178 DALE CHURCH : ITS STRUCTURAL PECULIARITIES. 



Its south end and southern half of the west side are of timber 

 frame construction ; while the opposite end and the rest of the 

 west side are of modern brickwork. The ceiling is a clumsy 

 modern insertion. A parapet removes all danger of falling into 

 the chancel. 



The Architectural Development. — We will now endeavour 

 to unravel the story of the fabric from its stones and beams. 

 To do this requires patience, for it has undergone so many 

 repairs — mostly clumsy — that it is sometimes difficult to dis- 

 tinguish " patch from piece." The oldest recognizable fragment 

 is a piece of Norman moulding, presumably an abacus, on 

 a respond-like projection (j) of the south wall of the chancel. 

 Mr. Kerry, who seems to have been the first to notice it, 

 makes its date to be about 1150. The masonry into which 

 it is built is presumably of the same date, but whether all 

 the chancel wall is contemporary is a little uncertain, as 

 its many coats of whitewash obliterate the details of the 

 inner surface. Still, when examined outside, it becomes plain 

 enough that the whole wall, from the east end of the aisle 

 round the chancel to the west end of the nave, is of one 

 work and time. So unless there should happen to be a 

 break in the masonry (which is hardly likely) where the 

 aisle-wall abuts against the chancel, we must conclude that 

 the shell of the chancel and nave is also Norman. 



Continuing our outside examination, it will be noticed 

 that the jambs and sill of the small south window (d) and 

 the jambs and arch of the round-headed north doorway (a), 

 are of the same dark gritstone as the shell, and are clearly 

 contemporary . with it. But a mere glance is sufficient to 

 show that the light sandstone jambs and sills of the large 

 chancel windows (b, c) are later insertions. The south window 

 has nothing characteristic : its jambs are simply chamfered 

 externally, and, as will be explained shortly, the original head 

 is gone. The south doorway has a similar chamfer ; and, 

 while admitting the Norman age of both it and the window, 

 there are details which seem to indicate that they are late 

 in the style. 



