390 COBNISH CHAIRS. 



pillai's ; the upper portion ends in a capital in its proper place, 

 this is hxed on a lower limb ending in a capital upside down. 

 And the same thing occurs in the left pillar, only here the 

 capital, turned upside down, forms the base. Both these pillars 

 are hewn fi-om blocks of granite which are squared evidently with 

 the intention of being built into a wall, or forming exterior 

 angle-stones. Under the apex of the roof is a carved head. The 

 interior ground-plan is a parallelogram, within which is a stone 

 bench 6 feet 5 inches in length, a foot wide, and 14 inches 

 above the ground. The seat is divided into thi-ee compartments. 

 The wall on each side composes the sides of the exterior arches. 

 The arches and pillars are of debased early English style. The 

 pillars are disengaged fi'om the wall, on which the capitals rest. 

 These capitals are superimposed on shafts which are upside down 

 with capitals also npside down used as pediments. The central 

 seat has its back slightly rounded. There is a crowned head 

 over the central arch. Dimensions can be found in Lake's 

 Parochial History of Cornwall. 



The fact that some of the pillars are subverted seems to 

 have entirely escaped attention, and adds additional ditfteulty as 

 to the date and meaning of the building. Though the shafts 

 and capitals are turned the wrong way, yet they seem to fit into 

 their place, and to have been made for it. There is a tradition 

 that the chair once emulated the tower in the height, but the 

 size of the present pillars and seat, and their completeness, 

 forbids the idea that they have been rudely cast together fi-om the 

 ruins of a more stately edifice. 



The chair cannot be St. Grermo's tomb, though confounded 

 with it by Tonkin, as Leland makes mention of both as distinct 

 objects at St. Grermo. His words are " S. Grermochus, a chirche 

 3 miles fi-om St. Michael's Mount. . . .his tumbe yet seen there 

 (the tomb seems to have been in the cluu-ch fi-om this expression) 

 St. Germoke's Chair in the churchyard." C. Grilbert is inaccurate 

 when he says that the present structure cannot be the chair 

 mentioned by Leland, because it does not stand in the churchyard, 

 as it does stand in the N. E. corner. That it does not cover the 

 bones of St. Grermo, or anyone else, has been convincingly 

 proved by the present Yicar, Avho had the chair undermined, but 

 nothing was discovered. 



