234 The Churches of Purton and Wanhorough. 



The western tower appears to have been erected at about the 

 middle of the fifteenth century, and to have been carried out as a 

 distinct work, rather than as a continuation of those last described. 

 I am led to this conclusion by the different character of the masonry, 

 and, in particular, the fact that oyster-shells are employed in forming 

 the joints, which is not the case with any other portion of the 

 Church. 



I may here mention that since my notice in 1881 of this use of 

 oyster-shells being confined to the Perpendicular work at Bishops 

 Cannings, referred to in my « Notes " on that Church in this 

 Magazine, 1 I have made many and close observations of this 

 peculiarity, which all tend to show that it does not occur (at any 

 rate in Wiltshire Churches) in work of earlier date than the middle 

 of the fourteenth century. The earliest authenticated instance of 

 the use of it with which I am acquainted is that of the well-known 

 " Transition al" Church of Edington Monastery, which was dedi- 

 cated in 1361. Here oyster-shells are freely employed in both the 

 vertical and bed-joints of the masonry in all parts of the building. 



The tower is a beautiful specimen of the best period of Perpen- 

 dicular. It is, as will be seen on reference to Plate L, in four 

 stages, with angle buttresses carried the full height, and pinnacles 

 standing square on them. The pinnacles are richly crocketed and 

 pierced, and a pierced parapet of quatrefoils is carried round between 

 them. There are three niches of large dimensions on the west 

 front, and one each on the north and south, at the second stage. 

 All have crocketed canopies, and the four lower ones have the base 

 for the figure raised on a low shaft, whilst the upper one is supported 

 by a carved angel-corbel. Otherwise the niches only differ in the 

 degree of the richness of their groining, those flanking the west 

 window are alike in this, and are shown by Fig. 2, Plate II. The 

 groining of the one over the window is still richer, while those on 

 the north and south faces are treated quite plainly in this respect. 



At the time of the erection of the western tower, the chancel 

 appears to have undergone considerable alteration, all the existing 



1 Vol. xxiii v p. 3. 



