OF SELBORNE. 413 



these benches; but some are decayed through age, and the 

 rest much disguised by modern alterations. 1 



At the upper end of this aisle and running out to the 

 north stands a transept, known by the name of the North 

 Chancel, measuring twenty- one feet from south to north, 

 and nineteen feet from east to west : this was intended, no 

 doubt, as a private chantry ; and was also, till of late, 

 divided off by a Gothic frame work of timber. In its north 

 wall, under a very blunt Gothic arch, lies perhaps the 

 founder of this edifice, which, from the shape of its arch, 

 may be deemed no older than the latter end of the reign of 

 Henry VII. The tomb was examined some years ago, but 

 contained nothing except the skull and thigh bones of a 

 large tall man, and the bones of a youth or woman, lying in 

 a very irregular manner, without any escutcheon or other 

 token to ascertain the names or rank of the deceased. The 

 grave was very shallow, and lined with stone at the bottom 

 and on the sides. 2 



From the east wall project four stone brackets, which I 

 conclude supported images and crucifixes. In the great 

 thick pilaster, jutting out between this transept and the 

 chancel, there is a very sharp Gothic niche, of older date 

 than the present chantry or church. But the chief pieces 

 of antiquity are two narrow stone coffin lids, which compose 

 part of the floor, and lie from west to east, with the very 

 narrow ends eastward : these belong to remote times ; and, 

 if originally placed here, which I doubt, must have been 

 part of the pavement of an older transept. At present 

 there are no coffins under them, whence I conclude they 

 have been removed to this place from some part of a former 

 church. One of these lids is so eaten by time, that no 

 sculpture can be discovered upon it ; or, perhaps, it may be 

 the wrong side uppermost : but on the other, which seems 



1 Since this description was penned, considerable alterations have 

 naturally been effected in the interior of the church. ED. 



2 There is no longer any vestige of a tomb in the north wall of the 

 north chancel. ED. 



