq. 20/. ; 
 W. D. Farr, Esq. 25/.; Miss Jennings, 20/. ; the Corporation of Christ-church, 20/.; B. Bullock, 
 Esq. 41/.; J. Sloman, Esq. 21/.; T. D. Shute, Esq. 31/. lOs.; E. W. Syrapson, Esq. 31/.; 
 J. Jopp, Esq. 21/.; A. Quartley, Esq. 21/.; J. S. Penleaze, Esq. 16/.; J. Spicer, Esq. 15/. 15*.; 
 G. S. Harding, Esq. 15/. 15s. ; Hon. Mr. Coventry, 15/. 10s.; G. Adams, Esq. 15/. 
 
 D 
 
18 
 
 MEASUREMENTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 be expedient to record its principal dimensions ; the more minute measure- 
 ments can be ascertained by means of the scales attached to the Ground Plan, 
 and to the Longitudinal and Transverse Sections of the interior, Plates 5 
 and 6. 
 
 Feet. In. 
 
 Entire length, from the western 
 entrance of the tower to the 
 eastern extremity of the Lady 
 chapel 311 4 
 
 Length of the nave 118 9 
 
 Mean breadth of ditto (the west- 
 ern extremity being some- 
 what wider than the part 
 ranging eastward) 27 9 
 
 Breadth of the nave with its aisles 58 5 
 
 Extreme height of the vaulting 
 
 of the nave 58 
 
 Mean circumference of the large 
 
 columns 36 6 
 
 Length of the nave aisles (in- 
 cluding the divisions flanking 
 the tower at the west end, 
 now used as receptacles for 
 lumber, &c.) 139 11 
 
 Breadth of ditto (exclusive of 
 the space, viz. four feet, be- 
 tween the great columns) . . 10 10 
 
 Length of the transept 101 2 
 
 Mean breadth of ditto 24 4 
 
 Thickness of the entrance-screen 
 
 to the choir 6 10 
 
 Length of the choir, or chancel, 
 
 from ditto to the altar-screen 70 
 
 Extreme breadth of the choir 21 3 
 
 Feet. In. 
 
 Breadth of the area between the 
 
 stalls 11 5 
 
 Height of the vaulting of the 
 
 choir 60 
 
 Breadth of the choir with its 
 
 aisles 60 6 
 
 Length of the choir-aisles, from 
 the transept to the extreme 
 
 end of ditto 109 5 
 
 Breadth of ambulatory, behind 
 
 the altar 21 2 
 
 Length of the Lady chapel .... 36 4 
 Extreme breadth of ditto .... 21 1 
 Interior length of the north 
 
 porch 35 6 
 
 Breadth of ditto 19 7 
 
 Height of the tower 120 
 
 Interior length of, the area of 
 ditto, from the entrance to 
 
 the nave 27 9 
 
 Breadth of ditto 22 4 
 
 Length of St. Michael's loft (the 
 present school-room over the 
 
 Lady chapel) 58 3 
 
 Breadth of ditto 23 4 
 
 The gist, or boundary-line, of 
 the whole building, following 
 the angles made by the but- 
 tresses and other projecting 
 parts, is, in extent 1304 
 
GROUND PLAN OF THE CHURCH. IQ 
 
 REFERENCES TO THE GROUND PLAN. 
 
 A. The west tower. B. Staircase to the tower, north porch, and passage over the 
 north aisle. C. North porch. D. Nave. EE. North and south aisles. F. Staircase 
 which led to exterior apartments, now demolished, called the Governor's Rooms. 
 G. Transept, and central intersection. H H. Modern seats, or galleries. I. Staircase 
 leading to the roof and clerestory of the nave and transept. J. Ditto, ditto ; arid also to 
 the roof of the adjoining Norman apsis. K. Revestry, formerly a chapel. L L. Ancient 
 oratories, or chapels. M. Choir-screen, and entrance to the choir. N N. Old stalls. 
 O. Choir. PP. North and south aisles of choir. Q. Chantry chapel of Robert Harys. 
 R. Chantry chapel, but for whom unknown. S. Monumental chapel of the Countess of 
 Salisbury. T. Altar-screen. V. Monument of the Viscountess Fitzharris. U. Ambu- 
 latory. W. Chantry chapel of Prior Draper. X. Tomb of Sir John Chideoke. 
 Y. Lady chapel. Z Z. Staircases leading from the exterior to St. Michael's loft, and 
 also communicating by small doorways with the choir-aisles. Fig. 1. Central compart- 
 ment and eastern division of the groining in the Countess of Salisbury's chapel. Fig. 2. 
 A Norman pier in the nave. 
 
 The general thickness of the principal Norman walls is ahout six feet seven 
 inches, and those of the west tower, which are farther strengthened by external 
 buttresses, are about five feet three inches. The north porch also (the upper 
 story of which was used in former ages as a belfry) is of a very massive con- 
 struction. In the present choir and its aisles, which are constructed in the 
 pointed style, there is less apparent solidity in the supports, but the base lines 
 of the buttresses are carried further outwards to resist the outward pressure ; 
 those in particular at the eastern angles of the Lady-chapel have a very con- 
 siderable projection. 
 
 From an inspection of the Ground Plan, Plate 1, and of the two Perspective 
 Views, Plates 2 and 3, a correct idea may be obtained of the general external 
 appearance of this fabric ; the southern aspect presenting little variation, except 
 that the walls are less decorated than those of the northern side, and that there 
 is no south porch. There are two entrances, viz. from the western tower and 
 from the north porch : to the latter, which forms the principal communication, 
 there is a paved walk across the churchyard, skirted by a double row of fine 
 elms ; and there is a road for carriages to the western doorway. 
 
 The tower is of a square form, of a massive character, good proportions, 
 and well built ; the parapet walls are pierced with quatrefoils, and embattled. 
 
20 PARTS OF CHURCH. 
 
 The supporting buttresses are graduated, and very strong; and there is an 
 octagonal turret at the north-east angle, surmounting a circular staircase. The 
 entrance portal is formed by a pointed arch, having spandrils at the sides ; and 
 above it is a square impost, or transom, which is continued down the jambs as 
 a weathering. In each spandril is a sculptured shield of arms ; one of which 
 contains a cross patonce, vaire, being the arms of the ancient earls of Albe- 
 marle, and the other the bearings of the Montacutes and Monthermers, earls 
 of Salisbury, viz. quarterly, first and fourth, three fusils in fess ; and second 
 and third, an eagle displayed.* The present great pointed-arched window, 
 which was rebuilt a few years ago, is fifteen feet in width, and thirty-four feet 
 in height ; in the upright, three transoms separate it into as many divisions of 
 six lights each ; the surmounting tracery includes two arches with quatrefoil 
 heads, and under the apex of the main arch is a circle, inclosing a star. 
 Within an embellished niche, over the window, is a full-sized effigy of our 
 Saviour, his brow being encircled by a crown of thorns, and his right side 
 marked by a triangular dent, representing the spear wound ; the right hand 
 sustains a cross, and the left hand is upraised as in the act of benediction. On 
 each side of the upper story, or belfry, are two pointed-arched louvre windows, 
 each separated into a double tier of trefoil-headed divisions, left open to give 
 issue to the sound. The belfry itself forms a square of twenty- two feet. It 
 contains eight beUs, which are hung upon vast oaken beams, the five largest 
 being each twenty-seven feet in length, and one foot six inches square ; the 
 ends are let into the walls. Two of the bells, namely, the fifth and sixth, are 
 of considerable antiquity, and around the crown of each beU, in a single line, 
 is a 'monkish distich, in the Gothic letters of the fourteenth centur}\ On the 
 fifth bell,— 
 
 + ^it : nobis : omtn : tobjtuns : cum : sit : ti'bi : nomen : 
 
 + ^utbs : campanc ; faciat : nos : bifaerc : sane. 
 
 Let it be of good omen to us [O Bell!], since you have been called All Saints. 
 May the virtue of the Bell make us live healthily. 
 
 * In the Transverse Section across the nave, Plate IG, the west end of the interior is shewn, 
 including the terminations of the aisles, the great west windo\\f and doorway, together with the 
 exterior of the porch, and of the upper part of the toM'er ; an outline of the font is also given, but 
 its exact situation will be better known from the Longitudinal Section, Plate 5. The surmounting 
 tracery of the great window is shewn in the plate as it is supposed to have been originally. 
 
BELLS NORTH PORCH. 21 
 
 On the sixth bell, — 
 
 + ^ssis : fastibbs : ptstns : pibs : bt : fbgat : i^gnbs : 
 
 + iWox : glbgbstinbs : nee : tibm : resonat : preco : iWagnbs. 
 
 From the difficulty of translating the latter inscription, and even of under- 
 standing its real meaning, it has been inferred by several friends who have 
 been consulted on the subject, that " the copy cannot be a correct one ;" it is, 
 therefore, requisite to state that the legends are here printed precisely as the 
 words are spelt on the bells themselves, from v^hioh facsimile impressions were 
 carefully made to ensure accuracy. That the vowel a has in several instances 
 been introduced in place of an e, is evident ; and it seems probable that the 
 word assis is used for adsis. But, even with these admissions, the explanation 
 is still unsatisfactory ; for we learn little more than that the bell was called 
 Augustine, and that the inscription concludes with words of which the meaning 
 is, " before Augustine the great Preacher is heardJ'* Under these circum- 
 stances, the following attempt to express the full meaning of the legend, and 
 for which the writer is indebted to a gentleman of much antiquarian research, 
 is offered with diffidence. 
 
 Come \_St. Augustine\ presently to our aid, even before the great bell Augustine 
 rings ^ that the holy sacrificial Lamb may drive away Pestilence. 
 
 One of the most remarkable divisions of the exterior is the north porch, 
 which, in respect to size and massiveness of construction, is, probably, un- 
 equalled by any other in this country. Its projection is upwards of forty feet, 
 and in height it almost extends to the parapet of the main building. The front 
 and side walls, of which the general thickness is six feet, are each supported by 
 two strong buttresses. A very high-pointed recessed arch forms the great 
 entrance ; the mouldings, which are numerous and bold, spring, on each side, 
 from the capitals of four obliquely placed columns. The inner side walls are 
 each separated into compartments by panelled tracery, rising from a basement 
 step, and each compartment consists principally of a large pointed arch, includ- 
 ing two smaller ones, and having beneath the apex a quatrefoil within a circle. 
 On the west side, near the doorway, is a large cinquefoil-headed arched recess, 
 which in former times contained a receptacle for holy water. The interior 
 
22 PORCH, AND NORTH AISLE, EXTERNALLY. 
 
 has long been open to the wooden rafters of the roof, yet there are evident 
 vestiges of a groined vault, or ceiling, in the stone springing and sustaining 
 columns which still remain. The upper story is traditionally said to have been 
 used as a belfry, and the apertures in the walls, wherein large timbers were 
 inserted, give credence to the report : the light was admitted through five small 
 double windows, namely, two on each side, and one in front. But the most 
 interesting feature of this porch is the wide-spreading and deeply recessed 
 pointed arch, which forms the direct entrance to the church, and is delineated 
 in Plate 4, Fig. 1. Six slender shafts on each side, having plain circular 
 capitals, and mostly high bases, support the archivolt, the mouldings of which 
 are delicately wrought, and very numerous. The central part is occupied by 
 two doorways, formed by cinquefoil-headed arches, cusped, rising from clustered 
 columns ; and within the space between them and the superior arch is a 
 quatrefoil niche, inclosed in a circle, and ornamented by two small shafts and a 
 pyramidal finial, which has a boldly-sculptured head at each angle. At some 
 height above this entrance are traces of a communication with the upper story, 
 which led from the circular staircase that opens to the north aisle, and which, 
 although now incorporated with the south-western angle of the porch, is pro- 
 bably of an anterior date. All the columns mentioned in the above description 
 are of Purbeck marble. 
 
 The walls of the exterior of the north aisle no longer display any vestige of 
 the Norman age. These are strengthened by buttresses, in the early pointed 
 style ; the windows are also of similar character. They are very beautiful, and 
 display, in their internal finishing, groining, and tracery in their jambs and 
 soffits, with slender columns. At the angle formed by this aisle and the 
 transept adjoining, there was formerly a stone building of two stories, con- 
 taining an upper and a lower apartment, which, according to local report, were 
 called the Governor's Rooms, in consequence of their appropriation to the use 
 of the governors of Christ-Church Castle. The upper apartment communicated 
 with the church by a staircase which still exists, and which, it is probable, led 
 immediately to the seat of the Castellans. Some figured tiles, supposed to have 
 constituted a part of the lower room pavement, were dug up a few years ago, at 
 about the depth of two feet. 
 
 Although many alterations have been made in the original masonry of the 
 
SINGULAR NORTH TRANSEPT. 23 
 
 north division of the transept, it must still be regarded as a very curious and 
 probably unique example of Norman architectural decoration. On the west 
 side there are remains of semicircular arches, with the large billet moulding ; 
 and at the north-west angle columnar pilasters, of a peculiar character, are 
 carried up to above half the height of the elevation. A series of interlaced 
 small round arches (surmounted by a billeted string-course) extends along the 
 lower portion of the north end, the central part being varied by an inserted 
 pilaster, composed of a half-lozenge, flanked by two semi-columns : the spandrils 
 and intervening surfaces are chequered with the fish-scale ornament. But the 
 most interesting specimen of the Norman work is the circular staircase turret, 
 which projects towards the north-east, and which progressively exhibits, first, a 
 series of five intersected semicircular arches, rising from small columns, and 
 enriched with the fish-scale and billet mouldings ; secondly, a billeted string- 
 course, surmounted by five small arches springing from double columns ; 
 thirdly, a diamond-shaped net-work, or rope-like reticulated division, crowned 
 by a chevron, or zig-zag string-course ; and fourthly, five small arches, similar 
 to the others, but the shafts of which are gone, as are also two of those of the 
 lower series. Other vestiges of the ancient work are apparent on the eastern 
 side, which had originally a semicircular termination ; but this has been altered 
 into two small chapels in the pointed style.* The larger pointed-arch window 
 in the upper story of the north end is also an insertion of after-times. Though 
 the ground has been much raised, the arches of two windows are yet open, 
 which admitted light into the ancient crypt below this part of the transept : the 
 crypt itself is closed up. 
 
 There is a general similarity of form and character in all the parts eastward 
 of the transept, which are designed in the pointed style, as may be seen on 
 reference to the Exterior View, Plate 3, and to the Sections of the Interior, 
 Plates 5 and 6. Each choir-aisle consists of four compartments, separated by 
 graduated buttresses, and crowned by an open-worked parapet, with a moulded 
 coping. The side windows, which are obtusely arched, have a dwarfish aspect. 
 
 * See the Ground Plan, Plate 1, and likewise the two Exterior Views, Plates 2 and 3. 
 There is a clever etching of the north transept (accordant with our description) in Britton's 
 " Architectural Antiquities," vol. iii., and likewise a correct elevation of two of the compartments 
 of the north side of the chantry chapel of the Countess of Salisbury. 
 
24 EXTERIOR OF CHOIR AND LADY-CH^PEL. 
 
 from all the lower parts being stoned up to the height of about three feet. The 
 clerestory of the choir is partly supported by three arched or flying buttresses, 
 perforated, crossing the aisles on each side. Some handsome tracery, though 
 not florid, is displayed in the choir-windows, which are all uniform. The 
 eastern angle of each aisle is wrought into a turret staircase (that opens out- 
 wardly), and the communication being continued across the roofing, ascends by 
 another staircase (finishing octagonally) to the large apartment, called St. 
 Michael's Loft, which surmounts the Lady-chapel and all the intervening part 
 from the end of the choir. The windows of the Lady-chapel are well propor- 
 tioned, and of elegant design, but about three feet of the great east window has 
 been blocked up, to admit the subsequent introduction of an altar-screen. In 
 the wall beneath this window is a large and strong arch, yet whether inserted 
 to strengthen the building, or originally open as a doorway, seems questionable. 
 The side windows of St. Michael's Loft are each divided by a transom into two 
 tiers of trefoil-headed lights, but their imposts are square : the east window is 
 of gTeater width, and includes three divisions, with cinquefoil terminations, 
 surmounted by a low and obtuse arch. 
 
 The labels, or weatherings, over the windows, generally spring from corbel 
 heads, of a very varied and frequently grotesque character, in which great sin- 
 gularity and fancy are displayed. There are also, in various parts under the 
 upper string-course, gorgoils, or water-spouts, wrought into projecting heads of 
 the most hideous aspect, both human and animal ; some are perfect demons. 
 An open-worked parapet (nearly similar to that of the aisles) surmounts St. 
 Michael's Loft, each perforation being a quatrefoil, inclosed by a circle. The 
 choir parapets have been destroyed, and a plainly-moulded cornice finishes the 
 whole. 
 
 In the southern division of the transept, and thence westward, to nearly the 
 extremity of the fabric, the Norman architecture again predominates ; although 
 the circular portion of the former (see the Ground Plan) has been partly 
 destroyed by the erection of a chapel in the pointed style. The remaining 
 curved part includes two semicircular windows, with the billet and other ancient 
 mouldings; and a bold cable moulding surrounds the cornice immediately 
 below the present roof. There is a circular staircase turret, terminatino- 
 octagonally at the south-east angle of the transept ; and at the east end (which 
 has been strengthened by three graduated buttresses) is a large obtusely arched 
 
SOUTH SIDE NAVE, AND ITS ROOF SECTIONS. 25 
 
 window, surmounted by a gable-ended parapet ; the roof also terminates in a 
 much higher gable. 
 
 The southern exterior of the nave preserves much of its original character, 
 and the flat pilaster- wall buttresses are still remaining ; but most of the aisle 
 windows have been altered into the pointed style. There are also attached to 
 the walls an extended series of small intersected Norman arches, supposed to 
 have ornamented the ancient cloisters, which are reported, and most probably 
 with truth, to have been connected with this side of the church ; although no 
 other remains exist to verify their situation, except a Norman archway for 
 communication, now adapted as a window. 
 
 The timber roofing of the nave and its aisles, as well as of the north 
 transept and of the diagonal erection on the tower (supporting the vane), 
 is covered with stone shingles ; that of the south transept, of the choir and 
 its aisles, and of the Lady-chapel, is covered with lead. 
 
 It will be requisite to precede our description of the interior of this church 
 by the following explanatory references. 
 
 REFERENCES TO THE LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE SECTIONS J 
 
 PLATES 5 AND 6. 
 
 Plate 5. — A. West tower. B. Belfry. C. Entrance from the north porch. D. Nave. 
 E E. Triforium. F. Transept. G. Choir-screen. H. Choir and stalls. I. North 
 choir-aisle window. J. Central crypt. K. Catacombs for the Earl of Malmesbury's 
 family. L. Ambulatory, and north choir-aisle window. M. The Lady-chapel. N. Tomb 
 of Sir Thomas West. O. St. Michael's Loft. 
 
 Plate 6. — A. Ascent to the altar and altar-screen. B. East end of the Lady-chapeh 
 C. Western elevation of the Countess of Salisbury's chapel. D. East end of the 
 north choir-aisle. E. Prior Draper's chapel. F. Perforated buttress of the north 
 choir-aisle. GGGG. Staircase turrets to St. Michael's Loft. H. East end of 
 St. Michael's Loft. 
 
 On entering the church from the west doorway, an excellent view is 
 obtained of the nave (vide Plate 7) ; hut the large and cumbrous organ-case 
 which usurps the place of the ancient jube, or rood-loft, most lamentably 
 interferes with a continuance of the perspective. In itself, the nave furnishes 
 
 E 
 
 ^" 
 
26 INTERIOR OF NAVE. 
 
 a splendid example of the later and more decorated style of Norman archi- 
 tecture ; in which respect there is probably no building in the kingdom that 
 can vie with it. In some points, and particularly in the arrangement and 
 ornaments of the triforium arches, it greatly resembles Bishop Flambard's 
 work, of the same age, in Durham Cathedral ; in others it reminds us of the 
 Minster at Peterborough ; but at Christ- Church, the huge massiveness of the 
 Norman pier is finely relieved by the duplicated semi-columns which face the 
 walls, and are carried up to the clerestory, as well as by those of inferior 
 height, from which the mouldings spring of the great arches. The eficct 
 produced by the union of these clustered columnar forms with the lines of the 
 new ceiling, is strikingly analogous to that arising from the lightness of the 
 pointed style. 
 
 The nave is, on each side, separated from the aisles by seven noble semi- 
 circular arches, flanked by as many great piers, exclusive of the two half-piers 
 on the west, which are incorporated with the side walls of the tower. In their 
 general plan the piers are more complicated than any other series of the 
 , Norman age with which we are acquainted (vide Ground Plan, Fig. 2) ; 
 and the mouldings of the great arches are equally remarkable for their 
 extreme boldness ; they may, indeed, be almost characterised as a mere con- 
 tinuation (above the capitals) of the semi-columns from which they rise. Many 
 of the capitals exhibit very curious specimens of sculptural decoration ; and in 
 the foliaged ornaments we frequently recognise a strong resemblance both to 
 the Greek anthemion and the Ionic volute. Amidst the foliage which crowns 
 the semi-columns of the first arch on the north side is a duplication of two 
 heads, in has reliefs saluting each other ; and on the capitals of the third arch 
 on the south side are two griffins. The outer sweep of every arch is surrounded 
 by a zig-zag moulding ; and the entire surface of the flat walls above, up to 
 the chevron string-course which fronts the plinth of the triforium, is covered 
 with the denticulated or toothed ornament. 
 
