PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB 26 1 



was actually built over the last two bays of the nave, the 

 western wall of the tower resting on the western wall of 

 the nave. 



Leland speaks of it as a " great square " tower, and 

 Freeman suggests that such towers were to carry bells — 

 the central towers acting as internal lanterns — and that 

 the arrangement adopted at Malmesbury may have arisen 

 from a desire not to injure the fine west front already 

 existing, and because the form of that front would not 

 have harmonised with a tower built out in the ordinary 

 manner. 



In carrying out this tower, so completely was it sup- 

 ported on the existing work that even the clerestory and 

 cornice on the south side were not disturbed, nor the 

 decorated clerestory and vault interfered with internally, 

 an arch being thrown across above the vaults between the 

 second piers westward, on which the east wall of the 

 tower rested, and some additional support being obtained 

 by strengthening the wall and pier, and by flying buttresses 

 outwards : thus a fine west front was obtained, and no 

 material alteration effected inter nallv. 



But this piece of reckless construction, though standing 

 in Leland's time, fell subsequently, and in its fall destroyed 

 the west end of the nave and north aisle. 



South Porch. This is a magnificent specimen of 

 Norman work, with a subsequent casing in the decorated 

 period. Possibly this is the most remarkable feature of 

 Malmesbury, and, as such, merits a paper all to itself, es- 

 pecially as so much of the interest would naturally centre 

 in the sculptures. 



Professor Cockwell has treated of these in his work on 

 the sculptures of Wells Cathedral. 



There is a Norman doorway in the north aisle which 

 gave access to the cloisters. This has a perpendicular 

 insertion with groining of the same date over. 



