66 THE CHURCH SCREENS OF DORSET. 



the Gospel at High Mass. Another supposition is that the 

 loft was, used for preaching. However there is no evidence 

 that this was ever the case before the reformation, though 

 there are several instances of this use in post-reformation 

 times. Another use of the loft was to support an altar. At 

 York Minster there was an "altar of the Saviour at the little 

 rood loft." Dr. Cox quotes an endowment at Grantham for 

 masses to be said "in solario (i.e. the loft) before the great 

 rood in the midst of the church." Numerous piscinas or 

 traces of them remain in lofts or high up in the jambs of 

 chancel arches, e.g. Bilton, Warwick; Deddington, Oxon; 

 Maxey, Northants; New Shoreham, Sussex; Ross, Hereford; 

 Tenby, Pembroke. At Malpas in Cheshire mention is made 

 of the " chauntrie priest who singeth in the rood loft." 

 There is one further use of the loft which is beyond all doubt, 

 but it is a post-reformation use. The loft was frequently used 

 as a private pew by the principal parishioners during the 17th 

 and 18th centuries, and instances of this survived at Mineheacl, 

 Taunton and Totnes until the latter half of the last century. 

 Besides the rood screen there are parclose and chantry screens. 

 Parclose screens divide the chancel from the aisles and are 

 albO placed across the aisles, while chantry screens enclose 

 chapels and are frequently constructed in two sections at 

 right angles. In these chapels were the altars of guilds and 

 private persons endowed for the performance of masses for 

 the souls of the donors. Occasionally also screens were 

 placed across the tower arch with an altar on the west side, as 

 at St. Andrew's, Norwich, where was the altar of Our Lady. 



We will now proceed to give a description of the surviving 

 screenwork of Dorset in alphabetical order, dealing first with 

 the stone examples. 



STONE SCREENS. 

 BATCOMBE. 



This church was largely rebuilt in 1864, but the stone rood 

 screen was fortunately retained and is in good preservation. 

 It bears a close resemblance to the other examples in this part 

 of the county, and consists of a solid base with narrow openings 