 Each of the triforium compartments consists of a double arch uniting on a 
 detached central column, and flanked by three semi-columns ; the whole being 
 encompassed by a single arch of corresponding dimensions to those of the nave. 
 The mouldings are very bold j the bases and capitals are of the usual large 
 size, and the latter display the customary flutings and foliage of the Norman 
 style. On the south side the central shaft of the third double arch is chequered 
 
CLERESTORY AND AISLES. 27 
 
 with similar reticulations to those of the circular turret at the angle of the 
 north transept ; and that of the fifth douhle arch is surrounded by numerous 
 zig-zag bands. On the north side the small arches of the compartment which 
 adjoins the transept have the billet moulding, and the spandril over them is 
 wholly indented with the fish-scale ornament.* 
 
 The clerestory, which has been so altered in a former age that it now 
 appears to be almost an adjunct to the Norman work, is in the plainest degree 
 of the pointed style : it includes a passage between the inner arches and the 
 windows ; the latter are each of two lights. Prior to the late alterations the 
 nave was entirely open to the timber roof (the geometrical construction of which 
 is indicated in the Longitudinal Section, Plate 5), but it is now surmounted by 
 a groined ceiling of an analogous character to the clerestory, and consisting 
 merely of cross-springers and diagonal ribs, which take their bearings from the 
 grouped capitals of the tall semi-columns attached to the great piers ; the bosses 
 are, in general, plain circles. From the decorations of painting, &c. on the 
 timbers of this roof, it was evidently originally intended to be exposed to, and 
 seen from, the floor ; and it is surprising that Mr. Garbett had not recommended 
 its restoration and display, rather than the concealment of it by a vaulted 
 ceiling. 
 
 There is a great dissimilarity in character between the north and south 
 aisles ; the north aisle having been altered almost throughout into the pointed 
 style, whilst the other retains many vestiges of its original construction. This 
 is particularly evident in the southern wall, which exhibits considerable remains 
 of an arcade of small intersected Norman arches, diversely ornamented with 
 the cable, cavetto, and billet mouldings : in some instances the capitals of the 
 short supporting columns are floridly sculptured with foliage and flowers. All 
 the windows, except one (which is semicircular), have been enlarged into the 
 pointed form, but several bases of the ancient flanking columns still remain. 
 A small lavatory appears to have been affixed to the second pier from the west, 
 and nearly opposite is a small bowl-like piscina. Within the wall, under the 
 
 * It may be necessary to remark, that the two heads (the one mitred and the other plain) 
 which are seen over the double arches in the first and second compartments from the transept on 
 the south side were brought from some other part of the church, and affixed in their present 
 situation during some reprehensible alterations made for the insertion of pews in that part of the 
 triforium at a former period. 
 
28 INTERIOR, TRANSEPT, GALLERIES. 
 
 fourth window, is an oblong recess (now closed up in front), which has probably 
 been used for interment. In the north aisle there are no arcade arches, and 
 the vestiges of Norman work are chiefly confined to a few columns (from which 
 some cross-springers of the vaulting rise), and to the zig-zag and billet 
 mouldings of the semicircular arch that opens to the transept. Each of the 
 windows consists of two lance-headed divisions, surmounted by a quatrefoil 
 within a circle ; and each recess has an ornamental groining. Near the 
 transept is a low-pointed arch, which once formed the interior entrance from 
 the governor's rooms, but has long been closed. Both the aisles are vaulted 
 with stone ; the arches are highly acute, and the ribs and cross-springers 
 are very strong. 
 
 The intersection of the transept with the nave and choir is distinguished 
 (as customary in all our large cruciform buildings) by four vast piers supporting 
 semicircular arches, and flanked by lofty semicolumns, resembling those of the 
 nave. Tradition states that these piers were originally surmounted by a 
 central tower ; but there is no evidence to substantiate the report, nor does the 
 apparent finish of the lantern part offer any tangible object to warrant such an 
 inference. The present inappropriate ceiling was executed about the year 
 1788, at the time of the erection of the organ. 
 
 Notwithstanding many alterations, and the erection within it of two large 
 galleries (for congregational convenience), the Norman origin of the transept is 
 still apparent ; although not in the same extensive degree as on the outside. 
 In the western wall of the north division there is a range of five semicircular 
 arches, ornamented with the cable, cavetto, and billet mouldings ; and over it 
 is an indented string-course. A semicircular-headed window also remains, 
 together with some conjoined Norman columns of different heights. Under 
 the southernmost arch is a small pointed arched niche, including a piscina. 
 At the north end is a square-headed doorway, communicating with the staircase 
 in the circular turret ; and adjoining it is an angular arch. The eastern side 
 has been occupied by two small chantry chapels, or oratories, constructed in 
 the pointed style within the original work, and, as Warner conceives, *' at the 
 same time ; probably by one of the Earls of Salisbury, and his lady, as the 
 pavement within and about them has been formed of square tiles, glazed, and 
 ornamented with the arms of this family."* This statement cannot now be 
 
 * Vide *' Topographical Remarks," &c. vol. ii. p. 170. 
 
GROINING, BOSSES, ORATORIES. 29 
 
 verified, as none of the armorial tiles are remaining ; but the architecture itself 
 would intimate an earlier period than the reign of Edward the Third, when the 
 hundred and manor of Christ- Church were first granted to the Montacutes. 
 The groining is very strong, and, being in several divisions, is somewhat com- 
 plicated : in one part is a singular insulated buttress pier, apparently raised as 
 a strengthening support to the arched ribs. The central bosses are ornamented 
 with sculptured foliage, deeply undercut ; and there are also various corbel 
 heads, of a diversified character. Each oratory is lit by one window, the 
 largest of which consists of three divisions, surmounted by as many cinquefoils 
 within circles ; and the other, of two divisions, crowned by an encircled quatre- 
 foil. One of the capitals from which the arch springs, fronting the large 
 window, displays a sculptured group of twelve human heads, intended for the 
 Apostles ; and on an adjoining capital, supporting some ribs of the groining, is 
 a similar number of concave recesses, appearing as if they were designed to 
 receive the heads. The annexed etching, which is taken from a point in the 
 north choir-aisle, shews the interior of both oratories. 
 
 But few vestiges of Norman work are apparent in the south transept, except 
 four semicircular blank arches in the west wall, and two small columns flanking 
 the west window. The present eastern wall would seem to have been built 
 when the circular projecting part, or apsis, was altered into the chapel which is 
 now used as a revestry, and entered from the south choir-aisle. About midway 
 on each side, and in the extreme southern angles, the clustered columns remain 
 which formerly supported the cross springers of a stone vaulting that had been 
 erected over this end of the transept, in the Tudor times, by John Draper, the 
 last prior. This was evinced, both by the depressed curvature of the arch 
 (although, in the general design, the vaulting of the choir had been closely 
 imitated), and by the initials ^* ©♦ on several knots at the intersections ; and 
 still more particularly by a sculptured shield, held by a demi-angel, immediately 
 over the south window, which was charged in base with vert, a death's head, 
 proper, and in chief with ^^ M* bfl P« apparently for "John Draper, Vicarius 
 Apostolicatis Prior." * At the angles formed by the insertion of the ribs into 
 
 * During the late repairs the above shield was inserted over the entrance to the crj'pt in the 
 south aisle, where, at some future time, should the fact of its removal be forgotten, it may lead to 
 an erroneous date being assigned to that part of the building : the inscription is delineated in 
 
30 STONE SCREEN. 
 
 the main key-stone were episcopal mitres, and on the key-stone itself was 
 inscribed CrittSf, a presumed abbreviation for Trinitas. Whether Draper's 
 vaulting was ever completed to any considerable extent beyond the southern 
 bay is doubtful ; for, although an opinion is entertained that the northern bay 
 (which was always imperfect within memory) had greatly suffered by the fall of 
 a (supposed) central tower, yet there is no evidence of such an occurrence ; 
 and it is far more reasonable to conclude that it was the failure of means, 
 occasioned by the dissolution of the priory, which caused the vaulting to be left 
 unfinished, than to assume a contrary hypothesis on imaginary data. There is 
 a large pointed arched window at each end of the transept, in the general style 
 of the choir- windows (vide Longitudinal Section, Plate 5), consisting of six 
 vertical divisions, surmounted by tracery j but that of the, south division is of 
 inferior height and character to the opposite one. 
 
 The transept is separated from the choir by a stone screen, which, prior to 
 the Reformation, supported the rood-loft, and was originally very beautiful, 
 although it has been most disgracefully mutilated in, comparatively, modern 
 times. From the general style of the design, and the boldness and peculiar 
 character of the sculpture, we may refer it to the latter part of the reign of 
 Edward the Third; but no known document exists that can enable us to 
 determine its exact date. It remained in good preservation until the con- 
 struction against it of various pews (removed during the late repairs), when all 
 the projecting parts of its splendid facing of elegantly wrought niches were 
 hacked off to suit the new wood- work : even the returns, which were each 
 about four feet deep, and similarly enriched with sculpture, were alike despoiled 
 of their beauty on that occasion. The screen was still further bereaved of its 
 "fair proportions" on the erection of the organ, about the year I788; at which 
 time its enriched crowning course was taken down, and the stones sold, by 
 order of the then churchwardens.* 
 
 Plate 17, Fig. 4. Figs. 2 and 3, on the same plate, refer to the key-stones removed from the 
 same vaulting, and now preserved in the Lady-chapel: the forms of the letters have been 
 accurately reduced. 
 
 * The late Rev. Dr. Milner (the historian of Winchester), in a letter written to Mr. John 
 Carter, in May 1792, speaking of Christ- Church, says : " I cannot proceed without lamenting 
 the dismal havoc which has lately been made in the rich stone screen that separates the body of 
 the church from the chancel, the ruins of which fill the adjacent aisles, for the purpose of erecting 
 
STONE SCREEN. 31 
 
 This admirable specimen of ancient art is thirty-three feet in width, and 
 sixteen feet six inches in height. In the design it exhibits a plain basement, 
 surmounted by a row of panelled quatrefoils, with trefoil heads, including blank 
 shields. There are thirteen of these panels on each side the central entrance 
 into the choir ; and ranging over them is a plinth, or set-off, frcmi which, on 
 either hand, rises a double tier of ogee-headed niches ; the pristine elegance of 
 which, both in composition and in ornamental forms, may be readily appre- 
 ciated by referring to Plate 7» Fig. 1, which represents two of the compart- 
 ments as though accurately restored from the existing sculpture.* There were 
 five compartments, similar to these, on each side the doorway, and, above the 
 latter (which has a square impost, apparently an insertion of after times), are 
 remains of two richly gilt heads of canopies, at the sides of which are small 
 shields of arms, now defaced, embedded on flowers. The niches are separated 
 from each other by graduated buttresses, flanked on the lower half by thin 
 shafts, which merge into pyramidal heads, and, being thence carried up 
 octangular-wise, terminate in pinnacles. Much fancy is displayed in the 
 ornaments of the lower pedestals, each of which consists of four short columns, 
 or shafts, crowned in front by three capitals, diversified by sculptured vine 
 branches, fructed, intermixed with leaves of the oak, strawberry, and acanthus. 
 The canopies exhibit a kindred elegance, the soffites being finely underwrought 
 with chequered tracery, studded with open roses and other flowers. All the 
 front capitals, however, together with the ogee-arched crockets, and rich finials, 
 
 an organ, which is now so injudiciously placed as to divide the church into two, and to intercept 
 from the part that is used the entire view of the most elegant portion of it." — Carter's "Specimens 
 of Ancient Painting and Sculpture," vol. ii. p. 43. The organ was erected with a bequest of 500/. 
 made for that purpose, by the late Gustavus Brander, Esq. F.R.S., conditionally that the parish 
 should provide a fund for an adequate salary to an organist, within a twelvemonth after his 
 decease. A subscription, amounting to 388/. 4s. was, in consequence, raised for an organist fund, 
 by the parishioners and others ; of which sum 50/. was contributed by the late Earl of Bute, who 
 then resided at High Cliffe, near Christ-Church, and 26/. 5s. by Sir Jacob Wolff, Bart, of Hinton. 
 The organ is finely toned, and has three rows of keys. 
 
 * In the above restoration the strictest accuracy has been observed, not any form or ornament 
 having been introduced by Mr. Ferrey without a corresponding resemblance in the remaining 
 sculpture. There can be little doubt but that the niches, originally, were furnished with statues, 
 as in the rich screens at York and Canterbury. 
 
32 CHOIR. 
 
 have been chopped away, as before intimated, by the vandalic hands of igno- 
 rance and barbarism. 
 
 Independently of the light and elegant character of its architecture, the 
 choir furnishes various objects for description, of much interest. It is designed 
 in the pointed style, and consists of four principal divisions, separated from 
 each other by lofty piers, and terminated by the altar-screen. The lower 
 arches, which open to the aisles, are depressed and obtusely pointed, but those 
 of the four handsome windows on each side, which enlighten it, are struck 
 from the triangle. Besides the upper tracery, there are four cinquefoil-headed 
 lights in each window, separated by mullions ; a duplication of which is con- 
 tinued downward, as a panelling, to the mouldings of the lower arches. The 
 vaulting is of a corresponding elegance, and the lines of each division may be 
 considered as approaching to the form of an eight-pointed star.* All the 
 bosses, key-stones, and pendents, are richly gilt and painted, as are also the qua- 
 trefoils of the archivolts, and the foliaged capitals of the clustered (triplicated) 
 columns which front the main piers, and from which the springings of the 
 groined arches rise. 
 
 As every intersection displays some sculptured form, the subjects will be 
 here enumerated in the order of their succession, commencing with the middle 
 line, and proceeding westward from the altar-screen. Central bosses :\ No. 1. 
 An angel, holding a representation of a cruciform church, having a circular 
 tower at the intersection. 2. ^pt» within a cord. 3. A passion-flower, or 
 passiflora. X 4. '^\)t* encircled by a crown of thorns. 5. An initial (B* within 
 a knot, amidst feuillage. 6. ^* iK* amidst several circles, and a border of 
 large leaves. 7* A quatrefoil and knot surrounded by foliage, and inclosing 
 the letter W^* 8. bltd* in the centre of an expanded flower. 9. A demi- 
 angel, supporting a shield, emblazoned with the Montacute and Monthermer 
 arms, viz. Quarterly, first and fourth, argent, three fusils in fesse, gules ; 
 
 * In the Ground Plan, the direction of the arched ribs and cross-springers are marked. 
 
 t The forms of the abbreviated inscriptions on the central bosses are shewn in Plate 17, 
 Figs. 5, 8, 9, and 10. 
 
 X This name is said to have originated with the Jesuits, who affected to discover all the 
 instruments of our Lord's passion in the different parts of the flower ; hence it is held in great 
 veneration by Catholics. 
 
SCULPTURED BOSSES, PENDENTS, AND CARVINGS. 33 
 
 second and third, or, an eagle displayed, vert, beaked and membered, gules 
 
 Pendents and bosses, northern line: No. 1. A bearded figure, holding a roll 
 of paper. 2. An initial OT» within a roundel. 3. A demi-angel, bearing a 
 shield of the five wounds. 4. A bell-flower, amidst foliasfe. 5. A demi- 
 figure, displaying a label. 6. A branch of foliage. J. A demi-angel, holding 
 the symbols of the mass, namely, the cup and wafer. 8. FeuiUage. 9. Vacant, 
 the pendent having fallen. — Pendents and bosses, southern line: No. 1. A 
 demi-figure. ,2. An initial (B» within a wreath of raspberries. 3. A demi- 
 angel, bearing a shield, charged with the instruments of the passion. 4. A 
 rose. 5. A demi-figure. 6. Four leaves in cross, with other foliage. 7* St. 
 Veronica, holding the miraculous icon, or napkin, impressed with a likeness of 
 our Saviour. 8. An eagle, within a wreath. 9- Pendent removed. 
 
 The western part of the choir, wainscoted with oak, is chiefly occupied by 
 the ancient stalls and sub-seats of the priory establishment : viz. fifteen on each 
 side, and six at the west end ; two of the latter, distinguished by ornamental 
 canopies, were those for the prior and sub-prior ; there is also a third of a 
 similar kind at the east end of the southernmost row, which was that for the 
 lector, or reader. On each side, extending the entire length, there is a beau- 
 tiful coping, or cornice, above the stalls, which is terminated by an open-work 
 parapet and pinnacles, and decorated by an elegantly wrought fascia, or fillet, 
 of fructed vine-branches. 
 
 On the backs, arms, and jambs of the stalls, as well as on the miser eries, 
 or under-seats, there is a profusion of carving, in alto and bas-relief, including 
 many representations of a grotesque and satirical character, which are supposed 
 to refer to the selfish arts of the mendicant friars, who began to establish them- 
 selves in England in the thirteenth century. Of this description, in particular, 
 are two arms on the south side (vide Plate 9, Figs. 5 and 6), the first of which 
 exhibits a hog in a cowl, his feet resting on the edge of a pulpit, preaching to 
 a flock of geese, who appear eagerly listening to his discourse, whilst, on a 
 small stool behind the pulpit, a cock officiates as clerk ; the other is a zany, or 
 posture-master ("intended," says Mr. Warner, *'to represent the people at 
 large"), turning up his legs backward, as though in the display of his art ; 
 whilst a dog, taking advantage of his folly, is devouring the contents of his 
 porridge-pot. 
 
PANELLED CARVINGS. 
 
 Among the panelled carvings at the backs of the stalls, and which appear 
 of subsequent introduction to the original carved work, are various medallion- 
 like heads, or masks; some of which are altogether grotesque, or fanciful, 
 whilst others are conjectured to be both of a satirical and a political character. 
 The principal of these are delineated in Plate 9, Figs. 1, % 3, and 4. 
 
 Among the other curious subjects on the back panels may be mentioned a 
 winged female head, with braided tresses and fruit ; two birds, between them a 
 long-eared fish ; two aged heads, male and female, between them a tankard ; 
 grotesque quadrupeds, tied to a tree ; a mermaid, holding a branch of her 
 double tail in each hand ; grotesque animal heads ; a cherub, between two 
 griffins ; a grotesque fish, with the snout and tail linked together ; dragons, 
 grotesquely formed ; and fanciful birds, bearing labels in their beaks. 
 
 Of the carvings on the misererieSy some of the most remarkable may be 
 thus described : a human head, with large ass's ears and a gaping mouth ; an 
 artisan, with a mallet and chisel ; a large head, as though of a man creeping 
 painfully from a hole ; a prostrate figure holding a cup, with his doublet turned 
 up to shew a pin which passes through a loop, and fastens his shirt and doublet 
 to each other ; a bust of a man with animal ears, holding in one hand a bauble, 
 and in the other a club ; a bat ; a man striving to withdraw his foot from the 
 jaws of a hound ; a demi-figure in a night-cap ; a zany, or posture-master ; a 
 baboon, couchant ; a grotesque animal head and claws, bearing a diapered 
 burden on its shoulder ; a swollen baboon in a cowl, resting his feet against a 
 pillow ; and a hooded head, sustaining some ornament. All the above are on 
 the north side ; but, as they sufficiently indicate the ludicrous character of 
 these designs, we shall close the subject by briefly noticing a few of those under 
 the sub-seats, namely, a greyhound gnawing a bone ; a porpoise ; a man and 
 goose ; a ferret and rabbit ; a baboon chained ; a figure with ass's ears listening 
 to a snail ; a figure sustaining a capital on his head, hands, and feet ; a winged 
 steed ; a man with a chopper, climbing ; a bird holding tassels ; a demi-figure 
 with extended arms, a phylactery pendant from his neck. On the jambs of the 
 openings which lead from the area of the choir to the upper stalls, there are, 
 among various other carvings of foliage and arabesque ornaments, a medallion 
 head within a laurel wreath, and a grotesque scaly figure, thickly bearded, and 
 holding a large mask and club, as though advancing cautiously, and preparing 
 
VISCOUNTESS FITZHARRIS. 35 
 
 to strike. On the outer part of the reading-desk, in front of the large stall on 
 the south side, are carved two griffins, supporting a kind of font or hasin, 
 behind which is an angel bearing a sceptre, having one hand on his breast. 
 
 Whatever may be said on any few of the above subjects, by way of explana- 
 tion, it is evident, from their diversity of character, that very little of system 
 was attended to in their introduction. Although the general intent seems to 
 have aimed at exciting ludicrous ideas, yet there is nothing of congruity in this 
 assemblage ; and we may assume, without violating probability, that the designs 
 in many instances, if not in all, resulted more from the individual taste, — 
 possibly the mere whim and caprice, — of the workmen employed in carving 
 them, than from any higher principle or feeling, either political or religious. 
 
