NOTES ON TIDESWELL CHURCH. 125 
we were obliged to take the general character of the work of the 
chancel, and do the best we could. 
XII. THE GENERAL FEATURES OF THE ARCHITECTURE OF 
TIDESWELL CHURCH. 
The flowing line is observable throughout the windows. All of 
them, not excepting the almost unique square-headed windows in 
the chancel, belong, I need not say, to the Decorated Style of 
Gothic architecture. The windows of this church, the careful 
manner in which all the string-courses are managed, and the 
admirable proportions conspicuous throughout, make this building 
an admirable study of the perfection to which architecture had 
attained in the reign of Edward III. It would be difficult to find 
a specimen of beauty in proportion and detail, and of results in 
the way of convenient accommodation for worship and preaching 
at the present day so satisfactorily attained, with so true an 
economy of material and ornament. The walls and pillars are as 
compact as safety would permit. Economy of labour and space 
is conspicuous everywhere, and yet nothing can exceed the calm 
dignity of the elevations, and the practical utility of the general 
arrangements. They were not made as matters of fancy, but in 
accordance with the science of architecture, then well understood 
on fixed rules. The Decorated style in this structure produces 
the best results at a smaller cost, I think, than any previous or 
subsequent style could have procured. It is true the roof of the 
chancel, even at the first, was scarcely equal to its work, and was 
apparently hurried on, from some cause or other, without even 
waiting for the cap moulding inside at the top of the side walls. 
The cap moulding we have supplied by simply continuing the 
old moulding running on the western side of the chancel. The 
consecration crosses are still to be seen on the sides of the chief 
inner south entrance at the west end of the church. The absence 
of any vestry, except the sacristy at the back of the reredos in the 
chancel, must always have caused inconvenience, at least so long 
as the clergy did not occupy their rooms round the churchyard, 
or make temporary use of the side chapels for vestries. 
