SOME DORSET CHURCH TOWERS. 247 



shuting from the gutters behind the parapet is run out over the 

 heads of these figures. To the east side of the tower there is 

 a huge gargoyle, at the level of the chancel eaves, seemingly 

 fulfilling no purpose. Crowning the tower is a large slightly 

 projecting corbel table, with carved heads as corbels, and trefoil 

 arches above, and directly above this comes another smaller 

 corbel table with twice the number of corbels to each side. 

 Then there is a parapet extending all round the tower, having 

 open quatrefoil tracery, and at the angles are tall pinnacles, 

 panelled, moulded, and crocketted. Behind the parapet rises 

 the spire, octagonal, and ribbed at the angles, finished with a 

 moulded finial and weather vane of quaint design. This spire 

 does not seem at all safe, as there is a distinctly noticeable 

 leaning and twist, which makes one feel quite uncomfortable 

 whilst gazing at it. At the foot of the tower, close to the 

 principal entrance to the church, are three small steps and a 

 landing, from which a door leads from the exterior to the 

 belfry. The interior, one storey only of which is open to the 

 church, forms a south transept, and is plain, having two 

 windows and the double-chamfered arch to the nave side. 



Whilst in this neighbourhood, Sherborne Abbey should be 

 mentioned ; but the tower seems to be one of the least 

 striking features of a building which is one of the finest of its 

 kind in England, and it is difficult to get a sketch of this part 

 .without dwarfing it by the magnificence of the clerestory 

 windows and other such prominent features. 



Iwerne Minster, about six miles and a-half to the north of 

 Blandford, is one of the few towers possessing a spire, Trent 

 .and Winterborne Abbas being others. The tower itself is plain, 

 of Decorated character, sixty feet high, of three storeys, and is 

 buttressed on three sides. It is crowned with a heavy battle- 

 mented parapet, carried on a slightly moulded corbel-table, and 

 from this rises an octagonal spire, forty feet high, ribbed at 

 angles, with two traceried bands round, at different heights, and 

 crowned with a moulded finial and weather vane. The details 

 call for little comment, as it is the solidity and size of this tower 