 On the south side of the choir, near the altar, stands the monument of the 
 Viscountess Fitzharris, the late affectionate consort of the Earl of Malmesbury. 
 It is a classical composition, by Flaxman (vide Plate 12), representing the 
 viscountess seated, instructing her children from the Holy Scriptures in their 
 religious and moral duties. On the pedestal are the following inscriptions : 
 
 Sacred to the memory of Harriet Susan, Viscountess Fitzharris, daughter of 
 Francis Bateman Dashwood, Esq. of Well Vale, in the county of Lincoln, and wife of 
 James Edward, Viscount Fitzharris, of Heron Court, in this parish, where she departed 
 this hfe, on Monday night, September 4th, 1815, in the 32d year of her age. 
 
 Gifted by nature with uncommon beauty of person and countenance, possessing 
 manners equally dignified and engaging, she never suffered herself to be influenced by 
 the flatteries and allurements of the world, but enjoyed, with rational cheerfulness, those 
 hours which she could spare from the performance of her domestic duties. The care 
 and education of her children were her darling objects ; on them she equally bestowed 
 the indulgent fondness of a mother, and the successful efforts of a well-cultivated mind ; 
 while all who shared her love and attachment experienced, in the various relations of a 
 wife, a daughter, a sister, and a friend, unceasing proofs of the amiable and endearing 
 qualities of her disposition. So deeply impressed with the feeling and confidence of a 
 true Christian was this pious and excellent woman ; so fully prepared was she, at all 
 times, for another world, that the sudden and unexpected approach of death could not 
 disturb the sweet serenity of her mind ; nor did one repining word escape her through 
 fourteen days of acute suffering. But, awaiting her end with the utmost composure and 
 resignation, she calmly gave up her soul into the hands of her Creator, quitting all she 
 loved with these words : " / have had my full share of happiness in this world." Her 
 
36 CRYPT ALTAR-SCREEN. 
 
 remains He interred in the Cathedral Church of Salisbury; but her afflicted husband 
 has raised this marble to her memory, persuaded that where she was best known, there 
 would her many virtues longest live in the recollection of her friends and neighbours. 
 
 At the back of the monument is this verse from the Proverbs, xxxi. 28 : 
 
 Her children arise up, and call her blessed ; 
 Her husband also, and he praiseth her. 
 
 On the reinterment of this lady at Christ- Church, the following was 
 annexed to the above: 
 
 The remains of Harriet, Viscountess Fitzharris, were removed from Salisbury 
 Cathedral to the vault underneath, May 21st, 1821. 
 
 The vault thus mentioned is the ancient Crypt of the priory church, wherein, 
 during the late repairs, the Earl of Malmesbury caused eighteen stone cata- 
 comhs to be built (under the direction of Mr. William Garbett, and at an 
 expense of 200/.) for the reception of his family. On the completion of the 
 work, the remains of the old pavement of the crypt, which was of figured tiles, 
 were collected and laid down in the middle of the vault, in the form of a cross. 
 
 The ascent to the altar is by a flight of four steps, and on the vertical edge 
 
 of a large flat stone, forming the middle part of the uppermost step, the 
 
 following inscription may be traced with difficulty, the letters being much 
 
 worn : 
 
 33alt(eb)m fill MLiWi. CTomilts Dtbonie. 
 
 In the design of the Altar- Screen (represented Plate 11) there is great 
 elegance, in an architectural point of view, and, when perfect, it must also have 
 been rich as a specimen of sculpture. The subject is the Genealogy of Christ, 
 with the Worship of the Magi in the stable at Bethlehem. In the lower 
 division, Jesse (a statue of colossal size), the founder of the promised line, is 
 seen in a recumbent posture, supporting his head on his right hand, whilst 
 from his loins is issuing the stem of the mystical vine, — in allusion to those 
 passages of Scripture which say : ** And there shall come forth a rod out of the 
 stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall gi'ow out of his roots," (Isaiah, chap. xi. 
 
ALTAR-SCREEN. 37 
 
 verse 1); and "I am tlie true vine," (St. John, chap. xv. verse 1). " From 
 Jesse a branch passes, first to David, on his right hand, who is distinguished 
 by his harp and diadem, and then on his left hand to the royal moralist, 
 Solomon, who is more distinguished by his pensive air than by his royal crown : 
 both these princes sit with their legs across, which seems formerly to have been 
 considered as a dignified posture, since it frequently occurs in the figures of 
 our ancient kings. The stem of the vine, whose luxuriant leaves and -tendrils 
 adorn every object that is represented, appears next to proceed to a small 
 mutilated statue, near the feet of Jesse, and which was probably intended for 
 Solomon's son and successor, Rehoboam." Hence, the vine ramifies through 
 the whole screen, and seems to bear for its fruit all the holy and distinguished 
 personages there exhibited ; but among whom are various saints, evidently of 
 a later age than Christ's nativity. " We recover it again in a bold and strong 
 shoot, at the feet of the Blessed Virgin (in the central compartment), from 
 whom, in a miraculous manner, and not by human generation, our Saviour was 
 produced, and to whom, therefore, it does not approach, except in the person 
 of his blessed mother. It is seen again at the shoulder of the foster-father of 
 Christ, St. Joseph ; and another of its productions, though by a different 
 branch, even reaches to the clouds, and seems to shroud its head in the 
 celestial regions." 
 
 Here, " at the upper part, is an angel pointing to a star which is directly 
 over the head of our Saviour, and on each side of the central canopy is another 
 angel, both of whom appear to have been playing on musical instruments, now 
 defaced. Lower down are the shepherds, three in number, with their flocks 
 feeding, and their dogs at their feet. They are habited in the dress of the 
 ancient shepherds of Italy, having cowls on their heads, like monks or fi-iars ; 
 one of these has a crook in his hand, whilst another apparently carries a wooden 
 bottle to drink out of, together with a scrip and bugle-horn by his side." Be- 
 neath them, the lowly place of our Saviour's birth is indicated by the projecting 
 heads of an ox and an ass. 
 
 The remaining figures, which are the size of life, represent the adoration of 
 the Magi, who were generally supposed to be kings from the East, and who, 
 according to St. Matthew (chap. ii. verse 11), when they "saw the young 
 child, with Mary his mother, they fell down and worshipped him ; and when 
 they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts ; gold, and 
 
38 SCULPTURES OF ALTAR-SCREEN. 
 
 frankincense, and myrrh." Joseph, " with his hand raised in the attitude of 
 admiration, is seated above the Blessed Virgin, who is sitting on the ground, 
 with one hand on her breast, and supporting the divine infant with the other ; 
 who, however, wears a manly dress, namely, the robe and tunic. The king 
 who is prostrate at the feet of the Messiah, is presenting him with golden 
 bezants in a singular sort of vase [formed like a modern tankard], one of which 
 he (the Messiah) seems to have taken out, and is presenting to his mother. 
 The younger of the three seems to bear the frankincense, by the form of his 
 vessel, which is that of the navicula, or ship, used for the same purpose in the 
 ancient church ceremonies. The age, the crowns, and the dress of the three 
 kings, are diversified ; though the last-mentioned article, as well as the general 
 style of the architecture, clearly bespeaks the ornamental taste of Edward the 
 Third's reign, when this curious altar-piece was probably executed and adorned 
 with painting and gilding, the vestiges of which are still seen in some places, 
 and the want of which in others, as in the strings of David's harp, causes an 
 appearance of indistinctness and imperfection." * 
 
 In each side division of the lower compartment is a small trefoil-headed 
 doorway, which, as Warner states, " till within these few years, opened upon a 
 large surbased arch, formed behind the altar for the accommodation of the priests, 
 who occasionally retired thither to change their vestments, to bring out, at 
 proper opportunities, their relics and miraculous blood, and to exercise the 
 other offices of their profession." t However this might have been, there is, at 
 present, only a sort of narrow landing-place at the back of the screen, which 
 possibly, in former times, communicated by steps with the concameratio sur- 
 rounding the altar, and used, on particular occasions, for the musical processions 
 of the brotherhood. A boldly-sculptured finial, with other ornaments, including 
 two demi-figures, surmounts each doorway, but the heads of the figures over 
 the northern door have been broken off. 
 
 On referring to Plate ii. it will be seen that the screen terminates in a rich 
 cornice and crowning ornament, having in the centre the remaining soffite of a 
 small canopy ; but, from the dissimilarity of style and decorative forms, as well 
 as from other circumstances, it may be assumed that the whole of this upper 
 
 * Vide Milner's Letter, dated May 30th, 1 792, in Carter's " Specimens of Ancient Sculpture 
 and Painting," vol. ii. p. 43. 
 
 f Topographical Remarks, vol. ii. p. 189. 
 
MONUMENTAL CHAPEL. 39 
 
 work is of a far later period than the screen itseK ; and it is not improbable 
 that it was first set up when the screen was erected in its present situation, on 
 the completion of the new choir.* 
 
 The altar-table, which is designed in the olden style, was presented to this 
 church by A. W. Pugin, Esq. in 1831. It is of oak, and ornamented with 
 pendants, pierced Gothic work, a cross, and two armorial shields. About 
 twenty of the old figured tiles were preserved during the late repairs, and have 
 been relaid in the pavement before the altar. 
 
 On the north side of the altar is the monumental chapel (see Plates 13 
 and 14) of the unfortunate Margaret, countess of Salisbury, who erected 
 it for her own burial-place whilst in possession of the borough and manor of 
 Christ-Church, in the reign of Henry the Eighth. This lady was the daughter 
 of George, duke of Clarence (brother to Edward the Fourth), and grand- 
 daughter of Richard Neville, earl of Warwick and Salisbury, distinguished in 
 our annals by the cognomen of King-maker. On the decapitation of her brother, 
 Edward, upon certain charges of high treason, in the fifteenth of Henry the 
 Seventh (with whom he had ever been an object of political jealousy), she 
 became the last survivor of the Plantagenets in the direct line. By her hus- 
 band. Sir Richard Pole, K.G., she gave birth to four sons and one daughter ; 
 of whom Reginald, the youngest, was the celebrated Cardinal Pole. The 
 exertions of that prelate to uphold Catholicism proved the eventual cause of his 
 mother's death. She was attainted of treason in 1539, and, after being confined 
 two years in the Tower, was ordered for execution on the suppression of a 
 commotion in Yorkshire, which had been excited by the intrigues of the 
 cardinal. When required to lay her head upon the block, she refused, saying, 
 ** *So should traitors do — and I am none :' then, turning her gray head every 
 way, she bad the executioner, if he would have her head, to get it as hee 
 could : so that he was constrained to fetch it ofi^ slovenly." t She suffered on 
 
 * Supposing the screen to have been a production of Edward the Third's time (as stated in 
 the text), it must have stood within the church whilst the rebuilding of the choir was going on ; 
 and there are certain marks on the two great piers immediately westward from those of the central 
 intersection, which indicate that a screen had once been affixed there, ranging across the nave. 
 The letters %» |]^. §b, over the centre of the screen are of modern introduction. 
 
 t Vide Lord Herbert's "Life and Raigne of King Henry the Eighth," p. 468, fol. 1649. 
 
40 THE SALISBURY CHAPEL^ 
 
 the 27th of May, 1541, when seventy years old, and her mangled corse was 
 interred in St. Peter's Chapel, within the Tower. 
 
 The elegance of the Salisbury Chapel at Christ-Church may be conceived 
 from the Plates already referred to, in the former of which its north-western 
 exterior is delineated perspectively ; and in the latter the rich architectural 
 composition of its interior is shewn. It will be seen from these views that the 
 general design is in the Tudor style, with ornaments of the Italian arabesque 
 kind. The ground-plan is oblong, but there is an adjunct compartment at the 
 west end, which includes an entrance by a flight of steps from the north aisle ; 
 the principal entrance being from the chancel. The beautiful fan-like tracery 
 of the roof springs from sculptured corbels, and has been ornamented by rich 
 bosses, which' were defaced at the Reformation : * the subjects, however, may 
 yet be traced. On the central boss, within a circle surrounded by cherubim, 
 was a representation of the Holy Trinity (composed of three figures), with the 
 Countess in front, kneeling at the feet of God the Father. On the eastern boss 
 were the armorial bearings of the Countess, now defaced ; and underneath, this 
 motto, which is still legible : ^pesf mtU 3 ^tO esft. On the western boss, 
 within a garter, are the arms of Sir Richard Pole, namely, per pale, or and 
 sable, a saltire engrailed, counterchanged.t On each side, between the windows, 
 is a handsome niche ; as there is, also, at each end, though of a difierent form, 
 and otherwise decorated : under that at the east end, is a shield sculptured with 
 the five wounds of our Saviour, on a diapered ground. | 
 
 Both fronts of this chapel are highly ornamented. Niches of various form 
 and character, some canopied by embattled turrets, and others surmounted by 
 rich finials, diversify the composition : whilst the facias, string-courses, and 
 supporting octagonal columns, are covered by minute sculpturing, which gives 
 
 * Vide the Commissioner's Letter, p. 11, note, which states that they had caused the chapel 
 to be defaced, and all the arms and badges to be " delete," or erased. Yet this was but imperfectly 
 done ; and even in defacing the arms, care was taken not to injure other parts of the work. 
 
 t See Plate i. Fig. 1, which represents a portion of the chapel vaulting. 
 
 J During the late repairs, two receptacles for coffins were discovered below the floor of this 
 chapel, which were probably intended for the countess and her son, the cardinal, but seemed 
 never to have been used. These sepulchres were each six feet eight inches in length, two feet 
 two inches in width, and two feet deep. 
 
GEORGE ROSE CHOIR-AISLES. 41 
 
 an air of richness to the whole. The ogee-headed niches and surmounting 
 ornaments of the choir front have heen decorated with groups of angels, and 
 other statuary, hut from the removal of figures, and some wanton dilapidations, 
 the full design cannot be traced. The upper niches exhibit highly-wrought 
 finials, terminating in crowns and beautiful canopies. In the year 1813 
 Richard Norris, Esq. of Boscomb, gave twenty guineas for repairing this 
 chapel. 
 
 Not any inscription for the Countess of Salisbury appears on this monu- 
 ment ; but within the upper niche, at the west end (vide Plate 13), there has 
 been placed a dove-coloured tablet, thus inscribed, in memory of a late distin- 
 guished statesman : 
 
 In the vault beneath are deposited the mortal remains of the Riglit Honourable 
 George Rose, one of his Majesty's Council for Affairs of Trade and Foreign Plantations, 
 Treasurer of the Navy, and in six successive Parliaments one of the Representatives of 
 this Borough ; who, on the 13th of January, 1818, the 74th year of his age, in the Faith 
 of Christ, and in Charity with all Mankind, concluded a Life, the whole of which was 
 the continued and strenuous effort of an ardent and powerful Mind to promote the 
 Welfare of the State, and the Happiness of his Fellow-creatures.* 
 
 The general character of the choir-aisles, and of their respective monuments 
 and chapels, may be known from the Interior Views, Plates 13 and 15. There 
 is a raised basement-seat against each wall, and the vaultings are very strong, 
 as well as uniform, except where an alteration has been made for the Salisbury 
 chapel. In the north aisle the entrance from the transept is still formed by a 
 large semicircular Norman arch, but that of the south aisle has been altered 
 into the pointed style, probably about the time of the rebuilding of the choir, 
 an initial <J5, of a similar form to those on the choir-bosses, being sculptured 
 
 * This gentleman, who died at CufFnells, near Lyndhurst, made the following bequest to the 
 male inhabitants of Christ-Church and Lyndhurst, by his will, bearing date in the year 1815, 
 namely, " To every male inhabitant resident within ray manor of the borough of Christ-Church, 
 and within the parish of Lyndhurst, who shall be poor enough to induce him to accept the same, 
 and who shall attend divine service in their respective parish churches on Sunday next after my 
 funeral, unless prevented by real illness, I give the sum of ten shillings each ; and I recommend 
 them and their families heartily to those who shall follow me." About 600/. was distributed 
 among the persons who attended in their respective churches, and accepted the gratuity. 
 
 G 
 
42 ORATORY TOMBS. 
 
 here within a richly designed panelling, the foliaged ornaments of which sustain 
 a corbel capital, from which the arch springs on the north side.* 
 
 On the south side of the north aisle is a small Oratory, or Chantry Chapel, 
 which was probably erected about the time of the union between the rival 
 Houses of York and Lancaster, the interior wall being ornamented with a 
 running branch of white and red flowers, and the white and the red rose being 
 painted on the panelling of its wooden ceiling. The style of its architecture 
 also corresponds with the Tudor period, as may be seen by the elevation in 
 Plate 18, Fig. 4 ; the tablet over the doorway is a modem insertion. The 
 ornamental sculpture above the door includes two roses, and a male and female 
 head; the former in a sort of jockey-fronted cap, and the latter in a hood. 
 Along the fascia has been an inscription in gilt letters, of which the words 
 . . . Armigeri Margarete q^ consort . . . are all that can now be read. Within- 
 side is an angular-headed piscina (measuring only fourteen inches by nine 
 inches and a half), in which are two stands, or brackets, for statues. At each 
 end of the screen is a small opening, about six inches by three inches, giving 
 the idea that this chapel has been formerly used as a confessional. 
 
 Against the north wall in the same aisle, and partly surmounted by a 
 slightly recessed arch, is an old tomb (represented Plate 18, Fig. 3), supposed 
 to be that of Robert White, Esq., who, by his will, dated March 19th, l6l9, 
 bequeathed 100/. to purchase lands for the benefit of the poor inhabitants of 
 Christ- Church. 
 
 The east end of this aisle has been once fitted up as a chapel, and on the 
 right hand is a niche, with a piscina. Here is an altar tomb, which originally 
 stood " in the front of the northern semitransept," but was removed thence into 
 the adjoining oratory in 1791, and finally to its present situation during the 
 late repairs. Tradition states that it was erected for a Sir John Chydioke (of 
 Chydioke, in Dorsetshire) and his lady, the former of whom is said to have been 
 killed in battle during the struggle between the rival Houses of York and 
 Lancaster. Their effigies, which lie upon the tomb, are of alabaster, but have 
 
 * A large open-worked oaken screen, elaborately wrought in the Tudor style, formerly 
 extended across the south end of the transept ; but it was taken down about twenty-six years ago, 
 and partly used as gates to close the entrance to the choir-aisles, and partly wrought up in the 
 present altar railing. The gate-posts of the north aisle formed part of the Royal William man- 
 of-war, of 100 guns, which had been broken up at Portsmouth about the same time. 
 
MONUMENT TO THE BRANDERS. 43 
 
 been shamefully defaced ; and the inscription, which was on a fiUet of brass 
 surrounding the verge, has been stolen. The knight is sculptured as in plate 
 armour, with a shirt of mail ; his head resting upon a helmet,* and around his 
 neck a collar of esses ; at his feet is a mutilated lion, couchant. His lady 
 reposes on a double cushion, supported by small angels, and is attired in a 
 jewelled corset and tasselled robe, with a necklace, and the mitred head-dress 
 of the fifteenth century. 
 
 Among other monuments affixed against the back of the altar-screen in the 
 ambulatory, there is a large and costly one commemorative of the Branders ; 
 it chiefly consists of a sarcophagus and urn of white marble, and has the fol- 
 lowing inscription, together with the family arms at the lower part, on a large 
 shield between cornucopias : 
 
 Caroli Brander, Arm. de Nea in hac Parochia. Ob. iv Die Mail • 
 A.D. MDCCxv. JEt. suse lxiv. 
 Et Margaretae Uxoris suae unicse. Ob. xxv Die Aprilis A.D. mdcclvii. 
 
 ^t. suae Lxx. 
 Et Margaretae Filioe eorum. Ob. xxvii Die Februarii, A.D. mdcclxxii. 
 
 Mt. suae xxxvi. 
 Et Brigidae Catherinae Filiae eorum. Ob. xxv Die Martii A.D. mdcclxx. 
 
 Mi. suae xlix. 
 
 Et GusTAvi Brander, Arm.f Filii eorum, F.R. et A.S.S. et Mus. Brit. Cust. 
 
 Obiit xxi Die Januarii A.D. mdcclxxxvii. 
 
 Mt. suae lxvii. 
 
 Quales erant narret ultima Dies. 
 
 Ens Entium miserere. 
 
