CHURCHES IN THE RURAL DEANERY OF DORCHESTER. 61 



side of it, supporting the small cot which contained the sanctus 

 bell. 



ARCADE WITHIN THE CHURCH, 15th century. 



TOWER, late 15th century. There are some indications which 

 lead one to suspect that the core of the tower may be Early English. 



FURNITURE. FONT : The basin and a portion of the pedestal 

 14th century (late). 



PISCINA : Originally in the south aisle, 15th century. 



SCREEN : The head of the ancient screen is inserted in the base ; 

 the date is late 14th century, style Decorated English, approaching 

 Flamboyant. 



RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH in 1870. At this restoration the 

 north wall, which was Norman, was taken down ; it was very thick 

 and of rubble, built upon the surface of the ground without founda- 

 tions.* To find a solid foundation for the new wall the masons 

 had to go down six feet. Into this wall oaken beams had been 

 built, the wood had perished, little more than dust was left ; { the 

 use of wood in stone walls by the Normans may have been a relic 

 of the Roman practice. "Turn in crassitudine perpetuee talese 

 oleaginece ustilatee quam creberrimse instruantur uti utrseque muri 

 frontes inter se, quemadmodum fibulis, his taleis conligatae eeternam 

 habeant firmitatem, &c." (Vitru, lib. 1, cap. 5.) 



The roof was waggon-headed, plastered with one moulded rib 

 dividing the nave from the chancel. The chancel was shorter than 

 the present one, the ancient screen, the base of which was found 

 in situ between two high pews, being on the east side of the rood 

 loft doorway. This base, which was much decayed, consisted of an 

 oak framework with three plain panels on either side, the head of 

 the screen was found upon the base, and is inserted in the new 

 screen in a position similar to that in which it had been found. 



* It seems to have been in Saxon and Norman times a common 

 practice to build upon the surface of the soil without foundations ; the 

 soil, however, was no doubt well rammed. Of one church built in Saxon 

 times it is recorded that the soil was beaten together by means of a 

 battering ram. 



t Cavities left by the decay of oaken ties in Norman walls were to be 

 seen at Dinas Powis, Brunlaise, Rochester, and Lincoln Castles. 



