120 Congress of British Archaeological Association at Devizes. 



are chiefly of Late Norman character. They are stated to have 

 been built about the same time as the castle, namely, 1130, and at 

 the expense and under the direction of its celebrated founder, Roger 

 Poore, Bishop of Salisbury and Chancellor to Henry I., whose works 

 in architecture were the wonder of the age in which he lived. A 

 learned professor tells us, that the small arcades used as a facing to 

 the outside of the tower, as well as those within the belfry, the 

 nail head, the chevron or grand diagonal ornament, the embattled 

 fret, and the intersecting arches are so many proofs of the age of 

 this curious building ; and in further confirmation of this view we 

 are reminded of the testimony of Bishop Roger^s cotemporary, 

 William of Malmesbury, whose eulogium on his works is fully borne 

 out, even to the present day, as we look now on the masonry of the 

 chancel and tower, square and solid in their firmness and substan- 

 tiality as when they were first erected some seven hundred and fifty 

 years ago. 



" Thns, by general consent, the erection of this Church is ascribed 

 to Roger of Sarum — and I should scarcely venture to question such 

 opinion, but at the same time I am free to confess, that, looking at 

 the pointed arches supporting the tower on the north and south, and 

 from other little matters which have come under my notice, I would 

 humbly venture to suggest that the assertion may at least be open 

 to question. 



" The tower is remarkable in form and ornament, the east and west 

 arches, by which it is supported, are semicircular, while the north 

 and south are pointed, though evidently built at the same time, and 

 in the same style of architecture. On the north-west angle of the 

 tower is an external belfry staircase, rising as a circular turret above 

 the pinnacles, and of a rich character. Formerly a staircase led to 

 it through the north-west pier, previous to the addition of the 

 aisles. The eastern front of the tower is divided into two compart- 

 ments separated by a cable and plain string moulding. In the lower 

 division may be seen two semi-circular headed windows with a central 

 muUion and cinque and quatrefoil dressings ; and in the higher a 

 series of five semi-circular arches, two of which appear to have been 

 intended for windows. It is unquestionably a grand old tower, and 