 ♦ In the ancient chapel, now used as the revestry, there is a steel helmet, which is called Sir 
 John Chvdioke's ; it has slits for the sight; and the beaver has two motions. The last Sir John 
 Chydioke died in the 28th of Henry the Sixth, anno 1449. For all that is known of the Chydiokes 
 see " The Controversy between Sir Richard Scrope and Sir Richard Grosvenor in the Court of 
 Chivalry," edited by Sir Harris Nicolas, vol. ii. p. 255 : 1832. The Arundels of Wardour are 
 the present representatives of the Chydiokes. 
 
 f This gentleman (by his will, dated January 12th, 1785), in addition to his donation of 
 500?. (already mentioned) for an organ, bequeathed to this parish the further sum of 200/., " to 
 be with security laid out in the most permanent manner," and the interest to be applied as follows: 
 viz. ten shillings to the clerk, five shillings to the sexton, two guineas to the vicar, for which the 
 latter is to preach a commemoration sermon annually, on the third Sunday in August, " as an 
 everlasting memorial," says Mr. Brander, " and as expressive of my gratitude to the Supreme 
 
44 CHAPEL CHANTRY. 
 
 In the south choir-aisle, near the entrance from the transept, is an ancient 
 Chapel, now used as the revestry (marked K in the Ground Plan), which, from 
 the character of the ornamental heads and hosses of the groining, would seem 
 to have been altered into its present form in the reign of Henry the Third. It 
 originally opened to the aisle of the more ancient church, hut, in after times, 
 was walled up, and a new entrance introduced. Here has been an altar, and 
 on each side of the window a niche ; there is also a recess in the south wall, 
 which includes the remains of two trefoil-headed niches. The flooring is partly 
 of old figured tiles, four of which, in some instances, being placed together, 
 form a kind of star with sixteen rays ; there are also fleurs-de-lis, and single 
 tiles of different patterns. In the circular part of this interior, in the vaults 
 beneath, and in an upper room, the original Norman work is almost wholly 
 retained, although alterations have been made, and dilapidations are evident. 
 In one of the vaults, encased in brick, are the leaden coffins of Sir Peter 
 Mews and his lady, who died in Queen Anne's reign. 
 
 On the north side of the same aisle (as delineated in Plate 15) is the 
 Chantry and Sepulchral Chapel of Robert Harys, a rebus of whose name is 
 sculptured upon a shield within one of the quatrefoils of the basement panel- 
 ling, viz. an initial <K, with a hare below it, in a cumbent posture, from whose 
 mouth a label issues, marked with the letters 3/5. The same rebus may be 
 traced on other shields ; and on a sculptured scroll, entwining a rod in the 
 cornice fascia, is the "following inscription : Cfef lortl fepitff Of IjIlSi, \)di\it 
 
 merrp tin ftim tftat let mafee t&isf: t&e toftulb b^as m 3^oljert llarpsi. 
 
 The chapel front principally consists of open screen-work, with a Tudor 
 
 Being for my signal preservation in the year 1768, when my horses ran violently down the Temple 
 Lane in London, and down thre^ flights of steps into the Thames, in a dark night ; and yet not 
 horses or carriage, myself or servants, received the least injury; it was fortunately low water:" — 
 ten shillings " to be annually laid up as a nest egg, for the purpose of keeping in repair such 
 monument as my executors may think proper to put up for me, at an expense not exceeding 200/. ; 
 and the remainder of the interest money to be given in shillings to as many poor people as shall 
 attend divine service on the commemoration day." In 1788 the first-mentioned 200/. was invested 
 in the purchase of 264/. 135. three per cent consolidated annuities, and the dividends, which 
 amount to about 11. 18*. %d. per annum, are distributed agreeably to the will of the testator. The 
 iron gates near the bottom of Temple Lane were first erected to prevent any similar occurrence 
 to the above. 
 
CRYPT CHANTRY CHAPEL. 45 
 
 doorway, surmounted by a handsome niche, in the central part, and at each 
 end a similar niche, flanked by small buttresses, placed diagonal-wise. An 
 embattled transom crosses each of the pierced divisions, and some tastefully 
 designed tracery ornaments the upper tier : the crowning finials have been 
 removed. The interior has a plain wainscot ceiling. Against the northern 
 wall is a large sepulchral memorial for several persons of the Bullock ajid 
 Wools families. 
 
 Adjoining to the choir entrance from this aisle is an ogee-headed doorway 
 to the central crypt, which has been noticed (vide p. 36) as the appropriated 
 burial-place of the Earl of Malmesbury's family : the present floor is of white 
 brick. The panelling on each side and over the doorway is surmounted by a 
 quatrefoil fascia, or cornice, on which are two mutilated demi-angels, one of 
 which has been playing on a fife, and the other holds a shield. In the next 
 division is a large pointed-arched opening, admitting light to the crypt : the 
 panelling is similar to the above, and on the fascia were five demi-angels, now 
 headless, and otherwise broken, most of whom appear to have held musical 
 instruments ; one of which, the bagpipes, still remains. 
 
 The western division of this aisle is occupied by the Chantry Chapel of John 
 Draper, the last prior of that name, as appears from the following date in- 
 scribed under the entablature: ^nno : JBomiui t inilleSdimo t quutgentisiisiinwi 
 
 XXip'i and the recurrence, in several places, of the initials 5* 2B»* The running 
 pattern sculptured on the fascia displays an intermixture of the Italian arabesque, 
 somewhat similar to that of the minute ornamental work of the Salisbury chapel. 
 In the centre, above the doorway, is a very handsome niche, richly canopied, 
 and flanked by two smaller ones on the returns ; the dados are panelled, and 
 the open screen-work, or windows, over them, are each separated by a transom 
 into two divisions of four lights each. The summit is embattled, and each side 
 termination is finished by a like niche to the central one. On a Tudor shield 
 on the front pedestal (immediately over the door) is a model of a cruciform 
 church, in relief, surmounted by a spire, at the sides of which are the initials 
 
 * Warner says, " this chapel was probably built by ihe^rst John Draper ;" but his supposition 
 is clearly disproved both by the style of the architecture and by the inscription given above. In 
 the Transverse Section, Plate 6, the front of Draper's chapel is shewn in elevation : it is also 
 delineated in the Perspective View, Plate 15. This chapel is now used as the burial-place of the 
 Hinxman family. 
 
.46 LADY-CHAPEL ANCIENT MEMORIALS. 
 
 of the prior. His memory is also preserved by the following inscription on a 
 grey slab (measuring nine feet three inches in length, and four feet six inches 
 in width), which now forms a part of the pavement before the chapel : 
 
 + Sumba 3Jo6is IBrapcr fafcessimi ^txti l^n'oris 5u|us mU%k qixi obi'it xxi'x" liic mensfe 
 ^cpttm. ^nno Iriti mfllr" ccccclu (E\i\\xs ^nimt propitietur Btus. ^mm.* 
 
 The eastern extremity of this fabric is terminated by the Lady-chapel, 
 between which and the choir there is so strong a resemblance as to render it 
 evident that they were both erected at nearly the same time. The chief 
 variations are in the ornamental parts of the vaultings, and in the tracery of 
 the windows and panelling, which possess a somewhat greater lioridness of style 
 
 * This slab originally laid before the entrance to the choir, and was partly covered by the 
 present pulpit. Some remains of Prior Draper were found beneath it, together with a part of his 
 vestments and crosier. Besides a variety of sepulchral memorials of a modern date, which it is 
 foreign to our design to specify, there remain in different parts of the church about twelve or 
 fourteen large slabs, which, from the vestiges of inscriptions along the verge of each, appear to 
 commemorate as many deceased priors of this establishment ; but those only which are recorded 
 below are sufficiently legible to be read. 
 
 Independently of that of Prior Draper, the following are in the south choir-aisle : 
 
 + STumba ^RicartJi jUlawri dedmi ^riorts ^ujus cccleste. 
 + ©urnba llRobcrti Sap subprlotis f)ujus etclcsie. 
 
 On the pavement behind the altar is a large blue slab, near the middle of which is the indent 
 of a demi-figure, or bust ; and along the verge these words : 
 
 + ^umba : 3oi)annls : ISorarB : {fWagistri : ©l^EoIogiJ : ^riotis Dctimi noni %vl\us jcclcait.f 
 
 On slabs in the north choir-aisle are the following inscriptions : 
 
 + STumba tint aJadUtlmo TE^xs EJicessimi qui'ti ^rioris i)ujus cctltsit ; qtti oblit bi Bic mtnsis ©ecembris : "anno 
 Uomint milesstmo tcctc et xx° ®u' an'e: propitktur Bcu5. ^men. 
 
 + ^umba Dn( STi^ome STaibot bicessimi ^rioris i^ujus ecclesie : qui obllt t((e mtnsis Uttgusiu anno Domini 
 mileastmo tttcxx" ©ujua anime pvopitietur IBtus. ^mcn. 
 
 There remain also several large coffin-shaped stones, apparently tops of coffins, two of which 
 have been placed on the dwarf abutment walls that flank the eastern part of the choir. 
 
 During the partial repavement of the church consequent on the late repairs, many sepulchral 
 slabs were removed from their original sites ; and many parts of the present pavement were (very 
 reprehensibly) supplied by inscribed gravestones taken from the churchyard. 
 
 t Sir Harry Burrard Neale, Bart., and the Rev. George Burrard, of Yajpiouth, are representatives of 
 the family of Prior Borard. 
 
LADY-CHAPEL STONE SCREEN. 47 
 
 in the Lady-chapel than in the choir ; as may be understood from the Longi- 
 tudinal and Transverse Sections, Plates 5 and 6. Of the three principal 
 divisions into which this chapel is separated by the piers, the first forms a 
 part of the ambulatory, and includes an entrance from either aisle by a wide- 
 spreading and obtusely pointed arch. The fan-like tracery of the vaulting is 
 enriched by octagonal pendents, on which various demi-figures are sculptured 
 in bold relief, sustaining different articles : namely, a star, a crown of glory, an 
 open book, a music scroll, two violins, a label, the bagpipes, and some other 
 musical instruments. There are also two large demi-figures, with long beards, 
 having scrolls, above the capitals of the second piers from the east window. 
 
 Against the east wall is a low altar, having the appearance of a table monu- 
 ment : the covering slab, which is of Purbeck marble, and marked by five 
 small crosses, is eleven feet in length, three feet ten inches wide, and six inches 
 thick. Over this, and ranging nearly to the sill of the great window (a height 
 of about sixteen feet), are the dilapidated remains of a very beautiful stone 
 Screen, of rich tabernacle work, which, judging from its architectural character, 
 may be referred to the latter part of Henry the Sixth's reign. The design is 
 elaborately minute ; and when in a perfect state, with all its gorgeous display 
 of painted and gilt statuary, must have produced a striking effect on every 
 spectator. The profuse richness of the composition may be appreciated from 
 Plate 8, Fig. 2, which represents about one-third part of the entire screen, as 
 restored from the existing fragments.* 
 
 The inner part of the archi volts of the north and south windows is orna- 
 mented by ranges of quatrefoils within circles ; and on each side the east 
 window are three light clustered columns, rising to the spring of the arch. 
 Warner speaks of this chapel being " handsomely ornamented with little con- 
 fessional recesses ;" but, as nothing of the kind exists here, he has possibly 
 mistaken for confessionals the two small doorways which are nearly opposite to 
 each other on the north and south sides, — the one opening to the churchyard, and 
 
 * It must be remarked, however, that in this restoration no attempt has been made to delineate 
 the figures with which the niches were formerly occupied ; as no certainty, in that respect, could 
 be obtained. Some fragments of the statue of our Lady, which probably stood in the central 
 niche, were found during the late repairs ; and six of the smaller figures (each about eight inches 
 high) still remain, though broken : they cannot, in fact, be removed, being wrought in relief out 
 of the main stones which form the back of the screen. 
 
48 ALTAR-TOMBS. 
 
 the other towards the priory close, — or else the several decorative compartments 
 of the lower panelling, all of which have ogee-headed canopies, charged with 
 crockets and other ornaments, as shewn in the Longitudinal Section. The 
 northern doorway is a work of the last century, but that on the south formed 
 an original communication with the conventual offices. In the east window is 
 an old fragment of stained glass, exhibiting the name ^t* (^ngOriO** 
 
 At the east end of this chapel, and partly within recesses formed in the 
 north and south walls, are two old altar-tombs, which are locally said to be 
 those of Sir Thomas West, Knt. and Alice, lady West, his mother ; and pro- 
 bably with truth, as we have the following evidence of those persons having 
 been buried here. Sir Thomas West died in April 1405 (sixth of Henry IV.), 
 having by his will, dated on the eighth of that month, " ordered his body to be 
 laid in the new chapely in the Minster of Christ-Church Twyneham Monastery, 
 in Hampshire ; bequeathing to the work of that church one hundred pounds ; 
 and another hundred to the treasury there, conditionally that the canons of that 
 priory, once in a year, keep solemnly the obit of Thomas his father, Alice his 
 mother, and Joan his wife.t He also bequeathed 18/. 18^. 4)d. for four thousand 
 five hundred masses for his soul, to be said within half a year after his de- 
 cease." t The Lady Alice, who was the widow of Sir Thomas West, Knt. 
 (who deceased in 1386), and daughter of Reginald Fitz-Piers, baron of Wol- 
 verly, directed by her will, bearing date on the 15th of July, 1395, in which 
 year she died, that her body should be carried to the priory of the canons of 
 Christ-Church, and there buried "with her ancestors, at the first mass, with a 
 taper of six pounds of wax standing and burning at her head, and another at 
 her feet." She also bequeathed forty pounds to the canons of Christ-Church, 
 ** to read and sing mass for her Lord's soul and her own, while the world 
 shall last."§ 
 
 Both monuments are represented in elevation, Plate 18, Figs. 1 and 2. 
 That assigned to Sir Thomas West, which is on the north side, has the recess 
 fronted by small shafts of Purbeck marble, supporting a series of ten trefoil- 
 
 * All the windows of the choir and Lady-chapel were formerly ornamented with stained glass, 
 t By this lady, who was sister and heir to Thomas De la Warr, baron De la Warr, he became 
 the ancestor of the Wests, lords De la Warr. 
 
 X Vide Collins's " Peerage," vol. v. pp.379, 380: " Ex Reg. Arundel, fol. 108, infr. Lambeth." 
 § Ibid. pp. 378, 379 : « Ex Reg. Rous. qu. 26, in Cur. Praerog. Cant." 
 
ST. Michael's loft : occupied as a school. 49 
 
 headed arches, over which is an entablature faced by panelled quatrefoils, and 
 surmounted by a running ornament of expanded leaves. The tomb itself is 
 also panelled in four divisions, having on the central part of each an armorial 
 shield, but no arms are distinguishable. The tomb of Alice, lady West, is 
 surmounted by an enriched canopy, fronted by a series of five semicircular 
 arches, cusped, which originally terminated in pendents ; but these have been 
 destroyed. There was also a central pendent attached to the ornamental tracery 
 of the soffite : the back is panelled, as shewTi in the engraving. On the verge 
 of the covering slab was an inlaid inscription, which has long been removed : 
 the front of the tomb is panelled in five divisions, including conjoined circles, 
 small shields, and other ornamental work. 
 
 The spacious apartment called St. Michael's Loft, which has been occupied 
 for a school ever since the year 1662, presents but little in its interior requiring 
 notice. There is a small niche at the upper end, as delineated in the Trans- 
 verse Section, Plate 6, and the forms of its windows are shewn in the Longi- 
 tudinal Section, Plate 5.* It includes the entire space over the Lady-chapel. 
 
 * In an old register belonging to this parish is the following entry, viz. " At an assembly of 
 the Sixteen," on the 7th of March, 1662, it was " ordered, that St. Michael's Loft shall for ever 
 hereafter, and is hereby set apart and appointed for a free grammar-school, to be fitted for that 
 purpose, as articled and agreed upon," &c. Among the corporation documents there is also the 
 copy of a petition, without date, that was addressed to George [Morley], bishop of Winchester 
 (temp. Chas. II.), praying " the bishop's license to erect and settle the school in a spacious waste 
 room, at the east end of the church, called St. Michael's Loft, theretofore a chapter-house for the 
 prior and convent of that place, the same being to be repaired and fitted for that service by the 
 petitioners." By a late arrangement, the boys that were educated here at the expense of the cor- 
 poration have been transferred to the national school ; and St. Michael's Loft is now occupied 
 as a superior school, under the direction of the vicar. Warner has called this room the "ancient 
 scriptorium of the monks" (vide "Literary Recollections," vol. i. p. 84), though with little pro- 
 priety, if the inmates of the priory establishment were actually so unlearned as tradition reputes 
 them to have been. 
 
 H 
 
50 REMARKS ON ANGLO-SAXON ARCHITECTURE. 
 
 Having thus completed the descriptive account of this interesting church, 
 I shall here insert a very valuable communication, addressed to Mr. Ferrey, 
 from the pen of Mr. William Garbett, architect, of Winchester ; who, during 
 his superintendence of the new groining of the nave (the later alterations not 
 having been under his guidance), had an opportunity of practically examining 
 into the masonry and mode of construction of every part of the building, — 
 and whose remarks possess all the authority of professional research and of 
 scientific deduction. 
 
 Dear Sir, Winchester, April 1834. 
 
 In the attempt to comply with your request relative to the true dates of the several 
 specimens of ancient architecture exhibited in your illustrations of the church of Christ- 
 Church, in this county, I find the investigation involved in a considerable degree of 
 difficulty ; as we have little more for our guidance than a comparison of the several 
 portions of the fabric, with other examples of similar style and ornament, of which the 
 date has been satisfactorily ascertained ; keeping in view, as we proceed, however, such 
 historical notices as we can obtain of the subject under consideration. 
 
 First, then, it will be necessary to consider whether any part of the present structure 
 is of a date anterior to Bishop Flambard, to whom all the accounts I have yet seen give 
 the credit of rebuilding the church; — and here it is important to observe, that the 
 existence of a former church and monastic establishment is admitted. 
 
 We cannot, however, safely proceed in this inquiry without bestowing some attention 
 upon a question which is very far from being settled by antiquaries of the present day, 
 viz. Whether the monastic edifices constructed through the piety and munificence, or 
 under the patronage of the Anglo-Saxon dynasty, were so completely swept away by 
 their Norman successors as it has long been fashionable to suppose,* or whether it is 
 wholly improbable that edifices worthy of preservation could have been constructed by 
 the subjects of Alfred, or Athelstan, or Edgar. I trust the time is not distant when it 
 will be proved by those better qualified for the undertaking than so humble an individual 
 as the writer of these remarks, that our Saxon ancestors were not incapable of the eflforts, 
 nor wanting in the skill, necessary for raising structures which excite our admiration at 
 the present day ; and I trust that, for the honour of the high-minded Normans, it will 
 be shewn that they were too far advanced in civilization to derive gratification from the 
 wanton destruction of monuments produced by the skill and devotion of a people sub- 
 mitting to the rule of a foreign sovereign, rather as an adopted heir than as a conqueror. 
 
 Towards an investigation of the early progress of architecture in this island, much 
 has been done by the late reverend historian of Ely ; much by the late Rev. Dr. Milner, 
 in his '* History of the Antiquities of Winchester ;" and very much by my respected and 
 
 * See " Quarterly Review," June 1821, p. 117. 
 
PROGRESS OF ARCHITECTURE AMONG THE SAXONS. 51 
 
 indefatigable friend, Mr. Britton, whose extensive series of graphic illustrations of our 
 cathedrals, and of other English and Norman antiquities (the latter published in con- 
 junction with the late Mr. Pugin), furnish valuable materials for the study of the 
 antiquary, and the instruction of the architectural student. Now, although I am at 
 issue upon some points with my ingenuous friend,* yet I fully agree with him in the 
 opinion that such differences will ultimately lead to the discovery of truth upon the 
 subject of our mutual inquiries ; for although we must lament the loss of much that 
 would have furnished information upon this subject, through the fanatic zeal of the 
 reformers of the sixteenth century, yet we may be assured that much has been preserved 
 which is at present but partially explored. 
 
 That the Saxons, even at an early period of the Heptarchy, possessed resources both 
 pecuniary and scientific, for erecting churches with stone, is abundantly proved by 
 Bentham, in the celebrated essay contained in his " History of the Cathedral Church of 
 Ely," in which he states, upon the authority of Bede, that " St. Peter's Church, in the 
 Monastery of Wearmouth," was built by the Abbot Benedict Biscopius,in the year 676, 
 in the Roman manner (as it was then called), and that "he sent over to France for 
 artificers skilled in the mystery of making glass (an art till that time unknown to the 
 inhabitants of Britain)." It is previously said by the same author, that he (Biscopius) 
 " went over into France to engage workmen to build his church ;" but as the making of 
 glass only is referred to, as an art before that time unknown in Britain, we may fairly 
 infer that the art of building with stone was not new in this island, although we are led 
 by this passage to believe that the art had arrived at a higher state of perfection in 
 France than in Britain. Again, it is cited by Bentham, from Edius's Life of Wilfred, 
 that " in the year 674, Bishop Wilfred began the foundation of the celebrated church of 
 St. Andrew, in Hexham," which he describes as being " built all of hewn stone, and 
 supported by sundry kinds of pillars." The same church is stated by Edius to have 
 been described by Richard, prior of Hexham (who flourished about the year 1180), who, 
 in his account of that celebrated church, mentions " crypts, winding stairs, galleries of 
 stone, and square and other kinds of well-polished columns, the capitals of which were 
 decorated with historical representations, imagery, and various figures in relief, carved 
 in stone, and painted with a most agreeable variety of colours." In addition to this, we 
 have an account by Ingulphus of the building with stone of the monastery of Croyland, 
 in the year 716 ; also the description given by Alcuin of the rebuilding of the church of 
 St. Peter in York, which was consecrated on the 29th of October, 780. Of all these 
 structures it is not very surprising that no distinct portions remain to bear testimony to 
 the veracity of their historians, unless the crypt of York cathedral may claim that 
 distinction. 
 
