DUNSTER PRIORY CHURCH. 15 
is connected with the north aisle by a wooden arch, and we 
may notice its coved roof, with the part over the altar 
boarded. There is another less intelligible projection 
about the middle of the north side, which appears to have 
a stone roof, but which is altogether blocked and inacces- 
sible within. The two prineipal bodies are separated by an 
arcade of eight arches, rising from plain octagonal pillars, 
which at present decline fearfully from the perpendicular. 
There is no architectural distinction between nave and chan- 
cel, but a magnificent roodloft screens off the three eastern 
bays. This terminates in the south wall in a remarkable 
staircase-turret, which is at once square in shape, unusually 
large, and lishted by a large square-headed window, of the 
kind usual in Somersetshire domestic work. There is also 
something singular in the panelled arch of the east window 
of the aislee The church, like Dunster, is very wide. 
The roofs are coved, except under the tower, where are 
the remains of a rich flat ceiling. There are some monu- 
mental antiquities worth attention, and also a statue or 
idol, apparently of Queen Anne, standing, for no intelli- 
gible cause, at the east end of the aisle.e. The richly- 
carved Communion-table should also be noticed. I do 
not think there are any portions earlier than the Perpen- 
dieular sera. 
St. Decumans I visited but hastily some years back, 
when I was chiefly studying the towers, and I cannot make 
very much out of my old notes. But I can perceive that 
it contains details which will repay examination, both of 
Perpendicular and earlier times. The chancel has an east 
window of good early Geometrical tracery, and a lancet 
on the north side, beautifully treated inside, with a deeply 
moulded trefoil rear-arch, rising from shafts with floriated 
capitals. Pointed coved roofs remain throughout. 
