234 A NOTE ON THE RESTORATION OF REPTON CHURCH. 



fortunately prevented the barbarians of the later date from sweep- 

 ing away all trace of them. The accompanying drawing gives 



an illustration of the res- 

 pond base on the north 

 side. 



During my visit on De- 

 cember 1 6th, the vicar 

 kindly permitted one or 

 two of the paving flags 

 under the chancel arch to 

 be raised, and the earth 

 below (which had evidently 

 been disturbed in compa- 

 ratively modern days for 

 vault or interment) to be 

 removed, so as to open 

 out a space on the nave 

 side of the remarkable 

 triangular recess in the 

 |. west wall of the crypt. I 

 make, now, no further con- 

 -" jecture, in addition to the 

 numerous ones already 

 given, as to its purport, but only record the fact that the stones 

 composing it, on their nave faces, are altogether rough and 

 unworked, showing that there was never any communication or 

 opening on that side, but that it was simply a recess. 



The singularly fine tower-archway at the west end of the church 

 has been opened out with excellent effect, and the thorough but 

 most careful restoration of the excellent Perpendicular roof of the 

 nave was then in full operation. 



The chancel and crypt had not then, and I believe have not 

 now (January 18th, 1886), been in any way touched, except the 

 opening out of the crypt stairways. When this part of the work 

 is begun, it is absolutely impossible to exaggerate the need that 

 there will be for the greatest possible care not further to damage 

 or alter a single stone without necessity, and no real notion of 