 With such numerous authorities for the support of my hypothesis, I venture again to 
 assert, that large portions of a monastic and episcopal edifice of considerable magnitude 
 and national importance still survive the assaults of barbarous infidels, and the ravages 
 
 * See Britton's " Architectural Antiquities of Great Britain," vol. v. p. 130; and "Cathedral of 
 Winchester," p. 69. 
 
52 ARCHITECTURAL PARTICULARS OF WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL. 
 
 of time, although the records of its foundation have not come down to us verified by 
 writers contemporary with the periods of its early history ; yet the venerable structure 
 claims for itself, and establishes by incontestable proofs, a priority by centuries over the 
 earliest works of the Anglo-Norman prelates. 
 
 In that gigantic example of Saxon masonry, the cathedral church of Winchester, we 
 find a rudeness of style and execution which forcibly forbid our belief that it could have 
 been erected in the same age as the edifices described by Alcuin and the Prior of 
 Hexham ; a circumstance entitled to great weight, in leading to the conclusion that this 
 church contains much of the royal foundation commenced upon the conversion of 
 Kengils, king of the West Saxons, to Christianity, in the year 535, and completed by 
 Kenewalch, his son, in 548. This, the metropolitan church of the kingdom of Wessex, 
 according to Rudborne, was built upon the site of a British church, erected in the time 
 of the Roman Emperor Constantine, which was taken down by Kengils, and the 
 materials applied in constructing his new edifice upon a more extensive scale.* 
 
 In my communication to Mr. Britton, in the year 1818, relative to the architecture 
 of Winchester cathedral,f I described the great difference in the masonry of the extreme 
 parts of the transept, both north and south, and the central tower and parts adjoining, 
 from which I inferred the much greater antiquity of the former: since that period various 
 circumstances, developed in effecting the repairs of this interesting fabric, have corrobo- 
 rated the theory I then formed, of the successive alterations to which it had been sub- 
 jected through the violence of enemies, the innovations of taste, or the less active inroads 
 of time; I have also observed a passage in the " Anglia Sacra, "J which seems to have 
 been overlooked by Dr. Milner and my friend Mr. Britton, which fully confirms the 
 
 * This will not appear incredible, when we reflect that magnitude was the principal characteristic 
 which those semi-barbarous princes had the means to adopt ; nor will it excite our wonder that they 
 should have used those means to an extent calculated to display the power they possessed, and the zeal 
 with which their minds were inflamed. 
 
 t See Britton's "History of Winchester Cathedral." 
 
 J " Walkelinus natione Normaunus qui turrim in medeo chori cum quatuor columnis a foundatione 
 "renovavit, seditque xxix annis et in navi ecclesia ante gradus pulpiti jacet humatus." — "Anglia Sacra," 
 p. 285. In pp. 256 and 270 of the " Anglia Sacra," it appears that the toAver was not built in the life- 
 time of Walkelyn, but that it was executed after his decease, from funds provided by him for that pur- 
 pose. It is said at p. 294 of the same work, that in 1079 Walkelyn began to rebuild the church from 
 the foundation : this, however, there is the strongest reason to doubt ; for if a work of such magnitude 
 had been previously in part executed, the subsequent erection of the tower would have been described as 
 the completion of the undertaking, and not as an abstract work, as it there appears, including four 
 columns only in addition to the tower ; a description corroborated in a most remarkable manner by the 
 present state of the structure. 
 
 From this fact it must be obvious that the undertaking of Walkelyn did not extend to the entire 
 rebuilding of the church, although it cannot be doubted that he effected a very extensive repair, which 
 included some important alteration^ occasioning the removal of the high altar, and, in consequence, a 
 re-dedication of the church. It is also probable that he rebuilt the whole of the domestic offices of the 
 monastery upon an enlarged scale, for the accommodation of the monks, in consequence of having 
 increased their number, as he is stated to have done. 
 
ARCHITECTURAL PARTICULARS OF WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL. 53 
 
 opinion stated in my communication before mentioned, and since repeated in my letter 
 to the Editor of the "Gentleman's Magazine,"* of the marked distinction in the Saxon 
 and Norman works, both in design and execution. I am aware that those who contend 
 for the nonexistence at this day of any genuine examples of Saxon architecture, will find 
 in this passage grounds for confirming the assertion of Rudborne, that the whole of the 
 cathedral was rebuilt from the foundation by the Norman prelate Walkelyn ; and I must 
 admit that, upon a first view of the case, such a conclusion may to many appear 
 plausible : but I cannot conceive that it will be found tenable when we inquire how it 
 could have happened that the Normans, who, at the time of their invasion of this island, 
 are said greatly to have surpassed their Saxon contemporaries in the art of building, 
 should have constructed masonry so rude as that of the transept of Winchester, in the 
 year 1093, without those indications of national variation in style and workmanship 
 which evidently appear in the tower (now satisfactorily proved to have been completed 
 in less than fifty years after that period) ; nor will it appear very reasonable that a much 
 longer period than fifty years could have produced the difference which is apparent to 
 every careful observer in the decayed surface of the stone used in the Saxon part of the 
 fabric, as compared with the Norman work, stated by the historian to have been com- 
 pleted previous to the year 1140, and which, after such a lapse of time, preserves a 
 perfection of surface and sharpness of angles which must be seen to be duly appreciated. 
 These observations must be considered as applicable to the ancient part of the transept, 
 the nave, and the crypts, without reference to the presbytery and apsis east of the tower, 
 which may possibly have been rebuilt by Walkelyn, as stated by Rudborne; but in 
 admitting the possibility of this, we have to encounter the great improbability of the 
 same structure having been taken down within little more than a century after its com- 
 pletion, for the purpose of building the present presbytery in its stead : which portion of 
 the fabric (before it received additions and embellishments from the taste and munificence 
 of Bishop Fox) could hardly have been considered to possess a character to justify the 
 demolition of the former work, which, if erected by Walkelyn, could not have been 
 inferior to the corresponding parts (still preserved) of the cathedrals of Norwich and 
 Peterborough. There may be many other comparisons adduced in the architecture of 
 Winchester cathedral to prove the existence of Saxon masonry, but I conceive this is not 
 the only structure in which the skill of our early ancestors was displayed, since we may 
 observe singular coincidences in this and the cathedral of Ely, as well in the architectural 
 features as in the events connected with their respective histories, which are well worthy 
 of antiquarian consideration. It is stated by Bentham, that the church founded at Ely 
 by St. Etheldreda, in the year 673, was destroyed by the Danes in 870, and that the 
 whole of the church and monastic buildings were restored by Ethelwold, bishop of Win- 
 chester, under a commission from King Edgar, who by his charter, dated 970, re- 
 endowed the institution with the whole of the possessions originally granted to it by 
 St. Etheldreda, and that the most ancient parts of the existing edifice, viz. the nave and 
 
 * Vide vol. ciii. part i. p. 310, anno 1833. 
 
54' FOUNDATION AND PROGRESS OF ELY CATHEDRAL. 
 
 transept, were erected by Abbot Simeon, in emulation of his brother Walkelyn's work 
 at Winchester. 
 
 Now, notwithstanding the circumstantial accounts related by so respectable an author 
 as the historian of Ely, I find it difficult to imagine that the foundation of that cathedral 
 church can be referred to so late a date as the abbacy of Simeon, who was preferred from 
 the priory of Winchester to be Abbot of Ely in 1081, and died in 1093 ; for if we follow 
 this theory, it will be found that the work undertaken by Simeon could scarcely have 
 been finished westward before the eastern part was demolished, either by the fall of the 
 central tower or by the caprice of the succeeding age, for the purpose of giving place to 
 new architectural efforts : an act of profusion calculated to excite our surprise, though 
 we must admit that, in opposition to the accounts handed down to us, it cannot easily be 
 controverted. Without, therefore, insisting upon the Saxon origin of a church upon the 
 site of the present cathedral of Ely, I conceive it highly probable that the monkish 
 historians of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, in their zeal to extol the works of the 
 Norman prelates, have indulged in exaggerations in some instances, which do not furnish 
 the means of detection, as in the case of Winchester ; and under this impression I am 
 strongly persuaded that when the buildings of the monastery of Ely were restored by 
 the Abbot Brithnoth, under Ethelwold, bishop of Winchester, the church of Etheldreda 
 must have been found insufficient for seventy monks (the number stated to have been 
 placed there on this new establishment), and that an enlarged church must necessarily 
 have been included in the extensive buildings erected in consequence of the charter of 
 King Edgar. 
 
 But whether this edifice was begun by the Anglo-Saxon Ethelwold in the tenth, or 
 by Simeon the Norman in the eleventh century, it is pretty evident that in either case 
 the cathedral of Winchester was the model for the undertaking; for we find that in each 
 the choir was terminated by a semicircular apsis, that the transepts were flanked by 
 aisles, both on the east and west sides (a mode of building not generally adopted at that 
 time in Normandy): but, above all, a most singular imitation is to be seen in the arcades 
 of the triforii of the transept; these in each instance consist of three semicircular arches, 
 two of which in each series are subdivided by a central column, and two small arches 
 within the greater arch, while the third arch of each series towards the north and south 
 extremities of the transept remain undivided by such -central column and small arches. 
 This arrangement of the arcade at Winchester was evidently the result of well-digested 
 design, in consequence of the triforii of the east and west aisles being connected by a 
 spacious platform, supported by groined vaulting, similar to that of the aisles — an 
 arrangement which I am not aware of the existence of in any other cathedral or abbey 
 church whatever. 
 
 At Ely the triforii of the transepts are connected by narrow galleries running across 
 the north and south extremities, not, as is usual, within the thickness of the end walls, 
 but supported on columns and small arches, which probably are not coeval with the 
 original structure ; in this instance, therefore, the builder's adherence to his model of 
 Winchester was iocomplete ; and the variation in his arcade, without adopting the other 
 
SIMILARITY BETWEEN ANGLO-SAXON AND NORMAN ARCHITECTURE. 55 
 
 part of the design which suggested its propriety in the original, becomes as incongruous 
 as the efforts of those builders of the present day, who forget the wholesome precept, 
 
 that 
 
 " Beauty scorns to dwell where use is exiled." * 
 
 Now after all that has been said or written upon the " distinctions" of Anglo-Saxon 
 and Norman architecture, I believe it will be generally admitted, that as the early 
 architects (who were the ecclesiastics) of both nations obtained the principles of their 
 science alike from the corrupted Roman examples which remained for their contempla- 
 tion, so it is not reasonable to suppose that any essential difference of style in construction 
 or ornament was practised beyond what we may observe in works executed in different 
 parts of this island at any given period. It must be obvious that both nations used con- 
 temporaneously single cylindrical columns, as well as semi-columns, or greater portions 
 of cylinders attached to square piers, and various other kinds of columns (and frequently 
 in the same building) ; that both used occasionally plain or sculptured capitals, both used 
 semicircular arches, and occasionally plain, moulded, and sometimes sculptured archi- 
 volts. When all this is admitted, and when we pei'ceive the great similarity which exists 
 in the churches of Caen, and those of Norwich and Peterborough (the undoubted works 
 of Norman architects in this country), as distinguished from others of more doubtful 
 origin, we shall, in my humble opinion, find good reason to believe that the only dif- 
 ference in Saxon and Norman edifices consists in the quality of workmanship, and the 
 arrangement of plan, and that a classification of existing edifices, with reference to those 
 particulars, will lead us to a conclusion that much of the work of the Anglo-Saxon 
 architects yet remains. 
 
 It is, however, essential to observe, that one important feature in the construction of 
 groined vaults is fairly attributable to the Norman architects : this is the introduction of 
 moulded ribs crossing diagonally under the angles of the groins,t which are thereby 
 considerably strengthened ; and this may probably be recognised as the germ from which 
 the taste of succeeding ages produced the endless examples of tracery preserved in the 
 vaulting of our cathedral and abbey churches, and exhibiting subjects justly entitled to 
 our admiration. The introduction of such cross-ribs is a striking circumstance in the 
 
 V * It is not intended to render legitimate architectural ornament obnoxious to this principle, nor to 
 insist that the graces of uniformity are always to be obtained without some little sacrifice of convenience ; 
 but when picturesque irregularity is required, it cannot with propriety be obtained by the introduction 
 of any useless excrescence. 
 
 f Notwithstanding the introduction of cross-ribs is here considered as a Norman improvement, it is 
 not contended that the absence of such in ancient vaults will constitute a proof of Saxon architecture ; 
 and again, though the kind of arch termed " the horse-shoe" (being a figure containing within its curve 
 a greater space than a semicircle) is adopted in the Saxon parts of the lower arcades of the transept of 
 Winchester cathedral, yet it is not certain that Norman builders maj'^ not in some instances have adopted 
 the same conceit ; and indeed it appears probable that such may have been the case in the abbey church 
 of Komsey, where it must be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish the Saxon from the 
 Norman parts of the structure. 
 
56 ARRANGEMENTS OF CRUCIFORM CHURCHES. 
 
 Noiinan portions of the transept of Winchester cathedral, as they extend precisely so far 
 as the new work constructed in connexion with the tower, while the Saxon groining 
 finishes simply with sharp angles, as in the Roman examples. The groining of the aisles 
 of Norwich cathedral, a decidedly Norman structure, raised in 1096, is of the same 
 description as the latter ; but the aisles of Peterborough cathedral, constructed a few 
 years later, viz. 1117, exhibit a perfect example of the cross-ribbed groining similar to 
 the former, and to the churches erected by William at Caen. Another circumstance 
 worthy of observation in the Anglo-Norman churches is the absence of crypts, which we 
 find to be the case at Norwich, Peterborough, Durham, Exeter, and Lincoln. From this 
 I infer, that every English church in which a crypt is found may be considered of Saxon 
 origin, though many of these were unquestionably in parts, to a greater or less extent, 
 rebuilt by Norman ecclesiastics. Amongst these may be included the cathedrals of 
 Winchester, Gloucester, Worcester, and Hereford, as well as the abbey or parish churches 
 of Christ-Church, Hants, and St. Peter's in the East, at Oxford. With reference to 
 transepts generally, it is observable that in the great churches, of which the plans are 
 represented in the "Architectural Antiquities of Normandy," published by Messrs. Britton 
 and Pugin, no instance occurs of aisles on both sides of the transepts ; we may therefore 
 consider the Saxon cathedral of Winchester as the model for a similar arrangement in 
 the other great ecclesiastical edifices in this island, whether of Norman origin or rebuilt 
 upon Saxon foundations. Of this class are the cathedrals of York, Ely, and Wells, also 
 the abbey church of Westminster, and such was the ancient cathedral of St. Paul, in 
 London. It may be also observed that the churches in Normandy were not constructed 
 with an aisle on one side of the transept so regularly as we find such a practice adopted 
 in the instances of Durham, Peterborough, and Lincoln, which, with the cathedral of 
 Norwich, may be considered as the principal structures of that important class erected 
 by the Normans in this country upon original foundations. By pursuing a little farther 
 the consideration of this subject, I am induced to attempt a classification of the several 
 distinct modes of arranging the plans of cruciform churches, and the result may perhaps 
 appear but little less definite than the descriptions given by Vitruvius of the several kinds 
 of temples erected by the ancient Greeks. The obvious arrangement of the series being 
 as follows : 1st. The single transept, as in the ancient abbey church of St. Alban's, the 
 later one of Bath, and the cathedral of Bayeux. 2d. The transept with a single chapel 
 on the east side of each arm, as the cathedrals of Gloucester and Exeter, and the church 
 of the Abbaye aux Hommes at Caen, also the abbey churches of Romsey and Christ- 
 Church, in Hampshire. 3d. The transept with a complete eastern aisle, admitting two 
 or three chapels opening to each arm, as the cathedrals of Durham and Peterborough. 
 4th. The single transept, with an aisle on each side, as the cathedrals of Winchester and 
 Ely. 5th. The double transept, with one or more chapels on the east side of each, as 
 the cathedrals of Canterbury, Lincoln, and Salisbury. These may be considered as the 
 leading characteristics of the several edifices constructed by the Anglo-Normans, and 
 followed by their successors after the introduction of the pointed style, although it cannot 
 be asserted that the practice was strictly conformable with this theory, either in England 
 
PECULIARITIES OF THE CHURCH AT CHRIST-CHURCH. 57 
 
 or in Normandy, because it is evident that various adjuncts have, with greater or less 
 display of taste and propriety, been introduced in the execution of the original designs, or 
 from time to time engrafted upon them. Another feature of imposing effect maybe here 
 noticed, which appears to have originated with the Saxon rather than the Norman archi- 
 tects : this is the western facade, extending beyond the breadth of the nave and aisles, 
 as in the examples of Lincoln, Ely, and Peterborough, as well as the ancient cathedral 
 of St. Paul ; and for this feature also the prototype may be traced at Winchester, in the 
 remains of a tower on the south, and the foundations of a corresponding tower on the 
 north, advancing forty feet westward from the present entrance of the cathedral, and 
 occupying a space of one hundred and forty feet from north to south. Upon examination 
 of the early native examples of Norman architecture before referred to, the more promi- 
 nent features here described will not be discovered, and, in consequence of that fact, we 
 are naturally led to infer, that although our Saxon ancestors were not quite so far 
 advanced in refinement and practical skill, yet, in their ideas of the vast and sublime, 
 they were not inferior to their continental neighbours ; nor were the latter so dull as to 
 disregard, nor so bigoted as to despise, the hints presented to their contemplation, in the 
 efforts of a less accomplished people. 
 
 In the application of the above facts to the church at Christ-Church, it should be 
 premised, that our conclusions as to the age of the various parts of the edifice must be 
 drawn from a minute examination of the architectural style of the successive alterations 
 or additions that have been made to it, with reference to the historical circumstances 
 which are known to us, as attending its erection. 
 
 Now, in conformity with the received opinion that the rebuilding of this church was 
 commenced by Bishop Flambard (who had probably obtained possession of its revenues 
 before his elevation to the see of Durham*), and in deduction from the circumstances 
 narrated in a former part of the present work, I assume that the whole of the 
 Saxon nave was taken down by Flambard, and that the present nave was erected by him 
 or his successors in the deanery to the height completing the arcades of the triforii ; 
 that he also designed a tower at the intersection of the nave and transept, which was 
 carried on to the completion of the great arches, with a few feet in height above them, 
 and that he also effected considerable repairs and additions to the transept, including the 
 semicircular chapel to each arm, and the highly ornamental exterior of the staircase 
 turret at the north-east angle of the transept, in which the extraordinary thickness of 
 wall appears to justify an opinion that the ornamental surface was added to the wall of a 
 structure previously existing. 
 
 The Crypts-f under the north and south arms of the transept, as well as the western 
 
 * This was not more than a year before the death of Kufus, and as the disgrace and removal of 
 Flambard from his see followed soon after the accession of Henry, very little progress could have been 
 made in that short period of time. 
 
 f I have before stated my opinion that crypts are not to be considered as belonging to or forming a 
 necessary part of the arrangement of churches built in England after the tenth century, and in the case 
 before us I think I shall be able to shew that as no part of Flambard's work extended eastward of the 
 
 I 
 
58 ALTERATIONS IN THE AISLES AND TRANSEPT. 
 
 part of that under the choir, I conceive to be of Saxon origin, the two former being 
 increased by Flambard's semicircular additions, and the latter in part reconstructed at a 
 subsequent period. Another portion of the Saxon church may be traced at the western 
 angle of the aisle south of the nave, where the doorway, which led to the staircase turret, 
 has been filled up. The south wall of this aisle, as well as the south and west walls of 
 the transept, were ornamented with series of small arches under the windows, springing 
 from columns attached to the wall, the remaining capitals of which are rude imitations 
 of the Corinthian order, and the bases are equally rude imitations of those denominated 
 "the Attic." The other columns attached to the inside of the south wall, originally 
 intended to support the transverse archivolts of the aisles, are reduced, both in substance 
 and in height, while those of Flambard's work, attached to the piers of the nave, retain 
 their substance, but are diminished in height, and the style of their capitals altered ; and 
 upon these discordant elements the vaulting of the south aisle is constructed, with arches 
 of the pointed form, distinguished by the addition of transverse and diagonal ribs of the 
 earliest character, these not being moulded, but chamfered only. The windows of this 
 aisle, with the exception of one next to the remains of the western staircase turret, have 
 been altered, though not very regularly, to the simple pointed form. 
 
 The aisle north of the nave has been subjected to the operations of the early inno- 
 vator with better success, and it exhibits a curious instance of the liberties taken with 
 impunity by the masons of the " olden time" with the works of their predecessors; for 
 here we find the most decisive proof of an entire removal and new facing of both the 
 inner and outer surfaces of the wall, with the addition of buttresses to the outside, and 
 attached columns within, also the enlargement of and alteration of style of the windows, 
 these being composed with a centre muUion, and two pointed subdivision arches, with 
 a circle between them, contained within one pointed arch of the entire span ; the jaumbs 
 of these windows are considerably splayed inwards, and their soffits formed into a sort 
 of groined vault, ornamented with cross-ribs springing from the capitals of slender 
 columns, and all this was effected without disturbing the superincumbent wall, in which 
 the small semicircular-headed windows of the Saxon triforium are still visible, both on 
 the outside and within, although the apertures have been long since filled up with 
 masonry. 
 
