REPTON PRIORY. gt 
singularly enough there is a step of descent into the choir itself, 
much worn by the constant tread of the canons’ feet. It should 
be noticed that the pu/pitum is an integral part of the tower piers, 
and has the same hollow chamfered plinth, showing the work to be 
contemporaneous. ‘The north transept is still buried beneath five 
feet of rubbish, but from holes sunk during the past summer its 
length has been found to be about 33 feet. What its arrange- 
ments were, and how its eastern aisle opened into it cannot be 
known until the area iscleared. Traces ought to be found of the 
stairs leading from the dormitory. 
The nave must have been one of the most beautiful in this part 
of the country. The work was all of exceptionally good 
character and design, and pertained to the transitional period of 
architecture which prevailed during the reign of Edward L., 
when the severe simplicity of the Early English was merging into 
the more flowing lines of the Decorated. The nave itself was 
95 feet 6 inches long, and 23 feet 2 inches wide. It was separated 
from the aisles by an arcade of six arches, supported by clustered 
pillars of good design. The first two pair of pillars are, however, 
of different plan to the other three and the western responds, for 
though both consist in the main ofa great quatrefoil with nook 
shafts, the former have the principal members keel shaped, and 
the angle shaft was a beautiful triple one ; while the latter had a fillet 
on each face, and a circular shaft in the angles. Again, the former 
rise straight from the floor without a plinth, but the latter stand on 
a square edged plinth set lozengewise. There cannot, however, 
be very much difference in date between the two designs ; but 
the fact is interesting, as showing how the work was done piece- 
meal as funds allowed. There are signs of a screen having stood 
between the first pair of piers, and an altar has been placed against 
the western face of the second pier of the south arcade. On the 
north side only the first base is left ; the next three have quite 
disappeared, and of the fifth only the square footstall remains. 
The first south base has also disappeared, but the other four 
remain in a more or less perfect state. Against the west wall of the 
nave, but not of the aisles, is a stone bench table. One jamb of the 
