First Day's Proceedings. 



125 



" The porch comes next in order of date, and is considered to be a 

 very beautiful specimen of Norman transition to Early English, 

 having- zigzag ornaments on a pointed arch, and it is said that a 

 custom prevailed amongst the architects who succeeded the Normans 

 of preserving- the doorways of those Churches they rebuilt or altered. 

 Its parapet is assimilated to that of the nave, but the outer doorway 

 is of gTeat interest, showing the characteristic Norman mouldings, 

 and deep splay on an arch of the Early English form. The capitals 

 are Early English, and the shafts are dwarfed. Above the inner 

 doorway is a niche for a statue. The existence of this porch leads 

 to the supposition that the present nave is built upon the Norman 

 foundations, and as a matter of fact you can distinctly trace on the 

 north side the original courses of masonry. 



" The nave is large and lofty, as well as the aisles, from which it 

 is divided on each side by a series of fine arches, springing from 

 octagonal columns. The clerestory is lighted on each side by five 

 windows. The nave has an embattled parapet, and enriched by 

 buttresses rising above it in the form of pinnacles. The rood turret, 

 hexagonal in form, rises above the roof at the north-east corner. 

 Outside there is a beautiful statue of the Virgin and Child, standing 

 in a rich tabernacle placed on a pedestal, having shields sculptured 

 on the plinth and inscribed with the initials of Wm. Smith, rising 

 from the eastern end of the ridge of the roof, in the usual position 

 of the sancte bell. The carving is very fine. Report says, with 

 what truth I know not, that when CromwelFs soldiers were in the 

 town this statue was taken down and buried, and so escaped the 

 hammers of the iconoclasts. Within, the chancel arch, being cut 

 through a Norman wall, is of unusual thickness, and panelled to- 

 wards the nave. There are lofty tabernacles on either side, within 

 which, when I restored the Church, four years ago, I found traces of 

 colouring and gilding — below these are hagioscopes. The tower 

 arch is a fine specimen with deep mouldings. 



"In restoring the Church, I took away the lath-and-plaster ceiling 

 which covered some of the rich woodwork of the beautiful roof of 

 oak resting on bold and very beautiful carved corbel heads, which 

 look fresh, and clearly defined. A king, queen, and bishop alternate. 