 The vaulting of this aisle is constructed with chamfered ribs, of lighter proportion 
 than those of the south aisle, rising in pointed arches from the capitals of triple columns 
 
 transept, it must follow that the more ancient part of the crypt, under the choir, is part of the arrange- 
 ment of the Saxon church. I do not, however, subscribe to the opinion of those who imagine that the 
 crypts constructed under the most ancient churches were originally intended for the secret performance 
 of Christian worship in times of persecution, since it must be evident, upon due reflection, that little 
 prospect of security could be afforded by such imperfect concealment; but I conceive, that in an age 
 not far removed from the time when Christians could not with safety assemble to perform their devo- 
 tions, except in secret caves, which presented no ostensible mark of appropriation, it might naturally 
 have been considered proper to keep alive the recollection of such persecutions by occasional religious 
 services in places constructed and consecrated for that purpose, when the necessity for secrecy had happily 
 passed away. 
 
CONJECTURAL REMARKS ON A CENTRAL TOWER. 59 
 
 attached to the north wall, and from the altered capitals of the Norman columns attached 
 to the north side of the piers of the nave ; these capitals, unlike those of the south aisle, 
 remaining at the original height. 
 
 From all these irregularities, I conclude that the works could not have been carried 
 on together, nor in a continuous course, but at various times when funds could be 
 obtained, and as the taste or skill of the several benefactors may have dictated. It is 
 evident that the progress of the works must have been discontinued some years after the 
 removal of Flambard, but it is quite impossible to determine whether upon its re- 
 sumption the aisles or the nave were the first proceeded with, as perplexing anomalies 
 present themselves in every view of the case. The windows of the clerestory are all 
 composed with a centre mullion, and two pointed subdivision arches contained within 
 one greater pointed arch, but without a circle between, as in the north aisle, wliich leads 
 us to suppose that the former is the earlier work ; but opposed to this idea we find that 
 preparation was made in building the walls of the clerestory for completing a vaulted 
 ceiling to the nave with ribs of stone, moulded in a superior style, which seems to 
 indicate a more advanced period of the art than the plain chamfered ribs of the aisles as 
 before described. 
 
 With respect to the Choir^ and parts eastward of the transept, it hardly admits of a 
 question that they were left by Flambard nearly as he found them, since we now 
 perceive the weather course of stone which covered the junction of the old roof abutting 
 against the eastern wall of the intended tower many feet below the range of the nave 
 roof; also the apertures intended for two eastern windows, in the situation which, had 
 the design been completed, would have constituted the lantern of the choir, according 
 to the prevailing taste of Flambard's time. These apertures are now to be seen opening 
 into the space between the vaulted ceiling and the timber roof of the choir. 
 
 This brings me to the consideration of the idea locally entertained of a central tower 
 and spire having, at some remote period, contributed to the importance of the edifice, 
 and that the vaulted ceiling of the nave was destroyed by its fall. This idea we find to 
 be founded upon a long-received tradition, and there are certainly appearances which 
 have a strong tendency to confirm such a belief. 
 
 Amongst these I observe that the timber roof of the nave is of a description different 
 from what would have been used at so early a period as that when it is reasonable to 
 suppose the nave must have been covered, viz. about the end of the twelfth century, 
 but that it accords much better with the style of the western tower, which may with 
 confidence be ascribed to the early part of the fifteenth century. It may, on the other 
 hand, be observed that there is evidence of a higher roof having preceded that now 
 existing, the traces of which are to be seen on the eastern side of the western tower, as 
 well as in the gable wall, which presents an unfinished appearance above the roof at the 
 eastern part of the nave ; and from this it may, with some degree of reason, be argued 
 that the eastern gable, as it appears in the views Plates 2 and 3, was the original 
 termination of the nave, and that, consequently, no central tower or spire could have 
 occupied that situation. 
 
60 ARCHITECTURAL NOTICES OF THE NORTH PORCH. 
 
 To all this I answer, first, That if we institute a fair comparison of the durability of 
 timber roofing, we shall find good reason to conclude that the lapse of two hundred, or 
 at most two hundred and fifty years, would not have rendered the renewal of the roof of 
 such a building necessary, if no accident had happened to destroy it; secondly, that the 
 present roof is composed principally of timbers, which formed the roof corresponding 
 with the slope of the gable wall now rising above it, the roof being reconstructed with 
 the addition of tie beams, in consequence of some decay of the parts connected with the 
 walls and gutters; and thirdly, we may refer to the moulded stone ribs, which, before 
 the construction of the present ceiling in the year 1819, were seen rising to the height of 
 four or five feet from the capitals of the columns in the nave : to which we may add, that 
 there is positive indication of the stone staircase by which we ascend from the clerestory 
 of the transept 'into the roof of the nave, at the north-west angle of the supposed tower, 
 having been at some time continued to a greater height than that at which it now 
 terminates. 
 
 Now, after deliberate consideration of all these matters, I much incline to the 
 opinion, that towards the end of the twelfth century, or perhaps somewhat later, the 
 nave was vaulted with stone, and that the central tower begun by Flambard was con- 
 tinued, and surmounted with a spire (probably not of stone), which, either through some 
 casualty of tempest, \>r it may be, weakness of structure, fell upon the roof, and de- 
 stroyed or so much injured the vaulted ceiling as to render its removal necessary. After 
 this calamity, I imagine the shattered walls of the central tower were reduced on three 
 sides to the height we now find them, and that the east side was rebuilt to form the 
 gable end to the new roof, the timbers of which, excepting the part over the intersection 
 of the nave and transept, which evidently required a ceiling of a different character, 
 were wrought, moulded, and painted : a mode of finishing that would not have been 
 adopted or required, if the restoration of the vaulted ceiling had been contemplated. 
 
 The next member of the edifice which, in chronological order, claims our notice, is 
 the Porch on the north side ; this appendage exhibits a specimen of the degree of ele- 
 gance to which the pointed style of architecture had arrived by the latter part of the 
 twelfth century ; its situation, as an ostensible entrance towards the town, in which we 
 find no record of any other church, induces a supposition that it originally answered 
 the purposes of a parish church, as well as those of the monastic establishment. The 
 archway of entrance, as well as that leading into the church, are examples worthy of 
 imitation in such compositions as may admit of their application in the present age, and 
 the remains of the vaulted ceiling cannot fail to excite in our minds lively feelings of 
 regret for its destruction, as we cannot suppose it to have been left in an unfinished state 
 by its original builder; indeed the accuracy and high finish of the parts remaining 
 amount to an assurance that this ceiling was at some time complete.* It must, how- 
 
 * The finished state of the moulded ribs meeting upon the capitals as they were seen in the nave 
 before the restoration of the ceiling, and as those in the porch are still to be seen, will, it is presumed, 
 justify this conclusion; but if corroboration was required, it may be obtained by reference to the un- 
 finished portions of the western aisles north and south of the tower, where the elements of similar spring- 
 
ORATORIES ALTAR AND CHOIR SCREEN WESTERN TOWER. 6l 
 
 ever, be observed, that the upper portion of the porch is designed in a style less 
 ornamental than any other part of the church, nor is it very obvious for what purpose 
 it could have been intended. 
 
 In many instances of parochial churches, an apartment over the porch was provided 
 as a place wherein to deposit the records and other muniments belonging to the parish, 
 as we find particularly mentioned of the church of St. Mary Redcliff, at Bristol ; and we 
 have good reason to suppose that of St. Peter's in the east, at Oxford, to have been 
 designed for a similar use : both of these are of a character far superior to this of 
 Christ-Church, the incongruous height of which I believe few persons of taste will con- 
 sider as advantageous to the general effect of the edifi.ce. The intrusive elevation of this 
 feature must therefore be considered as resulting from necessary economy in providing 
 room for some required purpose, and this, it is most reasonable to suppose, must have 
 been for a bell chamber and belfry previous to the building of the present western tower, 
 as it will be recollected that central towers were not originally appropriated to that use, 
 but were kept open as a lantern to the choir, and the situation and diminutive width of 
 the windows of this singular structure afford strong grounds for a belief that it could not 
 have been useful for any other purpose. 
 
 In tracing the progress of the successive improvements or additions engrafted upon 
 the original edifice, we may, with a tolerable degree of certainty, distinguish the relative 
 order of the series, though we cannot, with equal confidence, fix the precise dates of the 
 several variations of style without the aid of historical information. 
 
 We might, however, derive some assistance from the few heraldic notices and initials 
 still preserved, but, omitting that branch of inquiry, we may observe an early innova- 
 tion upon the Norman arrangement by the alteration of the semicircular chapels of the 
 transept, which seems to have been intended for their appropriation as oratories, pro- 
 bably by some of the De Red vers' family, about the early part of the thirteenth century : 
 those works exhibit some elegances of detail, but in exterior appearance they are little 
 less offensive than the disproportionate porch-loft before noticed. 
 
 The Altar-Screen I consider to be a work of the same century, though several years 
 later, as both the style of the sculpture and the architectural composition prove it to be of 
 an earlier date than the portion of the fabric in which it is now placed ; it was therefore 
 most likely taken down, and reinstated upon the rebuilding of the choir. The screen 
 supporting what was the rood-loft displays such a diversity in its composition as would, 
 if executed in the present age, subject it to the censure of being a combination of the 
 styles of different ages, from that of the first of the Edwards to the last of the Henries ; 
 it may, therefore, be cited as a proof that the architects of " the olden time " were not 
 in every instance confined so strictly as some persons suppose to the generally prevailing 
 fashion of their day. 
 
 ings upon the capitals remain in the first stage of preparation : by which it appears that the practice of 
 the masons of the middle age was not to complete mouldings in the first instance, but to continue the 
 lines of the ribs down to the capitals in the block of stone prepared for that purpose when the work was 
 in a more advanced state, and when any crippling of the curves could easily be corrected or avoided. 
 
62 ST. Michael's loft and lady-chapel. 
 
 The additions north and south of the western aisles I consider to be the next work 
 proceeded with, and I am of opinion that these were undertaken previous to the western 
 tower, as there are palpable indications of archways of communication between those 
 portions of the aisles and the space now occupied by that tower, while the north and 
 south sides of the tower itself are built of perfect masonry, having no indication of 
 corresponding archways, which would not have been the case if the tower had been 
 contemplated as part of the design for extending the building westward. It is, there- 
 fore, most likely that a western porch or galilee formerly occupied the situation of the 
 present western tower. 
 
 Upon the western face of this tower one of the shields, ornamenting the arch of 
 entrance, exhibits the bearings, quarterly, of the arms Montague and Monthermer ; 
 now, as the alliance of these noble families did not take place till near the end of the 
 fourteenth century, we have a satisfactoiy proof that it was not erected before that 
 period, and the chaste style of its architecture affords sufficient reason to conclude that 
 it is not a work of much later date. 
 
 The eastern extremity of the edifice forms the next subject for our inquiry ; and 
 here we encounter some difficulty in ascertaining the purpose for which the apartment 
 called St. Michael's Loft, over the Lady-chapel, could have been erected. Its windows, 
 certainly, have more of the domestic than of the ecclesiastic character ; it is, however, 
 obvious that it once contained an altar, which was probably dedicated to St. Michael, 
 as the apartment still retains that name. It has very much the appearance of being an 
 addition raised upon the Lady-chapel at a period subsequent to the erection of that part 
 of the edifice. Some, however, are of opinion that both were included in the same 
 design, and it has been thought that grounds for such an opinion may be derived from 
 the great projection of the angle buttresses, which must have been considered as 
 strikingly disproportionate to a structure less lofty than that of which they now form 
 sufficiently prominent features. Had it not been asserted at the time of the surrender 
 of the priory to the commissioners of Henry the Eighth, that the library was found to 
 contain only one book, it might have been reasonably concluded that this room 
 comprised the library and scriptorium. Until lately, and during many years, it was 
 used as a parish school, for which it is well adapted ; but it is doubtful whether such 
 could have been its original appropriation, when it is observed *^".t there was no access 
 to it except through the church, the present entrance lo me staircase on the north side 
 being evidently cut through the wall, and the doorway from the church walled up. 
 
 The Lady-chapel, with its two wings now forming the eastern continuation of the 
 choir aisles, were unquestionably built previous to the erection of the present choir and 
 its aisles ; which is rendered evident, not only by the junction of the masonry, but by 
 the window, or rather doorway, discoverable in what was the west wall of the Lady- 
 chapel, in a situation now between the vaulted ceiling of that edifice and the floor of 1 ^ 
 St. Michael's Loft, as shewn in the Longitudinal Section, Plate 5 : and it is further evident \ 
 that the present choir-building must have been erected previous to St. Michael's Loft, ■ j-^. 
 inasmuch as it is found that a continuation of the height of the wall last mentioned ' 
 
REMARKS ON THE EASTERN PART OF THE CHURCH. 63 
 
 formed upon the rebuilding of the choir the eastern wall of that part of the church, 
 in which wall another window or doorway is found between the vaulted ceiling and 
 ^ roof at the place seen in the same section. Now to connect this theory of the progress 
 
 , of the structure, we must observe that the facing of the part of the wall first mentioned 
 
 is towards the west, and that of the second part is towards the east, forming an outward 
 face before the additional story was raised upon the Lady-chapel, to be dedicated to 
 St. Michael. 
 
 It now remains to speak of that part of the fabric containing the Choir and its Crypt, 
 which I have before observed could not have formed any part of Flambard's work, 
 unless we suppose that he commenced his operations in this part of the edifice upon a 
 scale inferior to that afterwards adopted for the nave, which I cannot consider to have 
 been the case. 
 
 It is, however, difficult to imagine that a Saxon structure could have remained for the 
 choir until so late a period as that which the style of the present erection indicates. 
 We must, therefore, during the absence of historical data, remain in ignorance of 
 whatever changes this portion may have undergone. It is highly probable that in its 
 original state the eastern termination was semicircular, and that the aisle did 'not con- 
 tinue round that part, an arrangement which afforded the means of giving light to the 
 original crypts, which we may be assured must have extended considerably farther 
 eastward than the low and ancient part shewn in the Longitudinal Section, Plate 5 : if 
 such an arrangement had not been adopted, no light could have been admitted into this 
 crypt, and I know of no instance of a crypt without such provision originally, although 
 some have been deprived of it by the subsequent addition of aisles ; and such was pro- 
 bably the case at Christ-Church, before this crypt was ingeniously restored by partial 
 reconstruction, giving to it increased height, and thereby acquiring the means of 
 admitting light from the aisles, and in consequence adding to the dignity of the altar by 
 increased elevation.* 
 
 The architectural style and arrangement of this eastern part of the edifice (if we 
 except the additional story forming St. Michael's Loft) presents a composition which, 
 for elegance of design, and delicacy of execution, we rarely see surpassed. Nor is it 
 less entitled to our admiration, when we consider it as a combination of efforts evidently 
 not contemplated in one original design, but adapted to circumstances in continuous 
 succession probably throughout the greater part of the fifteenth century, the era which 
 produced its kindred examples, the divinity school at Oxford, and the chapel of St. 
 George at Windsor. We find a confirmation of this opinion in the fact that several of 
 the monuments and sepulchral chantries erected within this portion of the edifice pro- 
 claim by their inscription a date subsequent to that above assigned ; and such as are not 
 distinguished by inscriptions exhibit in their architectural design and ornament an 
 
 * I have iu my foregoing observations dwelt rather largely upon the subject of Saxon architecture, 
 in which I am aware that you concur with me, both as respects Christ-Church and Winchester, the evi- 
 dences of which, in the Cathedral of the latter place, are so, palpable, that very few persons with whom 
 I have conversed upon the spot now doubt the extreme antiquity of that interesting structure. 
 
64 PRESUMED DATES OF THE LADY-CHAPEL AND CHOIR. 
 
 evident departure from the elegant and pure style of the building in which they are 
 contained. And here it may be observed that the sumptuous chapel prepared for her 
 interment by the Countess of Salisbury (most likely several years before her cruel exe- 
 cution) is one of the early instances of the mixture of the Italian style with the archi- 
 tecture so long cherished in this country, by which the latter was deteriorated, and for a 
 long interval consigned to opprobrium. 
 
 The Transept of this, like those of most other churches possessing such a feature, 
 contains, as I have before stated, some remains of the very highest antiquity ; it has, 
 during the long term of its existence, undergone alterations quite impossible to be traced 
 in a connected series : it is, however, evident that some of these are of a very remote date, 
 and some were probably in progress at the time of the Reformation, particularly the 
 ceiling of the south arm, which continued in an unfinished state from the time of the 
 last Prior Draper,* until the year 1820, when the dilapidated fragment was removed for 
 the purpose of effecting a necessary repair, and rendering the entire transept available 
 for the accommodation of the inhabitants, and increasing the utility of the structure as a 
 parish church. 
 
 That the entire fabric may be restored to its original beauty, and be long preserved 
 for its sacred purposes, is the sincere wish of, 
 
 My dear Sir, 
 
 Yours most faithfully, 
 
 W. Garbett. 
 
 Without entering into the questions thus argumentatively discussed in Mr. Garbett's 
 valuable paper, I shall here advert to a few circumstances which may lead us to assign 
 a more specific era for the erection of the Choir and the Lady-chapel than has been 
 hitherto assumed. 
 
 That there is "so strong an architectural resemblance between those portions of the 
 building as to render it evident that both were erected at nearly the same period," has 
 been stated already ;t and also, that the Choir is designed " in that peculiar branch of 
 the Pointed style which modern investigators have distinguished by the epithet of 
 perpendicular." Now it has been fully ascertained that this mode of building became 
 generally prevalent in the reign of Richard the Second, and, with some alterations in the 
 decorative forms, continued in use until the Tudor age. Our range, however, between 
 these dates is much limited by the will of Sir Thomas West, which orders " his body to 
 
 * The fact that this portion of the vaulted ceiling was constructed at so late a period as that during 
 which Prior Draper presided appears to be established by the initials displayed upon the bosses ; and 
 the similarity of the tracery to that of the Lady-chapel, to which I have assigned an earlier date, 
 shews that the taste of the Prior preferred (where it was practicably attainable) uniformity to innovation 
 of style. We do not, however, perceive a correspondent practice in the design or execution of the sepul- 
 chral monuments, since those on the north and south sides of the Lady-chapel, also one in the aisle 
 north of the choir, exhibit a mixture indicative of the revolution in architectural taste then evidently 
 approaching. 
 
 f Vide ante, p. 45. 
 
 1 
 
LEGENDS RELATING TO CHRIST-CHURCH. 65 
 
 be laid in the New Chapel in the minster at Christ-Church," and gives " to the work of 
 that church one hundred pounds."^ There cannot be a doubt but that the New chapel 
 here mentioned is the Lady Chapel; which as the will bears date in April 1405 (6th 
 of Henry IV.), must have been at that time recently finished. In regard to the " tvork 
 of the church," we may fairly assume that those words refer to such parts of the building 
 as were then in progress ; and most probably to the Choir and its aisles ; which, although 
 commenced in the reign of Richard the Second, could not, according to this hypothesis, 
 have been completed until that of his successor. That they had been far advanced, how- 
 ever, may be inferred from the initial letters and heraldic insignia which appear on the 
 vaultings; and may be considered as evidence that the eastern parts of the church were 
 erected, principally, by the munificence of the great and warlike family of the Monta- 
 cutes, earls of Salisbury. 
 
 We have seen that the manor of Christ-Church was granted to William, first earl of 
 Salisbury, early in the reign of Edward the Third ; but as that nobleman died in the 
 year 1344, the style of the architecture of the Choir will not admit of its erection being 
 assigned to his age. It exactly corresponds, however, with that of his son and successor, 
 the second earl, who was also named William ; and to whom, and to Elizabeth his wife 
 (the eldest daughter of John, lord Mohun, of Dunster), we refer the initials 512K. and IB. 
 which are twice repeated on the bosses of the vaulting, — those on the central line being 
 inclosed within the Montacute knot. This earl died in the year 1397, and was succeeded 
 by his grand nephew. Sir John de Montacute, who quartered the Monthermer arms with 
 his own, in right of his mother, the heiress of that family ; and his arms so marshalled 
 are displayed on on-e of the bosses, as described in a preceding page. Earl John was 
 decapitated in 1400, and his possessions were declared forfeited ; but as Elizabeth, the 
 widow of the second earl, remained seised of the manor of Christ-Cliurch (with other 
 valuable estates, most probably held in dower), until her decease in the thirteenth year 
 of Henry the Fourth, we may assume that she continued, even in her widowhood, to 
 supply funds for proceeding with the building which her husband had begun. The ini- 
 tials 1^. <Cl., which appear on one of the bosses, may possibly refer to the last-mentioned 
 king, in whose reign both the Choir and the Lady-chapel would seem to have been fully 
 completed. 
 
