250 REOOED OF THE PARISH, MAKOR, 



Church,) contains little of antiquarian interest. At a spot 

 •vrliich may be considered its centre, whence three roads branch 

 off, beneath a noble elm tree is a large circular stone, (see Plate, ) 

 the basement of an ancient cross. So various were the pur- 

 poses for which crosses were erected, it would be difficult to 

 suggest the true one in the present instance, unless it was as 

 a memorial of designation, or boundary mark in respect to 

 property. It is recorded that a ''cross was constantly erected 

 by bishops and abbots, on their glebes, and that within these 

 districts called crocea, or cross-lands, they exercised civil and 

 spii'itual jurisdiction." This idea would seem to be borne out 

 by the fact, that at several other places, once belonging to 

 Crawford Abbey, are still to be seen the remains of small 

 crosses, as at Tarrant Crawford, and Gussage All Saints. 



The Church which is dedicated to St. Nicholas, standing in 

 a most secluded spot, is a small but singularly perfect and 

 un-altered specimen of the Norman style, and may well rank 

 with the well-known churches of Iffley and Stewkley, though, 

 in comparison of those famous buildings, utterly lost among 

 the Purbeck hills. Its date is somewhat earlier than Iffley, 

 perhaps about 1180. The whole is of this jDeriod, with a very 

 few exceptions, consisting of modern alterations. The plan of 

 the Church is (as at Iffley and Stewkley) a nave, central tower, 

 and chancel; the two latter with stone-groined roof. 



The Chancel consists of one square of groining. The cross 

 springers are carried by circular shafts with square abaci. 

 The East window is an insertion of three lights of late date, 

 perhaps Jacobean. Above is the original window between the 

 two roofe. There are original North and South windows, 

 each a narrow light with good exterior mouldings, and a wide 

 splay. On the North side of the Altar is a Pui'beck marble 

 altar tomb (probably used as an Easter Sopulchi-e) of the 15th 



century. (PI. 35.) 



The Tower. The gi-oining is of the same character as that 

 of the chancel. Its Eastem and Western arches are both 



