By C. E. Pouting, F.8.A. 



37 



patera and angels with outstretched wings holding shields bearing 

 emblems of the Passion and other devices, 1 twenty-two in all, one 

 under each main rib. The greater part of the roof was doubtless 

 open to the oak strips, widely spaced, with lead covering, but the 

 easternmost bay was boarded under the rafters and collars and 

 subdivided by ribs into panels painted alternately red and green. 

 This had been removed and the mouldings of the circular and 

 horizontal ribs cut away and the roof ceiled underneath (probably 

 in 1592, when tiles were substituted for lead), but sufficient traces 

 remained to enable a restoration of it to be made in 1895, when the 

 roof was opened out. The whole of the cornice and the angels bear 

 traces of having been richly coloured aitd gilded. 



The sanctus bell- cot remains intact — a simple erection of two 

 jambs with a square-headed opening for the bell, and a crocketted 

 and jrierced finial over. The bell was rung from the north chapel, 

 under the organ-loft, and there still exists a squint of quite unique 

 interest in one of the mullions of the oak screen under the organ, 

 through which the " bedesman " in charge of the bell (who was also 

 the organ-blower) viewed the priest at the altar, and the only 

 position at which the priest could be seen through this opening is 

 the centre of the west side of the altar. The opening is rudely 

 chiselled through the mullion and measures 9in. high, by 2in. wide 

 on the chancel side, widening to llin. high by 2 Jin. wide on the 

 chapel side. The grooves worn by successive ropes are visible on 

 the stonework of the east face of the wall over the chancel arch, 

 and the extent of the wear and tear of the rope may be judged 

 from the entries in the churchwardens' accounts, which record the 

 purchase of a" new rope for the little belle " on an average yearly. 2 



1 Commencing from the east, on the north side : — (1) The Sponge, (2) Crown 

 of Thorns, (3) Pincers y (4) Scourge, (5) Ladder, (6) a Scroll, (7) a Garment, 

 (8) Staff and Book, (9, 10, and 11) a plain shield. On the south side, beginning 

 from the east :— (1) The Mallet, (2) Spear, (3) Hammer, (4) Nails, (5 and 0) a 

 plain shield, (7) The Cross, (8) plain shield, (9) open Book, (10) rent Garment, 

 (11) plain shield. 



2 The sanctus bell now in position has a curious history. It appears to be the 

 original metal, but re-cast, and re-hung on the original bar. It may have been 

 used at one time as a service call bell for the Vicar, the vicarage before L865 