 According to the legends which in the olden times were admitted into the 
 traditionary creed of the common people, the foundations of this church were 
 originally laid on the adjacent eminence, called St. Catherine's HiU ; but all 
 the labour was in vain, for whatever materials had been placed there over-night, 
 were found removed to the present situation in the morning. Perseverance was 
 useless, and it was therefore determined to erect the church upon the spot 
 which had been thus supernaturally indicated. The building was proceeded 
 
 * Vide ante, p. 48. 
 
 K 
 
66 ANCIENT SEALS OF THE PRIORS. 
 
 with ; and it was remarked that its progress was expedited by the labours of a 
 supernumerary workman ; although at the times of refreshment, and at the pay. 
 table, only the stated number appeared. By his assistance every thing pros- 
 pered until the fabric was nearly completed, when, on raising a large beam to 
 a particular situation in the roof, where it was intended to be fixed, it was 
 found to be too short : no remedy appeared, and the night coming on, the 
 embarrassed workmen retired to their dwellings. On returning to the Church 
 the ensuing morning, they became speechless with surprise, on discovering that 
 the beam had not only been placed in its right position, but was now a foot 
 longer than was requisite ! On recovering their tongues, it was agreed, that no 
 other than Our Saviour could have thus assisted them; — and hence, concludes 
 the legend, the edifice was dedicated to Christ.* 
 
 We have evidence that, at difi^erent periods, the priors and canons of Christ- 
 Church had, at least, two seals ; a delineation of the earliest of which is shewn 
 in Plate 4, Fig. 2. It represents (arranged within a circle) the west end and 
 transept of a cruciform church, which has round towers at the angles, and a low 
 square tower (surmounted by a conical roof, ribbed), rising above the central 
 intersection. Around, in the outer circle, is the following inscription: — 
 SIGILLV . ECCLESEE . TRINITATIS . DE . TOINHAIVT. This seal, 
 which is in very fine preservation, is attached to a short deed, or grant, now in 
 the Duchy-Court of Lancaster, by which Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln, 
 gives to the canons of Christ-Church Twynham, in pure and perpetual alms, 
 certain lands held of the said earl in villenage, in Kingston and Holte, together 
 with the natives and their chattels, &c., to find two chaplains to celebrate divine 
 service in the chapels of the Earl's court, at Kingston. It bears date on the 
 18th of March, in the fourteenth of Edward the First ; and may consequently 
 be assigned to the year 1286. In the same office, and of exactly the same date, 
 is another instrument, by which the prior and convent of Christ-Church 
 Twining, remised to Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln, all their right in John de 
 la Bere, and his son John and suite ; together with the tenement which he held 
 in the manor of Kingston. 
 
 • The miraculous beam was long pointed out as an object of wonder to occasional visitants ; 
 though, unfortunately for the credit of the story, its situation is in that part of the roof which sur- 
 mounts the ambulatory; and, consequently, it could have formed no part of the original Church : 
 during the late alterations, the opening through which the beam could be seen was closed up. 
 
SEALS, AND MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 67 
 
 The other seal, which has been described by Madox in his " Formulare 
 Anglicanum,** was attached to an indenture of the seventeenth of Edward the 
 Second (anno 1823), by which Walter, abbot of Quarr, in the Isle of Wight, 
 demised to Edmund, prior of Christ-Church Twynham, and his convent, a 
 messuage in La Mulle Strett in the town of Christ- Church, together with some 
 meadows, and a mill in La Throp, &c. at the annual rent of twelve pounds 
 sterHng. This indenture is still in the Duchy Office, but the seal is gone. 
 Madox describes it in these words : "It has the word Indentura in large and 
 elegant capitals, cut through indentwise. A round seal of green wax, about two 
 inches and a half large, upon strings ; and is engraven with a church, and 
 inscribed in the outer circle— SIGILLVM XPI' DE TWOYNHAM. The 
 other seal, for there had been two, is lost."* The latter seal, as may be 
 inferred from the deed itself, was that of the abbot and convent of Quarr 
 Abbey. 
 
 This living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Winchester, and the presentation 
 is vested in the dean and chapter of that see. In the king's books it is rated 
 at 16/. ; but the sum paid to the vicar, as appears from a return made to the 
 commissioners for building new churches, on April 28th, 1826, is 92/. : viz. 
 26/. by the dean and chapter of Winchester, and Q&. " from the tithe," by the 
 lay-rector. The present lay-rector is the Earl of Malmesbury. 
 
 Many of the crew of the Halsewell East Indiaman, Captain Pierce, which 
 was wrecked upon the Purbeck rocks, near Portland, in January I786, were 
 buried in this churchyard. Among them were Capt. Pierce and one daughter; 
 the son of Admiral Webber; and Miss Blackburn — memorials have been 
 erected for the two latter persons. 
 
 * Vide " Form," marked cclv. p. 164 : but, according to the order of enumeration, it ought 
 to have been cclxxv. For the liberty of inspecting the above deeds, the writer is indebted to the 
 kindness of F. D. Danvers, Esq. the present Registrar of the Duchy Court. 
 
 Among the ancient records in the Duchy Office, there is also the cyrograph of an agreement 
 between William de Rouraare (called Romara in our peerages) and the prior and convent of 
 Christ-Church, whereby the said William grants to them a yearly rent of fifty shillings, payable as 
 long as Burgesia, the sister of Walter Brewer, shall live ; towards the support of the said Burgesia, 
 whom the prior and convent had then under their care. This instrument is without a date, but, 
 from the character of the writing, it may be assigned to the middle part of the twelfth century. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 CONVENTUAL BUILDINGS REFECTORY, PRIOR*S ORATORY, STONE COFFINS, 
 
 APOSTLE SPOONS, PRIORY LODGE CHRIST-CHURCH CASTLE *. ITS OWNERS 
 
 ANCIENT AND PRESENT STATE BOROUGH SEAL OF CHRIST-CHURCH. 
 
 The conventual buildings were situated immediately to the southward of the 
 church, within a spacious quadrangular area, bounded on the southern and 
 eastern sides by a water-course, called the Little Stream ; upon which, at the 
 south-west point of the inclosure, the water-mill that anciently belonged to the 
 canons of Christ-Church is situated. With the exception, however, of a 
 strongly-built stone edifice, considered to be the entrance-lodge, not any of 
 the priory offices are now standing, and their respective sites can be only 
 imperfectly guessed at. 
 
 When the priory estate was purchased by the late Gustavus Brander, Esq. 
 about seventy years ago, that gentleman erected a modem dwelling-house and 
 conservatory upon a part of the site of the demolished buildings, and being 
 desirous — as he himself states, in a communication made to the Society of 
 Antiquaries, in January 1775 — "of obtaining the ichnography oi that venerable 
 ruin," he caused the rubbish to be " carefully removed from the foundations," 
 and was thus " enabled very clearly to trace out the plan and arrangement of 
 the whole building, and to ascertain, in a great measure, the appropriation of 
 the several principal parts, how they were disposed, and what their respective 
 form and size." Unfortunately, he neglected to specify any other particulars 
 in his communication than are comprised in the subjoined extract ; and it is 
 supposed that his notes are now lost. 
 
 " The refectory is a room thirty-six feet long by twenty wide. On the east 
 side was a doorway, leading into an interior apartment, which measured twenty 
 feet by eighteen, with two Gothic windows in it to the south. The walls here 
 were at least five feet thick, and in the easternmost of the two windows was 
 fixed a large stone of pentagonal figure, excavated and perforated in the centre. 
 
REFECTORY, AND PRIOr's ORATORY. 69 
 
 Its use, I suppose, was to hold water for sacred or other purposes; and the hole 
 to draw it off, and discharge it occasionally. This room, I should imagine, 
 was the prior's oratory. At the distance of two feet from the doorway, within 
 the room, I observed a square flat stone, two feet nine inches long by two wide, 
 carefully cemented with lead into the adjoining pavement, having all the 
 appearance of a gravestone. Curiosity alone prompted me to examine the 
 contents, to see what might be the reason for such singular caution in securing 
 them. You must conceive what was my surprise, when, on the opening, I 
 found it to be only a repository of birds' bones, to the amount of at least half a 
 bushel, and these of herons, bitterns, cocks and hens [domestic fowls], many of 
 which had long spurs, and mostly well preserved. The cavity was about two 
 feet deep, and lined at the bottom and round the sides with square stones." * 
 
 From the singularity of this interment, conjoined with the known fact of a 
 religious foundation existing here in the Saxon times, Mr. Brander thought it 
 warrantable to conjecture that the site of the priory had been occupied by a 
 Pagan temple, which was " afterwards converted to Christian uses." In 
 another paper on the subject, written by the Rev. Samuel Pegge,t several 
 instances are cited of similar reputed conversions of heathen temples into 
 places for Christian worship ; and the further conjecture is advanced — from a 
 consideration of the high regard which the Romans had for their Auspicia — . 
 that the bones of fowls discovered at Christ-Church had been deposited there 
 " by the romanising Britons (or 'Beiges, who soon became romanised by 
 adopting all the religious practices of their conquerors'), before their con- 
 version to Christianity." t 
 
 In excavating for the foundations of Mr. Brander's house, three very rudely 
 formed stone coffins were found, some account of which was communicated to 
 the Society of Antiquaries by the Rev. Samuel Pegge, in November 1777' § 
 They were each constructed of not fewer than ten or eleven blocks of stone, 
 forming a kind of trough, but without a bottom : a semicircular cavity for the 
 reception of the head had been wrought in each of the upper stones, but it does 
 not appear from the account whether either of them had any top, or covering 
 
 * Archasologia, vol. iv. p. 118. The late well-known antiquary, Thomas Astle, Esq. F.R.S. 
 and S.A. was present at this discovery. 
 
 t Ibid. pp. 414-420. | Ibid. pp. 419, 420. § Ibid. vol. v. pp. 224-229. 
 
70 APOSTLE SPOONS PRIORY LODGE CHRIST-CHURCH CASTLE. 
 
 stone. Mr. Pegge considered them to be at least of as early a date as the 
 " fourth century," and as affording an additional proof " that Twynham was a 
 place very anciently settled." 
 
 At a subsequent period, and within the limits of the priory demesne, but of 
 a date long posterior to its dissolution, three apostle spoons were found, of the 
 size and form represented in Plate 17, Fig- 1> &c. in which front and back 
 views are given of the upper ends of each spoon. The figures are considered 
 to be those of the Virgin Mary, our Saviour, and St. Peter. 
 
 The Priory Lodge (now occupied as the miller's house) appears, from the 
 style of its architecture, and from the initials 3I» iBo which are sculptured on 
 the terminations of the window labels, to have been erected when John Draper, 
 the second of the name, was prior of that foundation. Whilst repairing this 
 lodge in May 1831, the following lines were discovered on the eastern wall of 
 the upper room (which had possibly been used as a private chapel), together 
 with the Lord's Prayer, inscribed in characters of the sixteenth century : 
 
 The World must end, all things away must fly ; 
 Nothing more sure than Death, for all must die ; 
 See then that you improve the days you have, 
 For there's no work, nor counsell in the Grave. 
 
 Some remains of the wall which inclosed the conventual offices are yet 
 standing, and without it, on the south-east, is a meadow still called the Convent 
 Garden ; in a field adjoining to which are the vestiges of several stews, or fish- 
 ponds. Another trace of this establishment may be found in a pleasant walk 
 by the side of the above stream, called Paradise, now used as a place of recre- 
 ation by the scholars of Christ- Church school. 
 
 The Castle at Christ-Church is situated at a short distance northward from 
 the church, and its exterior precincts almost adjoin to the churchyard. Nothing 
 can be satisfactorily ascertained of the origin of this fortress, but the probability 
 is that it was built by the Saxons at an early period ; as we learn from the 
 *' Saxon Chronicle," that on the accession of Edward the Elder, in the year 
 901, his cousin-german Ethelwold " rode against [or subdued] the towns of 
 Winbum and Twineham, without leave of the king and his council."* It 
 
 * Vide Ingram's " Saxon Chronicle," &c. p. 124, 4to. 1823. 
 
SUPPOSED ORIGIN OF THE CASTLE ITS SUCCESSIVE OWNERS. 7I 
 
 may possibly, therefore, have been a place of strength even then, although not 
 calculated to withstand a siege, for Ethelwold immediately retreated to Win- 
 bum on the advance of Edward from the west. 
 
 Norden, speaking of Christ- Church, says : "At this place was a most 
 auncient castle, though now much defaced, builded by Edward, surnamed the 
 Elder, which hath thereunto annexed many seignories, and sundry lordships 
 held of it, and ought to perform thereunto great services."* Upon what 
 authority this is stated does not appear ; but the most extensive list on record 
 of the fees, and parts of fees, which appertained to the " Honour and Castle of 
 Christ-Church Twynham," is inserted on the escheat rolls of the tenth of 
 Henry the Fourth, from the inquisition made respecting the property then 
 under forfeiture of Thomas de Montacute, fourth earl of Salisbury ; t and which 
 had belonged to John de Montacute, the third earl, who was beheaded at 
 Cirencester in January 1400. 
 
 In the confirmatory charter granted to the dean and canons of Christ- 
 Church by Baldwin de Redvers, second earl of Devon, the fossatum castelli — 
 the castle moat — is twice mentioned in connexion with lands at Christ-Church 
 appertaining to the priory. The wardship of the castle (with that of the 
 manors of Lymington, Edbrighton, and Bronmore) was for some years, in the 
 reign of Edward the First, intrusted to John Bardolf, who, in the eighth of 
 Edward the Second, petitioned parliament for redress, in respect to an unsettled 
 account for charges, &c. relating to the said wardship, which he had rendered 
 to the exchequer.^ 
 
 In the fourth of Edward the Third, Sir Thomas West, K.B., who was 
 related by marriage to the Montacutes (to whom this property had been then 
 recently granted), was made Governor of the Castle of Christ-Church. In the 
 eighteenth of the same reign, William de Montacute, first earl of Salisbury, 
 died possessed of this castle, together with the borough and hundred ; § but the 
 castle and manor appear to have been parcel of the dowry of Katherine, his 
 wife, daughter of William, lord Grandison, who died seised of the same in the 
 
 * Chorigraphical Description of the several Shires and Islands, &c. 4to. 1395. 
 t The estates thus enumerated (thirty-six in all) are comprised within the counties of Somer- 
 set, Dorset, and Berks. Vide " Cal. Inquis. Post Mortem," vol. iii. pp. 326, 327. 
 X See Rotuli Pari. vol. i. p. 339, b. 
 § Escheats, 18th Edvv. III. No. 51. 
 
72 SUCCESSIVE OWNERS OF THE CASTLE. 
 
 twenty-third of Edward the Third, anno 1349.* William, second earl of 
 Salisbury (who was one of the founders of the Order of the Garter), may 
 possibly have died in this fortress, as his last will "bears date at Christ-Church 
 Twyneham, April 20, 1397 ;"t ^^^ decease occurred on the 3d of June follow- 
 ing. The castle, borough, and hundred of Christ-Church, as well as the 
 various fees in Somersetshire, which were held by military service of this 
 castle (together with their tenants), are enumerated with his other estates in 
 the inquisitions post mortem of the same year.^ 
 
 Although all the possessions of the Earls of Salisbury became forfeited to 
 the crown by the attainder of John, the third earl (on the failure of the ill- 
 advised conspiracy to restore the deposed King Richard), yet Elizabeth, the 
 widow of the second earl, appears to have been seised of the castle and hundred 
 of Christ-Church, with the fees appertaining to the same, in the second year of 
 Henry the Fifth, together with other considerable estates belonging to the 
 earldom, § which, it is probable, had been assigned to her in dower. In the 
 ninth of Henry the Sixth, as may be gathered from the Escheats, this castle was 
 tenanted by William By dike, Esq. and Alicia his wife : U but in the thirtieth of 
 the same reign, the hundred, castle, and borough of Christ- Church, were 
 granted to Richard Neville, earl of Salisbury, and his countess Alice, for 
 twelve years, at the annual rent of a red rose, as stated in a preceding chapter. 
 
 In the reign of Richard the Third, the offices of constable of the castle, 
 and steward of the lordship or manor of Christ-Church and Ringwood, were 
 granted to John Horton, Esquire of the King's Body, for the term of his life ; 
 and he had also the custody of the park called the New Park, parcel of the 
 manor when it was in the New Forest. ^F 
 
 Among the annual civil and military expenses of the government under 
 Queen Elizabeth, is included this item : " Christ-Church, Hantshire, Constable 
 of the Castle : fee, 8/. 0*. 9^."** 
 
 * Escheats, 23d Edw. III. sec. pars, No. 88. 
 
 t Collins's Peerage, vol. ii. p. 64, edit. 1779. Ex Regist. Arundel, vol. i. p. 159 a. 
 
 \ Escheats, 20th Rich. II. No. 35 : whence it appears that the earl's possessions were 
 immense. . § Ibid. 2d Hen. V. No. 39. 
 
 Ii Ibid. 9th Hen. VI. No. 35. % Harl. MSS. fol. 35 b. art. 302. 
 
 ** Collection of Ordinances, &c. for the Government of the Royal Household, printed for the 
 Society of Antiquaries, 1790, p. 266. From a survey, quoted by Grose, made in October 1656, 
 
BARONIAL HALL OF RICHARD DE REDVERS. 73 
 
 The most ancient part of this fortress is the keep, which is a small artificial 
 mount of earth, whereon stand some massive ruins of a square tower, that 
 originally inclosed an area of ahout twenty-eight feet. From the keep, a line 
 of buildings (now destroyed) extended, eastward, to a distance of about one 
 hundred yards ; at which point, on the verge of a small stream,* are the ruins 
 of the castellated baronial hall of the De Redvers' family, the erection of which 
 is attributed to the first earl of that name, who obtained the grant of Christ- 
 Church from Henry the First. Its form is that of a right-angled parallelogram; 
 and on the south-east side is an attached tower, extending into the stream, and 
 under which the water flows. 
 
 The seal of this borough, represented in Plate 4, Fig. 3, exhibits a figure of 
 Our Saviour, seated on a throne, within a niche : his right hand is upheld as 
 in the act of benediction, and in his left hand are the holy writings. The 
 surrounding legend is as follows : 
 
 SI : COMVNE : VILLE : XPI : ECCLIE : TWINEH'M. 
 
 relating to this castle (which was probably entirely dismantled about that time), it appears that 
 Sir Henry Wallop (the second of that name) had been high constable : it also includes the fol- 
 lowing memorandum : " The constable of the castle, or his deputy, upon the apprehension of any 
 felon within the liberty of Westowing, to receive the said felon, and convey to the justice, and to 
 the said jail, at his own proper costs and charges ; or otherwise, the tything-man to bring the said 
 felon and chain him to the castle-gate, and there to leave him." 
 
