WEST DERBY HUNDRED 



Its internal dimensions are 47 ft. long by 20 ft. 6 in. 

 wide, and it is 46 ft. high to the ridge of the roof 

 It is divided into three bays, having three-light win- 

 dows in each bay on the south side, and a five-light 

 east window. There are no windows in the north 

 wall. The stone used is a sandstone of local origin, 

 but of a quality very superior to the ordinary. The 

 jambs and heads of the windows are elaborately 

 moulded, internally with the characteristic roll and 

 fillet, and hollow quarter-round ; while externally the 

 orders are square, each face being countersunk, the 

 effect being to leave a raised fillet at the salient and 

 re-entering angles. This detail also occurs on the 

 east window of the south aisle. The tracery of the 

 east window is mainly original, and that of the south 

 windows a modern copy of the former work ; it is 

 very late in the style, and shows a distinct tendency 

 to the characteristic upright light of the succeeding 

 style. Above the head of the east window, inside, is 

 a hand carved in low relief, somewhat difficult to see 

 from below. It is said by those who have seen it at 

 close range to be an insertion. 



The sedilia, in common with nearly all the masonry 



HALSALL 



either side of the shafts of the pinnacles which flank 

 the niche are two pin-holes, probably for the fasten- 

 ings of iron rods. 



The first ten feet of the north wall, from the east, 

 are blank, but about opposite to the sedilia is a recess 

 6 ft. 6 in. wide, and 14 in. deep, under a beautiful 

 feather-cusped arch set in a crocketed gable and 

 flanked by tall crocketed pinnacles ; the pinnacles and 

 gable finish at the same level, about 17 ft. from the 

 floor, with heavy and deeply-cut finials of foliage, 

 whose flattened tops seem designed to serve as brackets 

 for images. It is to be noted that the arch is not 

 constructive, but all joints are horizontal and part of 

 the walling. In the recess is a plain panelled altar 

 tomb, on which lies an ecclesiastical effigy of alabaster, 

 wearing a fur almuce with long pendants over an alb 

 and cassock ; the head rests on a cushion, on either 

 side of which are small winged figures, and at the feet 

 is a dog. The effigy is of much later date than the 

 recess, and both effigy and recess have been injured by 

 a process of adaptation, the back of the recess being 

 hollowed out, and the head and feet of the effigy cut 

 back to get them to fit the space. The effigy is not 



Halsall Church from the South-east 



details of the chancel, are original. They are triple, 

 with cinquefoil arches and moulded labels which 

 mitre with the string running round the chancel 

 walls. The three seats are on the same level, and the 

 piscina forms a part of the composition, being under 

 an arch similar to the other three, and adjoining them 

 to the east. Its bowl is elaborate, with a cusped 

 sinking of some depth, but the drain is not visible, 

 though the bowl seems to be part of the original 

 masonry. It projects from the wall, and is carved on 

 the underside with foliage and a small mitred figure. 

 The niche north of the altar, which probably held 

 St. Cuthbert's image as patron saint, has a fine 

 crocketed canopy, with flanking pinnacles and a 

 central spirelet and finial. The corbel to carry the 

 figure projects as three sides of an octagon, and is 

 carved below with oak foliage and acorns. The 

 image itself was bonded into the back of the recess at 

 half height, and the head dowelled to the wall. On 



later than 1520. A tomb in this position in the 

 north wall of the chancel was often used as the place 

 of setting up the Easter Sepulchre, and adjoining the 

 recess to the west is a curious masonry projection, 

 splayed off at a height of 2 ft., and dying into the 

 wall face at 3 ft. 9 in. from the floor. It is 4 ft. 8 in. 

 long, with a maximum projection of 12 in. There 

 are no traces of fastenings or dowel-holes on it 

 (in which case it might have formed a backing 

 for the wooden framework of the sepulchre), and 

 its purpose is hard to understand. It is of the 

 same date as the recess, for the stooling of the 

 western flanking pinnacle is worked on one stone of 

 its sloping top, and the masonry joints range with 

 the surrounding walling. Close to it on the west is 

 the vestry doorway, of three orders with continuous 

 mouldings and a hood mould formed by carrying the 

 chancel string round the arch, an admirable piece 

 of detail, retaining its original panelled door, with 



85 24 



