152 



Notes on the Churches 



central tower (which is reported to have taken place in 1628), and 

 the consequent re-building of the ruin caused by it. 



We have, however, first, the distinct remains of a cruciform 

 Norman Church at least as early as the middle of the twelfth 

 century, of which we can trace nave and aisles of five bays and 

 transepts, with the piers of a tower at the crossing*. The narrowness 

 of the present aisles points to the conclusion that the walls are on 

 the Norman foundations — the south doorway is probably in situ 

 (the outer portion only having been re-modelled at a later period) , 

 and it presents a remarkable specimen of a Norman segmental 

 arch. 



Then we have what I will call " Transitional Norman " work (for 

 it is earlier than the thirteenth century) in the western part of the 

 chancel and the chapels — evidence of which we shall presently see 

 in the buttresses on the outside, and which exists in the bases and 

 lower parts of the columns of the side arcades — a distinct change in 

 the character of the stonework is traceable in the south-west pillar 

 of the chancel ; this might, of course, be accounted for by the fall 

 of the tower, but it is significant that the pilaster buttress in the 

 south chapel finishes at this level. 



Late in the fourteenth century the part of the chancel eastward 

 of the Transept arches appears to have been re-built, and the north 

 and south chapels re-modelled and partly re-built, but not wholly so, 

 as the insertion of windows into old walls is distinctly traceable. 

 The chapels and north transept still retain their old roofs, but 

 that of the south transept has been superseded by one of higher 

 pitch. 



Shortly following this — early in the fifteenth century — a chapel 

 was added to the north side of the north aisle, and the piscina there 

 shows it to have been a chantry. Then came the period of fully- 

 developed Perpendicular, in which the north aisle and porch (with 

 its beautiful fan- vaulting) were built. Then, probably, the south 

 aisle and porch (which have since been re-built) and the addition 

 of a clerestory to the nave, with the still existing roof, the pendants 

 of which indicate its late character. 



The roof of the chancel was probably put on at about the end of 



