248 SOME DORSET CHURCH TOWERS. 



that draw one's attention to it. The interior at the floor level 

 is used as a vestry, the small western door being kept perman- 

 ently closed, whilst the staging to belfry above is carried on the 

 large plain corbels. To the eastern side the arch is massive, 

 and consists of a series of chamfers continued down the piers to 

 a plain plinth. Iwerne Minster stands on an eminence, and the 

 church itself is raised considerably above the roads adjoining, 

 which lends it an imposing effect. 



Wimborne Minster possesses a very fine Norman central 

 tower with a little Transitional work in it, being quite unique 

 as far as Dorset is concerned. The exterior is solidly constructed 

 of stones varying from a very light to a dark brownish colour, 

 which gives it a pleasant appearance. An arcade of intersecting 

 semi-circular arches forms the first storey, above the ridges of the 

 surrounding roofs, carried on small shafts, with carved capitals 

 and with one small lancet-headed centre light to each face. 

 Above this are two semi-circular windows to each side, deeply 

 recessed and beautifully proportioned. The tower is crowned by 

 a corbel-table running right round it, plain corbels alternating 

 with carved faces and large figure gargoyles. Above is a simple 

 battlemented parapet with large pinnacles at each corner. This 

 work above the corbel table is Perpendicular, very plain and 

 heavy, having been erected to take the place of a spire that at 

 one time existed, but unfortunately collapsed and fell. The 

 interior is supported by four massive piers of simple outline, 

 with plain cushion capitals, and the large semi-circular arches 

 above are in two receding plains. Then comes a fine storey of 

 arcading on a string-course running round each side, with 

 .detached black marble shafts and excellently carved capitals. 

 Above the arcading, and dividing each side into two compart- 

 ments, are shallow depressed arches. The two windows to 

 each side over this are deeply recessed, and with one engaged 

 shaft to the sides of each. Running down each internal angle 

 is an engaged circular shaft, with moulded bands at intervals of 

 two or three feet. Immediately above these windows is a flat 

 staging, heavily beamed and with four large bosses. The 



