344 The Churches of Sherston, Corston, and Netherawn. 



pointed ; they are of two orders — the inner order being square and 

 the outer enriched on the nave side only with the chevron mould, 

 two of the arches having a roll on the angle coming at the inter- 

 section of the chevrons. There are label moulds on the nave side 

 of an unusual section — a kind of roll with a cavetto below ; this 

 indicates, more than any other feature of the arcade, the approaching 

 change of style. The columns are cylindrical, the responds having 

 demi-columns ; all have moulded bases and square capitals with 

 scallop ornament of a pattern varying with each. The arch opening 

 into the chapel south of the nave is identical, with the exception 

 that the carving is somewhat richer. Portions of the south wall 

 of the nave are coeval with this, for the eaves corbel-table remains 

 intact where it runs through the priest's room, and Norman corbels 

 are used to support the lean-to roof of the chapel, but they are 

 probably not in situ. 



The existence of a Norman chapel in this position is remarkable, 

 but it does not go far towards solving the problem of whether or 

 not the Norman Church was cruciform. In any case there is now 

 no trace of structural work of that period beyond the parts described 

 above, while the remains of the weather tabling on the south face 

 of the tower show that there was at any rate a south transept in 

 the 13th century. 



At about 1230 — 40 the Church underwent a great re-modelling 

 — the tower, chancel, and transepts were built and the north aisle 

 widened, the whole work being characterised by great refinement 

 and purity of detail. It would be difficult to find a more beautiful 

 piece of Early English work of its kind than the lower stage of the 

 tower, and it remains almost intact. All four arches are alike ; 

 although the walls are 4ft. 3in. thick the arches are of only two 

 splayed orders, the inner one is unusually broad and supported on 

 attached corbel-shafts about 2ft. 2in. long, having richly moulded 

 caps with neck-moulds and double " bell " ; one of the caps has a 

 cable-mould. The shafts spring from carved heads, as follows : — 

 The west arch — a king on south, and queen on north. 

 North — on west, woman's head with wimple ; on east, a modern 

 head. 



