126 NOTES ON TIDESWELL CHURCH. 
XIII. RESTORATION. 
This has been much admired. I have to regret, however, that 
in consequence of a mistake between the architect and builder, 
the pitch of the chancel roof was somewhat altered, notwith- 
standing the stipulation, carefully made, that no alteration of 
pitch in the roofs should occur. The difference is not much, but 
my repeated wish was that not the slightest alteration should be 
made. The original roof which we found on Tideswell Chancel 
was very simple, composed of small rafters, with a collar high up 
towards the apex, the eastern bay having evidently, as we saw by 
the nail holes, been boarded and illuminated. The footings of 
the rafters rested on the top of the wall, only kept in place by an 
oak wall plate. It was no wonder that such a construction should 
have pushed out the side walls at the top in the middle bays. 
The timbers were too decayed to admit of repair. Advantage 
was taken of the necessity of a new roof to lay hold of the side 
walls by hammer beams, supported on corbels some four feet from 
the top of the wall, and that without departing from the character 
of the roofs adopted in the 14th century. The character of the 
old stall work is seen by the ten stalls lately removed from the 
chancel to the Lady Chapel. What the original seats in the 
nave were cannot now be ascertained. The roof of the nave is 
original. The main timbers are sound, and will be retained, and 
the original pitch preserved unaltered. The small rafters and 
purlins require to be renewed, as well as the lead. This is being 
done, and additional supports made at the junction of the rafters 
and purlins. The roof of the Hermit’s Chamber, over the south 
porch, has been restored. The old opening or squint from this 
chamber, made for keeping guard over the church, has been used 
to gain better access to the room, so that it may be used asa 
store-room for fragments and articles belonging to the church. 
In the early part of this century it was used as a bone house. 
The bells were, sixty or seventy years ago, rung from a small 
gallery over the western door of the tower, and communicating 
with another gallery used by the singers, which gallery then gave 
place to the present western gallery. The present gallery now 
