ARCHITECTURAL STYLES IN FORDINGTON CHURCH. l8l 



They seem to have been too busy in the diocese probably 

 with the erection of Salisbury Cathedral in hand to have 

 devoted their energies to any notable work of this period at St. 

 George's. 



The porch and the south parapet appear to have been the 

 only parts meddled with. The span roof, &c., appears to have 

 been removed, the side walls raised about 3 feet, and lengthened 

 southwards 3 feet, and the front rebuilt, and a new flat roof 

 added. The raised side walls form a low parapet, and are 

 provided with a necking and weathered coping. Over the 

 doorway a Ham Hill stone sill (about i8in. wide) alone 

 remains. This formed part of what was formerly a niche or 

 panel, which may or may not have contained a figuie. 



The Norman eaves ot the south aisle, containing a probable 

 oversailing and corbelled course, appear to have been cut off at 

 the same time, and the wall raised to form a parapet to the aisle 

 roof. The form of the necking and coping corresponds with and 

 displays a kinship with that to the porch. The builders did not 

 seem to know what to do with it at the south-west inner angle 

 of the transept, as it is most abruptly terminated. Their reason 

 for raising this parapet may have been on account of trouble 

 caused by the creeping lead on the roof sliding down to the 

 eaves. 



There does not appear to be any work of the Decorated period 

 about the church. 



It was not till the time of the builders of the Perpendicular 

 period that the next alterations were carried out. These 

 were extensive, and that beautifully proportioned tower which 

 constitutes a Dorchester landmark was then added to the church. 



It appears that the former nave and south aisle were shortened 

 to make room for this tower, a span of the arcade was narrowed, 

 and one of the semi-Norman arches crippled and partly rebuilt, 

 and supported by an unusual shaped corbelled arrangement 

 forming an impost in the new wall of the tower, as is shown by 

 the sketch, making a very lop-sided and ungainly arch. To 

 compensate for this shortening arrangement (so it appears), an 



