ON THE PERPENDICULAR OF SOMERSET. 45 



them the tower of Ilminster retains its precedence within 

 as weU as without. The soffits of tlie four arches are 

 panelled, but they are connected by a series of tall 

 shafts wltli round capitals, almost, Peqiendicular though 

 they be, calling to mind the lantem of Merton College 

 Chapel. They are crowned by a noble dorne of fan tracery. 

 Such is also the case at Axbridge ; but the arches there are 

 somewhat plainer, more resembling those usual in the nave 

 arcades. Crewkeme and Dunster are of inferior character, 

 and the latter loses much of its beauty as a lantem, much 

 as the chui-ch gains in point "of interest, by the Norman 

 arch remaining immediately to the west of it. 



I have now done with architecture, and my scheme 

 excludes ecclesiology ; nevertheless, I cannot restrain one 

 passing word of admiration for the two forms of pulpit 

 common in this county — the stone ones of Perpendicular 

 date in the north, and those of wood in the cinque-cento 

 style in the south. StUl less can I omit the magnificent 

 rood-lofts, more closely connected as they are with strictly 

 architectural considerations, as giving more scope to the 

 introduction of those side turrets which often become 

 important architectural features. 



I have now concluded two mam branches of my subject ; 

 the exteriors and the interiors of the Perpendicular churches 

 of Somerset. A third stiU remains, the relation of 

 Somersetshire architecture to that of other parts of the 

 kingdom. The imitations of it in South Wales I have 

 often alluded to, both in these papers and elsewhere, and I 

 shaU hope to work out this brauch more fully. But this is 

 only part of the subject ; I should wish diligently to 



