ON THE MANOR HOUSE OF SOUTH WINFIKLD. 77 



strictly a misnomer, but it must be remembered that it has no 

 connection with ecclesiastical purposes, nor is it altogether under 

 ground. It has been conjectured that it was used as a servants' 

 or retainers' hall, but this is scarcely likely from its position 

 away from the servants' apartments and offices, from its two 

 staircases communicating direct with the large hall, and from 

 another leading into the buttery, and a fourth into the state apart- 

 ment. I am more inclined to consider it to have been used 

 as cellars and larder, and that their large size is due to the 

 falling away of the ground, which necessitated a massive sub- 

 structure below the banquetting hall, in order to keep it at the same 

 level as the rest of the court. The crypt has a groined stone roof, 

 and is supported down the centre by six pillars, from which the 

 vaulting ribs spring in a very irregular way. The central bosses 

 are carved with a geometrical pattern in tracery ; and there are 

 eight ornamental keystones to the wall ribs, which are rudely 

 carved with winged figures and other designs. The stone floor- 

 ing of the crypt was removed at the end of the last century. 

 Note the east door to the crypt, on which can be seen remains 

 of the tracery wherewith it was formerly ornamented ; it is the 

 only detail of the original woodwork of the building (except the 

 roof of the barn) now remainining. 



On the north side of the crypt are several irregularly placed 

 windows ; above them, on the exterior wall, are a row of mor- 

 tice holes for joists, and the foundations of a wall some 8 feet 

 distant can be traced. Here then was a passage or cloister, 

 covered probably with lead ; but it had no connection with the 

 original plan, and is most likely part of Imanuel Halton's work. 



At the north-east angle of the building are parts of a detached 

 wall, said to have pertained to the chapel; the chapel was most 

 likely on the east side of the inner quadrangle, but we may be 

 pretty confident that it was not a detached erection, but formed 

 a component part of the structure. 



Remains of the old earthworks thrown up for defence at the 

 south-east angle of the south quadrangle can still be traced. On 

 the north and on part of the east sides of the manor house are ex- 



