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By C. E. Ponting, F.S.A. 



The Church of The Holy Cross. Sherston. 



UBREY makes only a passing reference to this Church, but 

 in his supplementary notes Canon Jackson describes its 

 architecture more in detail than was his wont, as follows : — 



" The Church (Holy Cross) has Norman nave arches with good 

 chevron mouldings. In the chancel a three-light east window with 

 shafts of Purbeck marble, and ornamented canopy. The tower is 

 only about 150 years old, but rests on Early English arches, at the 

 spring of which is a curiously short shaft resting on a corbel head. 

 There was once a spire. In the north aisle is an arched monument 

 to a lady, c. 1350 : and a three-light early window. In the north 

 chancel wall a ' low side window ' blocked up. The south chancel 

 was added, c. 1460, and has square-headed windows. The porch 

 is handsomely groined, with bosses : over it a small chamber. A 

 fine yew tree and large lich-gate in the church yard : and in the 

 vicarage garden good remains of a Perpendicular cross." 



The present plan of this Church is peculiar, and is the result of 

 several alterations from the former cruciform plan, of which there 

 is structural evidence beyond that afforded by the dedication. It 

 now consists of nave with north aisle of four bays, central tower, 

 chancel, north transept, a south chapel opening from the east part 

 of the nave, a chapel eastward of this occupying the south side of 

 the tower and overlapping the greater part of the chancel. There 

 is a south porch to the nave with priest's room over. 



The arcade is late Norman work, very similar in type to that at 

 Great Bedwyn, but here the arches are semi-circular instead of 



