Recent Wiltshire Boohs, Pamphlets, Articles, &c, 325 



The Abbey Church of Malmesbury and its South 

 Forch, by the Bishop of Bristol. 



An important paper in The Treasurjj for Dec, 1906, pp. 281 — 291, 

 with the following photographic illustrations : — The Inner Porch ; S. Side 

 " as it was in 1897," and " as it is now " ; S. Side of the Nave with the 

 Watching Chamber ; and the Outer Porch ; together with one of the 

 N. Door of the Chapel of St. Mary, Glastonbury, for comparison. The 

 Bishop dismisses the idea that Bp. Roger had anything to do with the 

 building of the Norman Church and believes that the real builder was 

 Abbot Peter, cir, 1150. The Bishop traces the published lists of subjects 

 carved on the S. Porch as coming from two sources, (a) the MS. Notes 

 of an unknown tourist in 1634 (Lansdowne MS., 213, in the British 

 Museum), which have been printed in Wilts Arch. Mag., xxviii., 168, 

 and (h) the list given by Professor Cockerell in his book on the W. Front 

 of Wells Cathedral. Of this latter the Bishop says " Professor Cockerell's 

 identifications of the subjects are vitiated by his ruling idea that the 

 zodiacal signs with their usual accompaniments are to be found on this 

 porch. It is now practically certain that they were, or were to have 

 been, on the Great West Doorway, and not here." More recently (1901) 

 Dr. M. R James, Provost of King's Coll., Cambridge, printed a paper in 

 the Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society, xlii., pp. 136 — 

 147, on these sculptures, with the conclusions of which Bishop Browne 

 finds himself in entire agreement. Beginning with the outer order of 

 the arch, he regards the four medallions on the vertical portion of the door 

 on each side, now greatly defaced, as representing 8 virtues triumphing 

 over vices. (Prudentius treated of seven virtues and vices, but Aldhelm 

 wrote on the eight principal virtues). The subjects on the arch are : on 

 the left hand side, 5, Annunciation ; 6, Nativity ; 7, Magi ? or Shepherds ; 

 8, Magi, probably ; 9, Mary carrying the Child, and Joseph ; 10, Baptism ; 

 11, Entry into Jerusalem; 12, Last Supper ; 13, Crucifixion; 14, En- 

 tombment; 15, Resurrection; 16, Ascension; 17, Descent of H. Ghost. 



In the middle order there are 8 medallions, on the vertical portion 

 on each side. None of these 16 objects can be identified with any 

 definite scene. The subjects on the arch are : 9. An axe is given to 

 Noah (by God, says the tourist, by Christ, says Dr. James) ; 10, Noah at 

 work ; 11, The Family in the Ark; 12, Sacrifice of Isaac; 13, the Ram ; 

 14, Joseph describing his dream to Jacob ? 15, Burning Bush ; 16, 

 Moses striking the Rock ; 17, Moses and Aaron and the Tables of the 

 Law : 18, Sampson and Lion ; 19, Sampson and the Gates ; 20, Sampson 

 pulling down Temple ; 21, David and Lamb ; 22, David and Goliath. 



On the inner order there are 27 medallions. On the left, lowest three 

 defaced ; 4, a single figure ; 5, Bird, Peacock ? ; 6, Figure stooping with 

 hands on ground ; 7, two beasts ; 8, angel (possibly these medallions 

 represent the creation of Birds, Fishes, and Beasts) ; 9, Creation of Adam ; 

 10, Creation of Eve ; 11, Tree of Knowledge ; 12, Temptation ; 13, Adam 

 and Eve crouching under shrubs ; 14, Almighty calling to them ; 15, 

 Expulsion from Paradise ; 16, Spade and Distaff given ; 18, Birth of a 



VOL. XXXV. — NO. CVIII. Y 



