Downton Church. 239 
north arcade: the shafts and bases appear to be original. In the 
north Norman arcade all the caps are original. 
It might be supposed that the original nave consisted of the west 
part of the present nave, but I rather think that the latter is an 
extension of the former, and that the original nave occupied the site 
of the two east bays. It is clear, at any rate, that the existing 
Norman arcades never extended further east, as they terminate with 
responds in that direction, and a pier or portion of wall intervenes 
between them and the later work. All traces of the Norman aisles 
have disappeared. 
Two plain windows in the south wall of the tower have externally — 
the appearance of Norman work: they have modern labels added 
over them, which disguise them, and make them look modern at 
first sight; but I think they are old. One window, in a cor- 
responding position on the north side, may be Norman; but, if so, 
altered in the head, and with a similar label added: I am more 
doubtful about it. Internally these windows have nothing that 
shows antiquity! I am inclined to think that the tower was 
Norman originally : it is at any rate certain that the transept arches 
were cut through older walls. ; 
The bowl of the font is Norman, of Purbeck marble, square in’ 
plan, and ornamented with shallow circular-headed panels on the 
sides: the upper part has been pieced with new material. 
In the two eastern bays of the nave, the Early English arches, on 
the north side, were probably built before those on the south, from 
a slight difference in the mouldings; but they formed part of one 
general design. There are corbels, at the springing of the arches, 
over the central pillars of this Early English work, on their east 
sides, for carrying a rood-beam of some kind. I could not examine 
these corbels, to see whether they are inserted ; but it is probable, 
as rood-lofts were generally late additions. There was a staircase 
to the rood-loft, on the north side of the nave, next the tower. It 
seems probable, therefore, that, in this instance, the rood-loft may 
_ have occupied the whole eastern bay of the nave. 
_ 1They have had new lintels added: that on the north may be a modern 
___ imitation of those on the south side. reg 
