176 STUDLAND CHURCH. 



There is reason to believe that it is built inside a Saxon stilted, 

 square-faced arch, the capitals of which are about eighteen 

 inches higher than the latter, which are cut in behind the earlier 

 moulding. All the arches are slightly stilted. The earliest capitals 

 are unique in decoration, the subjects being fern and harebell 

 simply treated, why not acanthus 1 as at S. Mark's, Venice, and also 

 in Romanesque work. The two rough corbels under them (very 

 plainly inserted since the Saxon work) seem to have supported a 

 rood-beam ; the three holes to fix the rood to the ashlar-work are 

 seen above the Norman arch. (PI. III., fig. 2 X .) And over these 

 are the remains of a fresco, representing a standing figure, with one 

 kneeling on either side of him. 



Zig-zag moulding (surface carving) ornaments the outer moulding 

 of the arch. The window dedicated to the Virgin Mary is in 

 memory of Miss L. C. Luckham, and is dated 1884. 



The walls of the choir are of rubble-work. The bell loft is above. 

 The ceiling, which is groined as in the chancel, is supported by 

 Purbeck " burr," and the skirting-course runs round, as in the same 

 portion of the chancel. 



The nave arch again shows the settlement. Here stands a 

 slightly stilted Norman arch, with hatchet and basket moulding 

 on the capitals. The basket work is to be noticed as it 

 occurs. 



The end beam of a side gallery was once inserted in the N. 

 capital (pi. III., fig. 1), the hole of which, six inches square, is 

 stopped with Roman cement, and carved to imitate the stone an 

 unsightly botch. Rudely-carved foot ornaments, very like those at 

 Wimborne Minster, are at the bases of the columns. 



The stained glass S.E. window perpetuates the memory of one 

 of the Bankes family. 



THE FONT 



stands under the gallery at the W. end of the church (pi. II., fig. 1), 

 very ancient, rudely axed out of Purbeck " burr," with a rim four 

 inches thick, and it was either lined with lead, or rimmed for a 

 cover perhaps both. The stone which supports the bowl is a 