 * This is the same stream that supplied the conventual offices with water, and on which the 
 priory mill is situated. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Aisle, north, 22-27 ; of choir, 23, 41, 65 
 Altar-table, 39; screen. See Screen. 
 Anglo-Norman churches, 56 
 Apostle spoons, 70 
 Arch of north porch, 22 
 
 Arches, intersecting, semicircular, 25 ; Norman, 
 27, 41 
 
 Belfry, 20 
 
 Bells, singular inscriptions on, 20, 21 
 
 Bingley, Rev. William, A.M. his improvements 
 at Christ-Church, 15, 16 
 
 Birds' bones, a singular deposit of, 69 
 
 Blois, Henry de, bishop of Winchester, 7 
 
 Bosses, 32 
 
 Brander, Gustavus, Esq. 43; his monument, 
 31 ; extract from his will, 43, note; his dis- 
 coveries, 68 
 
 Capitals, of, 26 
 
 Choir, 18, 32, 33, 41, 59, G3, 65; plates of, 5, 10 
 
 Christ the Saviour, sculpture of his genealogy, 
 37 
 
 Christ-Church castle, its origin and owners, 70 ; 
 its baronial hall and ruins, 71 
 
 Christ-Church priory, its early history, and pos- 
 sessions of the canons, 3; its revenues seized 
 by Flambard, 5 ; rebuilding of the church 
 and its offices, 6, 7 ; changed into a priory 
 of canons regular, 7 ; lists of deans and of 
 priors, 8, 9 ; surrender of, to Henry Vlll. 
 10 ; how furnished at that period, 10, note; 
 character of the priors, and various privi- 
 leges, 11 ; account of the conventual offices, 
 68 
 
 Christ-Church priory church, rebuilt by Bishop 
 Flambard and his successors in the deanery, 
 5-7 ; granted to the inhabitants of Christ- 
 Church, 12 ; of what stone built, 15; recent 
 repairs and improvements here, 16 ; mea- 
 surements and general arrangement of, 18, 
 19 ; tower and bells, 20, 21 ; north porch, 
 21; governor's rooms, 22; transept, exte- 
 rior, 23 ; St. Michael's Loft and Lady- 
 chapel, 24 ; singular water-spouts, 24 ; sec- 
 tional references, 25 ; nave, interior, 26 ; 
 
 aisles and transept, 27 ; choir-screen, 30 ; 
 choir, 32 ; bosses, 32 ; ancient stalls, curi- 
 ously carved, 33 ; carving under seats, &c. 33, 
 34 ; altar-piece, or screen, 36 ; altar-table, 
 39 ; monumental chapel, 40 ; choir-aisles, 
 41 ; revestry, 44 ; Lady-chapel, 46 ; pro- 
 fessional remarks on its architecture, and on 
 the alterations it has undergone, 55-64 ; 
 presumed dates of the choir and Lady- 
 chapel, 60 ; legend concerning, 65 
 
 Christ-Church Twynham, town of, its situation, 
 1 ; origin of its name, 2, 3 ; Domesday sur- 
 vey of, 3 
 
 Church of Christ-Church founded, 5 ; aug- 
 mented by Radulph, 7 
 
 Churches, cruciform, how arranged, 56 
 
 Chydioke, Sir John, his tomb and helmet, 42 
 
 Clerestory, 24, 27 ; plate 5 
 
 Coffins, stone, found at Christ-Church, 40 
 
 Conventual buildings, 68 
 
 Corbel heads, 24 
 
 Crypts, presumed to be of Saxon origin, 36, 
 51, 56, 57, 63 
 
 Cyrograph, an ancient one, 67, note 
 
 Deans of Christ-Church, 8 
 
 Domesday Book, explanations of some of its 
 terras, 2, 3 
 
 Dousgunels, dean of Christ-Church, 8 
 
 Draper, John, second prior of that name, sur- 
 renders the priory to Henry VIII. 10; his 
 grave, 29, note; vaults the south transept, 
 30; his chantry chapel, 45; his remains 
 found, 46, note; his initials on the lodge, 
 45, 70 
 
 Ely cathedral, 53, 54, 57 
 
 Fitzharris, monument of the Viscountess, 35 
 Flambard, dean of Christ-Church, and bishop 
 of Durham, 3, 4, 15, 26, 57 
 
 Garbett, Mr. William, his letter on Saxon and 
 Anglo-Norman architecture, in application 
 to the church at Christ-Church, 40-64 
 
 Gorgoils, 24 
 
76 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Harys, Robert, his chapel, 44 
 
 Heron court, 10 
 
 Hides of land, 3 
 
 Hillary, dean of Christ-Church, 7 
 
 Horton, John, Esq. 72 
 
 Lady-chapel, 18, 46, 62, 63 
 Legend of building the church, 65 
 Living of Christ-Church, its value, 67 
 
 Measurements of the church, 18 
 
 Miraculous beam, 66, note 
 
 Misereries, 33, 34 
 
 Montacute, Elizabeth de, 65, 72 
 
 Montacute, William de, first earl of Salisbury, 
 
 65,71 
 Montacute, William de, second earl of Salisbury, 
 
 65, 72 
 Montacute, John de, third earl of Salisbury, 65 
 
 Nave of church, 18, 25, 26; plate of, 7 
 Neville, Richard, first earl of Salisbury, 39, 72 
 
 Oglandres, Peter de, dean of Christ-Church, 6, 8 
 Oratories in the transept and in the north choir- 
 aisle, 28, 42, 69 
 
 Pendents and bosses, 32, 33 
 
 Pensions granted to the canons, &c. 10, note 
 
 Pierce, captain of the Halsewell, buried at 
 
 Christ-Church, 67 
 Porch, north, 19, 21, 60, 61 
 Priors of Christ-Church, 9, 10 
 Priory lodge, 70 
 
 Radulph, dean of Christ-Church, 7 
 
 Redvers, Baldwin de, second earl of Devon, 6 
 
 Redvers, Richard de, first earl of Devon, 73, 
 
 note 
 Redvers, Richard de, third earl of Devon, 6, 
 
 8 ; his charter to the canons, 7 
 Refectory, 68 
 
 Ribs to groined ceilings, 55-60 
 Roman manner of building, 51 
 Roof of nave, 59, 60. See Plates 5, 6, 7, 7*, 
 
 10, 13, 14, 15 
 Rose, Right Hon. George, his sepulchral tablet, 
 
 41 ; extract from his will, 41, note 
 
 Roumare, William de, 67, note 
 
 Salisbury, Margaret, Countess of, her heroism 
 and monument, 39 
 
 Saxon Architecture, Mr. Garbett's remarks on, 
 50, 58-63 
 
 School at Christ-Church, 13 
 
 Screen of oak, 42, notg 
 
 Screens, elegant, of stone, 30, 31, 36-47, 61 ; 
 plates of, ii. 7 
 
 Seal, corporation, of Christ-Church, 73 
 
 Seals of Christ-Church priory, 66, plate 4 
 
 Slabs, sepulchral, of priors of Christ-Church, 
 viz. Draper, Mauri, Borard, Eyre, and Tal- 
 bot, and of Say, sub-prior, 10, note 
 
 Staircase turret, 24 
 
 Stalls and seats, 33 
 
 Stone, varieties of, 15 
 
 Subscriptions for repairs at Christ-Church, 16, 
 17 
 
 St. Andrew's church at Hexham, built of stone 
 about 1180, 51 
 
 St. Michael's Loft, 49-62 ; occupied as a school, 
 49 
 
 St. Peter's church, York, 51 
 
 St. Peter's church, Wearmouth, 51 
 
 Tower, 18, 19, 59, 60, 62 
 Tower, central, 28, 57 
 Transept, north, 23, 28, 30, 64 
 Transepts generally, 56 
 Triforium, 26, 54 
 
 Vaulting of north aisle, 58 ; ceiling, 64 
 
 Waldy, Rev. Richard, A.M. his improvements 
 at Christ-Church, 16 
 
 Walkelyn, bishop of Winchester, his architec- 
 ture, 52 
 
 Walls, 19, 70 
 
 West, Sir Thomas, his tomb, 48 ; made castel- 
 lan of Christ-Church, 64-71 
 
 West, Alice, lady, her tomb, 49 
 
 White, Robert, his tomb, 42 
 
 Winchester cathedral, 52, 57 
 
 Windows of choir-aisles, 23, 59 ; of choir and 
 Lady-chapel, 24, 30, 32, 47, 48 
 
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CHRISTCHURCH. 
 
 A BRIEF ACCOUx\T OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 Temp la Dei saxo venerabar struct a vettisto. ^-F.n. III. 84, 
 
 The visit of the National Council of the Geographical Association (Friday,. 
 April 8th, 1921) seems a fitting occasion to publish a few remarks on the history 
 and architecture of the church, briefly noticing the main features of the building. 
 
 First the attention of the visitor should be drawn to one of the finest views in, 
 the south of England — the Church seen from the Town or Great Bridge spanning 
 the Avon — with the remains of the Norman Castle, the River Avon, and the Mill 
 or "Blind" Stream which turned the Monastic millwheel (Place Mill on the Quay, 
 mentioned in Domesday) in the foreground — the distance filled by Hengislbuiy,. 
 the headland dividing Poole Bay from that of Christchurch. Walking westwaids- 
 up Castle Street — to the south we pass the Base Court of the Castle (now the 
 garden of the King's Arms Hotel), the site of the Castle Gate and the Keep on its- 
 mound — the Caput of the Hundred of Christchurch — in the ditch of which are 
 built the houses on the south side of Castle Street and east side of Church Street 
 — at the junction of which streets formerly stood the mediaeval Market House sup- 
 planted by the i8th century Town Hall now standing in High Street. Following 
 Church Street we come to the Churchyard Gatts opening on to a fine avenue of 
 pollarded Elms leading to the great North Poich. 
 
 The Parish Church is set on the southern end cf the gravel ridge (running 
 down from Kattern's Hill and dividing the Avon from the Stour), on which the- 
 main part of the town is built, just below it the livers join and flow together to- 
 wards C'hristchurch Bay. The site of the monastic buildings, as usual admirably 
 chosen, on the south side of the Church, is now occupied by "The Priory" — a 
 private house built in the 18th century by Gustavus Brander, f.r.s., f.s.a., a 
 Trustee of the British Museum. On the north side of the church lies the church- 
 yard, which with its lichened tombstones forms a beautiful foreground for this- 
 magnificent building, of which the fascinating broken line of the roof gives such 
 an invitation to the artist. 'The visitor should first walk eastwards from the North 
 Porch, thereby getting a fine view of the whole north side— the Early English Nave 
 Aisle — the Norman Transept with its celebrated Stair Turret and 13th century 
 Eastern Chapels, from which point to the end of the Eady Chapel the Perpen- 
 dicular style prevails. From Paradise — thename of the eastern part of theChurch- 
 yard overlooking the mill stream — a beautiful "distant prospect " of the Isle of 
 Wight is obtained. The South side of the Nave is, of course, modified by its 
 contiguity to the former monastic buildings, of which scarce anything remains 
 except the lodge of the present house. The east and west cloister doorways still 
 are visible, though walled up. East of the Transept can be seen the beautiful 
 apsidal termination of the S. Transept, reminiscent of Normandy and built in two- 
 stories, as may be seen in the Conqueror's Church — the Abbaye aux Hommes 
 at Caen. The best view of the Perpend'cular West Tower is from the N.W. corner 
 of the Churchyard near the Vicarage. From the east its fine proportions neces- 
 sarily seem dwarfed by the great length of the Church. 
 
 The best account of the Monastery, compiled from its Cartulary, Episcopal 
 
S4 Ci)ndtr!)iirrl) iBidrellanp. 
 
 Registers, &c., is to be found in the Victoria County History for Hampshire, Vol, 
 II, 1903, p. 152. In the time of King Edward the Confessor there was at Twyne- 
 iham (the ancient name of the place) a community of 24 secular canons, their 
 •church dedicated to the Holy Trinity, of which church Ralph Flambard (Bishop 
 of Durham), William Rufus' Minister, obtained a grant. He is stated to have 
 pulled down the old church and begun the present Norman structure, and probably 
 was the first to be styled Dean. Henry I. granted the manor, church and town to 
 .his cousin, Richard de Redvers, father of Baldwin ist Earl of Devon of that line. 
 In 1150 Hilary, Bishop of Chichester, the last Dean, prevailed on the Patrons to 
 •establish a house of Austin Canons Regular which flourished until its dissolution 
 in 1539 Reginald the first Prior was buried at the eastern end of the present 
 nave; the 26th and last Prior, John Draper II., Bishop of Neapolis, and one of the 
 •original membersof the Chapter of Winchester founded by Henry VIII. was buried 
 1552 before the quire door "at the head of him that was the first prior there." 
 His tombstone now lies in the S. Choir Aisle. In 1539 the annual income of the 
 Prior and Convent was estimated at the large sum of ^5 19 3^'. 6^d. Practically 
 .all that remains of the monastery is its church — and even that was condemned as 
 "superfluous" by the Commissioners. Its preservation is due to local patriotism, 
 which in 1540 obtained a grant from Henry VIII. of the Church and Churchyard 
 to the Churchwardens and Inhabitants of Christchurch to hold in fee for use as 
 the Parish Church. The great tithes of the Monastery were given by the same 
 King as part of its endowment to his new foundations at Winchester —the Dean 
 and Chapter also holding the presentation to the Vicarage till a few years ago, 
 when it was transferred to the Bishop of the Diocese. 
 
 NORMAN. The parts of the 12th century church surviving are: the Nave 
 •of seven bays ; the Oossing and North and South Transept (the latter retaining 
 its apsidal termination in two stories); the western end of the Choir Cry[)t and 
 the Crypts below the Transept arms, which have barrel vaults. Remains of Nor- 
 man work, such as the S. wall arcade, triforium windows, &c., may be seen in the 
 altered Nave Aisles. Excavation alone can determine the form and extent of the 
 Norman Choir and its aisles, though, as Mr. Peers remarks (V.C.H. Hants V., 
 p. loi) " the church had an eastern arm, probably of three bays with aisles, end- 
 ing at the east in an apse." That a central tower, probably low, as seen on the 
 1 2th century conventual seal, formed a lantern in the centre of the church seems 
 virtually certain. The four great arches for its support survive ; but when this 
 fell or was removed is unknown. 
 
 EARLY ENGLISH AND DECORATED. The isth century saw con- 
 ■siderable building activity in the church ; the most notable addition being the 
 splendid Noth Door and Porch, the present vaulting of which was designed by B. 
 Ferrey in the middle of last century. The Norman aisles were altered to suit the 
 new style, and the windows, except in one instance (immediately facing the visitor 
 as he enters the church from the N. Porch) replaced by larger ones. The aisles 
 were vaulted and the Nave given a new clerestory. Evidence remains of the in- 
 tention to vault the nave at this period — an intention fulfilled in lath and plaster 
 in the 19th- century. Later in the 13th century the Norman apse of the N. Tran- 
 sept, similarly planned to that surviving in the S. Transept, was replaced by two 
 
Cl)n5trl)urrl) iBtsrellanp^ 85 
 
 Ibsautiful vaulted chapels with a room above, probably once used by the tuagister 
 ^operiim —hvil probably known as "Cromwell's Harness Room." Adjoining the S. 
 Choir Aisle and between it and the S. Transept apse was inserted another Chapel 
 Vestry or Sacristy, which at one time communicated with the apse. To this cen- 
 tury also belong the remains of the Purbeck marble font, from which that now in 
 use was designed. 
 
 To the 14th century belong the great Pulpitum or Choir Screen, restored by 
 Benjamin Ferrey, and the wonderful High Altar Screen or Reredos with its Jesse 
 Tree and Epiphany group in the centre — the Kings clad in the elegant costume 
 of Edward Hi's reign; also the wooden roof of the Nave above the present 
 -plaster ceiling. 
 
 During the bulk of this century the patrons of the monastery were the Earls 
 ■of Salisbury of the Montacute line, who obtained the manor from the King in 
 133c. The Montacute heiress married in 1425 Richard Nevill, father of the 
 "King Maker." The Nevill patronage was succeeded by that of the Royal House 
 of PJantagenet, the last of whoin, Margaret Countess of Salisbury, (beheaded in 
 the Tower 27 May, 1 541) has left us her wonderful chantry chapel for a memorial 
 ■of her connection with the church. 
 
 PERPENDICULAR. Great alterations were made at Christchurch in the 
 t5th century. Beautiful as is the result, we cannot help wishing that some record 
 *had survived of what was supplanted. The Choir, with its aisles and the Lady 
 -Chapel, are of this century. The west front of the earlier builders gave way com- 
 pletely to the stately tower, and so we have no picture left, as at Bolton Abbey, 
 of what the Tower was intended to replace. But whether the changes were histori- 
 -cally justifiable or not, no two opinions are possible as to the dignity and beauty 
 of their result. The Tower is magnificent — the Choir and its aisles have great 
 -dignity and a wonderful serenity. The I>ady Chapel was considered by the late 
 Vicar, a most competent judge, the most beautiful in England. There are many 
 fascinating problems, especially in connection with the dates of building and 
 the evident change of plan in the Lady Chapel and adjacent aisles — and there is 
 no Fabric Roll to help us. Under correction, however, we would mention that the 
 vaulting of the Lady Chapel and its supporting shafts seems to be later in date and 
 plan than the wall arcading — and although, as Mr. Peers points out, the argument 
 for an early date based on the " new chapel" mentioned in Sir Thomas West's 
 will, 1405, is not supported by the century-later character of the tombs attributed 
 to him and his Mother, who died 1395, it is yet possible that a good many years 
 intervened between the time when the walls of the Lady Chapel were in building 
 and the date of the setting up of the stellar vault. 
 
 The beauty of the Lady Chapel reredos speaks for itself. Over the Chapel, 
 St. Michael's Loft seems obviously an afterthought. Its original use is unknown. 
 In the 17th century there was a tradition that it had been the Chapter House, 
 though that seems unlikely. Its arrangement and N. and S. staircases may suggest 
 for its use the exhibition of relics. From the reign of Charles II. to that of Victoria 
 it was used as a School — and happily the schoolmaster's desk still survives, oc- 
 cupying the site of the former altar. The Perpendicular builders increased the 
 heighth of the Transept arms and added a stone vault to the S. Transept, un- 
 fortunately now no more. Two small chantry chapels remain — one in the south 
 
 pTil. loaa ; 
 
86 Cl)nstrl)urfl) iBi^reUaajK 
 
 choir aisle with a good stone screen built in 1525 for Kobert Harys, Kector of 
 Shrowton — the other in the north aisle connected by Mr. George Browncn's re- 
 searches with the Berkeley family. 
 
 RENAISSANCE. One of the great features of this church is the work 
 which it contains both in stone and wood of the early i6th century showing Italian! 
 influence. This is most conspicuous in the exquisite Chantry Cha} el oi Maicrret 
 Countess of Salisbury occupying the North side of the High Altar Pace and built 
 out into the N. Aisle. This is of Caen stone— as is also ihe screen, dated 1529, 
 probably made by the same fine craftsman for the Chantiy of Bishop John Draper,, 
 the last Prior, at the E. end of the S. Aisle. This chantry contains a beautiful 
 Gothic piscina as does the now scrcenless corresponding end of the N. aisle.. 
 The Choir stalls, arranged on the conventual plan, contain amidst the familiar 
 mediaeval misericord carvings, panels of classical design redolent of the new spirit. 
 
 Space allows but a brief reference to other matters of interest. Note the great Altar slab of 
 the Lady Chapel, and anothei smaller resting in the S. Choir Aisle. Several monastic Purbeck 
 marble tombslabs and brass indents may be seen in the paveinent — some with beautiful lettering. 
 Forming part of the pavement ot the present High Altar T'ace is a slab bearing the name of 
 Baldwin, son of William de Redvers, 5th Earl of Devon — a precious evidence of the connection 
 of that great baronial family with the Church. Baldwin, who was grandfather of Isabella de 
 Fortibus, Countess of Albemarle, died in the lifetime of his father i Sept., 1216, and was buried 
 at Christchurch. At the E. end of the N. Choir Aisle— but formerl)' in the North Transept 
 "before the image of the Holy Trinity"- is the tomb of Sir John Chidiock (d. 1450) and 
 Katherine his lady (d. 1461), ancestors of thefamilies of Stourton and Arundell of Wardour, &c. 
 ^-g^ood though sadly defaced examples of the alabaster effigies of the period. We have already 
 alluded to the beautiful Purbeck marble "recessed altar tombs in the Lady Chapel. The finest 
 modern monument is Flaxman's group of the Viscountess Fitzharris and her three children, one 
 of whom James Howard, 3rd Earl of Malmesbury, was Foreign Secretary in 1852 and 1858-9. 
 Weekes' beautiful cenotaph to the memory of Shelley stands against the N. wall of the W. 
 Tower. Buried beneath the Salisbury Chantry is the Rt. Honble. George Rose, " Pitt's Rose," 
 M.P. for Christchurch, whose son the diplomatist Sir George Plenry Rose is buried in the 
 Churchyard not far from the grave of his son F.M. Sir Hugh Rose, Lord Strathnairn of 
 Jhansi (stormed 3rd April, 1858). 
 
 These few remarks will be best concluded by a brief mention of a few authorities whence 
 the visitor may derive fuller information. Unfortunately the big book on Christchurch remains 
 to be written. It was the hope and aim of the late Vicar, the Rev. Weaker Marshall, m.a., f.s.a., 
 to undertake that task, for which with his vast knowledge of English churches he was so 
 eminently qualified, and also to write a short and accurate guidebook for the use of visitors on 
 similar lines to that which he wrote for New Shoreham, Sussex. But, alas ! Hie breve Vivitnr ! 
 To our mfinite sorrow he died on 6th March, 1921. R.I. P. The monthly publication of which 
 this forms a part (OiristcJnirch Miscellany) was instituted by him for the purpose both of stimu- 
 lating local interest in the history of the church and parish, and also of collecting together in a 
 handy form, within the reach of all, notes and references to Christchurch, otherwise difficult of 
 access. 
 
 The best account of the Church hitherto published, is that by Mr. C R. Peers, f.s.a., 
 H.M. Inspector of Ancient Monuments, contained in Vol. V. of the Victoria County History, 
 Hampshire 1912, p. loi — now procurable in separate parts. Of older publications we may 
 cite: — Ferrey's and Brayley's Antiquities of the Priory of Christchurch, Hampshire, 1834; 2nd 
 Edition revised by Britton 1841 ; Mackenzie W'alcott's Memorials of Christchurch-Twyneham 
 1862; 3rd Edition revised by B. Edmund P'errey 1883; The Rev. Thomas Perkins' Christchurch 
 Priory in Bell's Cathedral Series 1899 ; Dr. Paley's remarks on the Architecture of the Priory 
 Church, Christchurch, Hants. Of visitors' guide books to Christchurch and neighbourhood the 
 most recent and easily procurable is Mr. Russell Oakley's Illustrated Guide to Christchurch with 
 an account of the Christchurch and Bourne Heath Smugglers of the i8th century, published by 
 Richard Hulton and Co., 19, High Street (next the Post Office) Christchurch. 
 
 April, 1921. H.D- 
 
 [July, 1923.} Copi/right. 
 
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