ST. MARY'S TOWER, TAUNTON. 147 



the nave and aisles of St. Mary's church in that city, 

 seeing also that Maudlin Tower, Oxford, and St. Mary's 

 Tower, Taunton, have a sort of family resemblance, it ap- 

 pears to nie more than probable that both these noble 

 towers eraanated from the saine genius. 



It was observed by a learned archasologist of our Society 

 that St. Mary's, Oxford, judging from its style, must be 

 füll half a Century earlier than St. Mary's. But that a 

 building may be much earlier than its style seems to denote 

 is proved by Mr. Scott's observations on Doncaster tower. 

 He says, " The next deviation from the original design was 

 the re-erection of the magnificent central tower. This would 

 appear not to have been commenced tili about 1 425, as it 

 contained in a very conspicuous position, and at no very 

 great height up, the arms of Archbishop Kempe, supported 

 by an angel. Were it not for this evidence I should, I 

 confess, have placed the work considerably earlier, the de- 

 tails are so exceedingly fine, and are so early in their 

 character." I have since found that the first stone of 

 Magdalen Tower, Oxford, was laid on the 9th of August, 

 1492, by Richard Mayew, then President ; and that it was 

 not finished until 1505. 



In a very füll and authentic biography, contributed by 

 one of the family, to be found in Keppes' biography, 

 Bray is only named as building bis royal master's chapel 

 at Westminster, and finishing that of Windsor. And 

 though he is said to have given 40 marks towards the 

 repair of St. Mary's, Oxford, by the same authority, no 

 mention is made of his having been its architect. In 

 Parker's Glossary of Architecture it is stated that he was the 

 architect of the said nave and aisles ; and you have seen 

 that another author informs us that he rebuilt a palace 

 at Sheen, enlarged the old palace at Greenwich, and 



