262 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB 



Central Tower and Lantern. The north and 

 west arches of the central tower still remain, the latter 

 being blocked by the later masonry. The effect of these 

 great arches is extremely fine, and when complete, this 

 lantern and tower must have been grand indeed. The 

 tower is said to have been surmounted by a lofty spire — 

 these fell previous to the Dissolution, and were not rebuilt. 



Freeman says : " the character of the central tower 

 " which these arches supported we can only conjecture — 

 " perhaps we shall be nearest the truth in imagining a rich 

 " Norman tower crowned with a timber spire of later date." 



The Ritual Choir, as may be seen by the inner faces of 

 the eastern and western arch of the tower piers, was under 

 the crossing — as these faces have no projection, whereas 

 those north and south have, and the arches above are 

 stilted to compensate for the difference in width, and 

 bring the arches level. 



A perpendicular vault was subsequently introduced and 

 cut off the lantern — the springing of this can still be 

 seen. 



Leland speaks, in 1540, of two steeples, one having a 

 " mighty high pyramis," and which stood in the middle 

 of the Church, and fell dangerously, within the memory 

 of man. 



Transepts. Of these a great part of the west wall 

 of the south transept remains, and a small piece on the 

 north side — they had no western aisles — and that on the 

 south projected two bays beyond the aisles of the nave. 



Presbytery. Of this only sufficient remains to show 

 that the general character of the work was similar to that 

 of the nave, but richer. 



Externally. Of the external changes from the Nor- 

 man work now a])parent are the pinnacles and flying 

 buttresses, which the decorated stone vaults over the nave, 

 rendered necessary by the new clerestory with stone 

 vaulting, and the parap.ets,of the same date. 



.15 JUL 1901 



