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the headstone forming the arch, at the W. end a fine Decorated 

 window, on the S. Norman and Early English windows side by 

 side. The S. doorway, originally Norman, had been altered to 

 admit of the insertion over it of a later window. The S. side of 

 the chancel caused some discussion. Mr. Talbot considered that 

 the curious Norman corbel table was in its original position, that 

 the masonry of the walls was Norman work as was evidently that 

 of the end buttresses ; and that the windows were Early English 

 and Early Decorated, but altered on the north side of the chancel 

 in the 15th century. Entering the church by the N. porch the 

 tympanum of the doorway, originally blocked up by masonry and 

 discovered as the Vicar told us in 1857, created much interest. 

 The sul)ject — in the centre a tree with three birds in the branches ; 

 an archer, half beast half man, on the left, turning backwards 

 shooting at a lion, with " Sagittarius" roughly cut below; a lamb on 

 the right with a cross on back ; beneath, a lion with head turned 

 to right and tongue out as if wounded, with " Leo " cut in like rude 

 characters — gave rise to many curious explanations (vide Mr. 

 Talboi's " Notes" below). Inside, the following facts were gleaned 

 from the Vicar. Originally a Norman church with chancel and 

 nave, subsequent alterations had made it cruciform. The chancel 

 arch, a very fine specimen of Norman work, had probablv been 

 altered, the square abaci apparently being older than the capitals 

 below, a heavy roll runs completely round the soffit, a peculiarity. 

 The tower instead of being at the W. end, as was usual, is over 

 the N. transept, the stand for the hour glass on right of pulpit 

 was a relic of olden times. The S. transept was a beautiful 

 specimen of Early Decorated work, and the "squints" were also 

 noticeable. In short but few churches in Somerset, so noted for 

 its churches, equal this in interest, as it is an example of nearly 

 every style from Early Norman down to our own times. 



Mr. Talbot's notes on the church being of value are here 

 appended : — 



JVotes on Stoke -sub- Ilamdon Church. By C. H. Talbot. 



This church is very picturesque and of great interest; owing to the 



