THE CHURCH SCREENS OF DORSET. 63 



the 16th century. At Winterbourne Monkton, however, are 

 the remains of a screen which dates from the latter part of 

 the 14th century and has tracery which is almost flamboyant. 

 The remains of figure painting are very small, though probably 

 several of the larger churches had screens adorned with 

 saintly figures. Hilton possesses twelve well-preserved panels 

 of the Apostles which originally came from Milton Abbey and 

 are of considerable artistic merit as well as archaeological 

 interest. In the Convent Chapel at Spettisbury is part of the 

 base of a screen from the desecrated chapel of Whitford near 

 Axminster, which retains some 14th century figure painting 

 much anterior to any existing work in Devon, to which county 

 of course this screen really belongs. Though it cannot be 

 included under church woodwork, mention should be made 

 of the fine screen in the refectory at Milton Abbey, which 

 bears the date 1498, and the rebus of Abbot Milton, a mill and 

 a tun. Although so few rood screens now remain, the rood 

 stairs have survived in a large number of cases. There are 

 very perfect specimens at Holwell, Stourton Caundle and 

 Aff puddle; and at Belchalwell the loft was approached from the 

 tower stairs, and the upper door still remains. At Stourton 

 Caundle corbels for supporting the brestsummer of the loft 

 remain at the south side. No rood loft now exists, but 

 several carved and painted panels from the destroyed loft are 

 preserved at Okeford Fitzpaine, while Trent retains the fan 

 vaulting on which the loft stood. The three wooden figures 

 of Apostles at Upwey supposed to have come from the rood 

 loft are in reality Flemish, and were brought from the 

 continent about 100 years ago so the present Rector 

 informed the writer. 



Dorset is fortunate in possessing some good post-reformation 

 screens which all date from the first half of the 17th century. 

 Parts of the fine screen erected at Wimborne c. 1608 still 

 remain, but are greatly mutilated. The screen and stalls here 

 were erected when the choir was restored after the fall of the 

 central spire in 1600, and were excellent specimens of 

 Jacobean woodwork; but their evident and marked excellence 



