ARCHITECTURAL STYLES IN FORDIXGTON CHURCH. 189 



period. This window is also transomed, pointed, and cusped. 

 The heads of the lights to the springing of the arch have ogee- 

 shaped points. 



The casement to the jambs and the hood-mould over the arch 

 corresponds with the two-light windows, but is larger in scale. 

 The sill is very bold and deeply weathered, with a string course 

 under it, and it has the bust of a winged angel with a shield 

 carved and resting on it. 



The west doorway of the tower, the only external opening of 

 this period to the church, is well proportioned. It has a deep 

 jamb, its outer reveal being 1 8 inches in depth, and is made up ot 

 the following members : An ogee and fillet, shallow casement 

 and bowtell and hollow carried up round the arch, and die- 

 ing into plain stops at the base. 



The arch is enriched with a hood-moulding mitred and 

 returned in itself three ways as dripstones. 



The door is well designed, but not so well executed, and has 

 recently been erected. 



In the west wall of the tower on the right hand side of the 

 doorway, about 4 feet from the ground and immediately on the 

 top of the second plinth, is a square stone, i foot 3 inches in 

 width and 2 feet high. This stone bears evidence of having 

 been damaged by a hammer or some such instrument. There 

 can also be clearly traced the outlines formerly occupied by some 

 figure work carving on its mutilated surface. I have no doubt 

 that it was enriched by some such work. Vide Bloxam, who says 

 that " during the fifteenth century the figure of the Blessed 

 " Virgin, bearing in her arms the infant Saviour, occupied, much 

 " more frequently than before, a prominent position on the 

 " exterior of churches in a niche over the portal, or in a niche in 

 " the west wall of the tmver" The question naturally arises, if so, 

 why is it not there to-day ? 



Authority gives the following reasons : 



" Many of the stone crosses on the apex of the roof at the 

 " east end of the chancels and naves of our churches and on the 

 " steeples and porches were broke down under and in compliance 



