112 HILTON CHURCH. 



the churchyard of Bingham's Melcombe, its object of chief 

 antiquarian interest being the Celtic encampment known as 

 Rawlsbury Rings. The parish consists of three villages, Higher 

 and Lower Ansty and Hilton, at the latter of which is the church, 

 an interesting and fine example of late Perpendicular architec- 

 ture. There are traces, however, of earlier workmanship, namely, 

 a Norman font bowl, an Early English arcade between the nave 

 and the south aisle, and a window of the Decorated period in the 

 south-western angle of this aisle, besides fragments of stones 

 (placed beneath the tower) of Norman and Early English work- 

 manship. Two of the window arches in the north aisle suggest 

 Transition Norman work, and internally they bear traces of 

 colouring. 



The Church of All Saints consists of a chancel, 24ft. by i6ft. ; 

 a nave, 35ft. by 21ft.; north and south aisles, each 50ft. by loft. ; 

 and a western tower, 12ft. by iift. ; there is also a small vestry, 

 about 13ft. by 9ft. 6in., at the north side of the tower. A 

 remarkable feature of the Church is its width, the nave and the 

 aisles together measuring 41 feet across, whilst in length the 

 nave is only 35 feet. 



The side aisles are divided from the nave by arcades, each 

 consisting of three bays ; both sides, however, differ in detail, 

 that on the south being undoubtedly of older date than the other. 

 The aisles have a common feature which is very unusual, for on 

 both sides they are continued beyond the extent of the nave, 

 without an archway, and are connected with the choir of the 

 chancel by arches similar in detail to those in the nave. The 

 piers of the south arcade are very slight, owing to the wall on 

 this side of the church being very thin, only measuring ift. 8in., 

 in comparison with the 2ft. 2in. wall on the north side. 



The lean-to roofs of the aisles are of open timber work 

 constructed of oak, and the ribs which support the panelling are 

 very elaborately moulded ; the roof of the south aisle having this 

 curious feature, that the ribs of each square run alternately north 

 and south, and east and west. The east end of this aisle was 

 perhaps formerly used as a chapel, and has a priest's door with 



