290 



Mr. PETRIE'S Inquiry into the Origin and 



there is no east window in the chancel, which has at its eastern end an arched 

 quadrangular recess, or apsis, apparently designed to receive an altar, or per- 

 haps a throne, and which forms externally a third division to the church. 



Another peculiarity in this structure is the absence of an original entrance 

 doorway on the west side, for the present one is obviously of later date, 

 and its having both a northern and southern entrance : but the most re- 

 markable of these peculiarities is its having a square tower at each side 

 of the termination of the nave, at its junction with the chancel, and thus 

 giving the church a cruciform plan. These towers are of unequal heights, that 

 on the south side, which wants its roof, being about fifty-five feet in height, 

 while the other, including its pyramidal roof, is but fifty feet. The southern 

 tower is ornamented with eight projecting belts, or bands, the lowest being 

 but three feet from the ground, and a projecting parapet, which is ap- 

 parently of later erection. The northern tower is similarly ornamented with 

 bands, but exhibits only six of them. The southern tower contains within 

 it a spiral staircase of stone, leading to 

 the crofts already spoken of, where it 

 terminates; and the upper portion of this 

 tower was occupied by small apartments 

 over each other, the uppermost of which 

 was lighted by four small quadrangular 

 apertures, as if this apartment had been 

 intended as a look-out station. There 

 is also a small aperture between each of 

 the belts, except the sixth and seventh, 

 to light the staircase. The northern 

 tower has neither staircase nor upper 

 apertures ; but it was divided into a series 

 of apartments, the floors of which rested 

 on offsets and joists, the holes for which 

 were -left in the ashlar work. 



In the ornamental details of the build- 

 ing a similar peculiarity will be found to distinguish them from those in 

 churches of earlier date. Externally the walls are decorated with blank arcades 



