108 NOTES ON ASHBURNE CHURCH. 
the nave, the transept wall having been pierced in order to admit 
the arch. Here the foundations of the wall and portions of the 
external base moldings could be seen. The windows of this 
aisle are well worthy of notice; I do not recollect seeing else- 
where any windows approaching them in character; unfortunately, 
the carved caps of the shafting had suffered grievous ill-treatment, 
for they had been cut off level with the wall, and the wood-work 
fitted against them. 
The remaining portion of the south porch was treated after the 
same manner already alluded to in the case of the north doorway, 
and thus the two ancient entrances to the parish Church can 
once more be seen. 
The font has been placed on an additional base and step, and 
now stands as nearly as possible in the position which it occupied 
prior to 1840. 
Adjoining to the south porch we found the entrance to a spiral 
staircase, which led to the now destroyed parvise, or priest’s 
room, over the porch. Ina church of this size and importance, 
it would be necessary ‘to have an attendant always in the Church 
to guard the costly offerings and watch the burning tapers. By 
way of illustration, I may mention that a field called the Lamp- 
holme was in former days granted as an endowment for keeping 
a lamp perpetually burning in the Church of S. Oswald. In all 
probability this staircase terminated in a small turret corresponding 
to that in the tower; and, indeed, there are marks confirmatory 
of this on the outside wall. The window adjacent was lengthened 
and repaired forty years ago, at the time that the porch and 
staircase were destroyed. 
Previous to the alterations then made, the aisles were floored 
with alabaster slabs, tiles, and common bricks. We have found 
several fine pieces of alabaster underground, which served for 
the foundation of flues, or covered the vaults which had been 
rifled by ruthless hands. Many of them showed marks of the 
wear they had suffered from passing feet, and we have utilised 
the best of them for the pulpit panels and sacristy. 
The beautiful niche, where once probably stood the image of S. 
