92 NOTES ON HOPE CHURCH. 
original. The greater part of the general walling is of 
early date, the material being of small, chop-faced stones, 
which material is also continued in that part of the wall where 
at top it had been raised in Perpendicular times, [which 
narrow strip contains dressed blocks, the remains of the older 
copings and quoins seen as irregularly introduced into it]. The 
lower walling represents probably the work of the Early English 
period, though no other moulded parts remain save only the 
sedilia (seemingly transitional in date Norman to E.E.). These 
are three in number, each raised a step above the other, and 
enable the original levels of the floor to be easily recovered, 
save in the case of the front step, and what may have 
been the division at junction with nave. Eastward of these ~ 
seats is found a piscina of Decorated date, placed so far 
from the east wall, that in all probability the old altar7 
stood free of this wall in front of a stone or wooden 
reredos, having behind it a small narrow vestry, somewhat — 
as yet remains at Tideswell Church. As above stated, the early 
church has left, beyond these seats, but few remains. A slight 
fragment of the easfern jamb of an opening a little west of the 
altar steps in the zws¢de of the north wall [ovZy] presents what may 
have been the entrance to an external vestry on that side. And 
externally, in the east wall below the sill of the present east 
window, a slight line appears to mark where the bottom beds of 
the sill or sills of the early triplet lights rested. 
The chancel received its first great change during the Decorated 
period, when considerable alterations also went on in the nave. 
To this time and age belongs the old plinth of 
choir walls, together with the V/, sill and jambs of 
present east window, though mot its arch and 
tracery ; and possibly also it may be the jambs 
of side windows, the piscina in choir, and 
inner arch of priest’s door , (south wall). No 
trace of any Norman or earlier ia Y walling is found 
throughout. Though the set of the roof had 
