By C. K Fonting, F.S.A. 87 



The Church appears to have been originally erected with 

 foundations insufficiently prepared for the clay soil on which it 

 stands. As the result of this the structure had become so dilapi- 

 dated that it was almost wholly re-built in 1877. The parts of the 

 original building then left undisturbed are a portion of the north 

 wall of the chancel, and the entire tower and spire. Many of the 

 old features appear to have been replaced in their former positions, 

 so that the history of the Church can be fairly well read, and its 

 interest is preserved. It is very gratifying to be able to record a 

 restoration involving so much necessary disturbance of old parts of 

 which this can be said, and in which the ancient faces and tool 

 marks have escaped the mason's " drag." It may assist us in 

 picturing the original plan of the Church if we first note that in 

 1877 the north aisle of two bays was added, and with it the arched 

 recess between the aisle and the north chapel was formed — the 

 recumbent effigy beneath the arch being removed from the south 

 chapel. The whole of the remainder of the Church (with the 

 exception of the spire) was probably erected between the years 

 A.D. 1200 and 1250, and it consisted of nave, chancel, western 

 tower, which was probably then surmounted by a roof covered with 

 tiles or oak shingles ; a small chapel on the north side of the eastern 

 part of the nave, a larger chapel opposite on the south side and 

 extending for half the length of the chancel, and a south porch at 

 the west end of this chapel. 



It is not difficult to follow the order in which the Church was 

 erected, if we except the chancel no features of which remain : we 

 may presume that this was first built ; then came the nave, north 

 chapel, and tower, both of which bear distinct evidence of the 

 Transitional period and may be set down at about the year 1200. 

 At first sight the south door of the nave looks distinctly Norman, 

 but a closer examination shows that between the chevron members 

 of the outer order is a roll moulding of the Early English " filleted " 

 type, and that the caps, bases, and label distinctly bear the later 

 feeling. This doorway is thus an instructive feature and a valuable 

 instance of the late survival of the chevron. The tower also has 

 the flat pilaster-like buttresses of the earlier style combined witU 



