By the Rev. W. H. Jones. 



283 



The church of Donhead St. Andrew, or Lower Donhead, was 

 restored a few years ago, and then several of the older features, 

 which would have had some interest for archaeologists, were 

 obliterated. We look in vain now, for what is described, in Hoare's 

 Modern Wilts, as the result of a survey nearly thirty years ago, — 

 ' a large pointed arch opening from the chancel to the chantry on 

 the north side of it, and a low arched recess under the chantry 

 window, apparently over a monument or stone coffin.' The vestry 

 now occupies the greater part of the site of the chantry chapel. 

 Neither can we see the niche described as ' over the porch and which 

 probably contained the figure of St. Andrew/ Two relics, however, 

 are left. At the top of the tracery in the east window may still 

 be seen a piece of old stained glass, containing the arms of the 

 Abbey of St. Edward, viz., — ' Azure, a cross fleury between four 

 martlets Or/ a shield evidently adopted with a slight alteration by 

 the Abbey from Edward the Confessor, the original arms of the 

 Abbey having been, according to Tanner, — 1 Argent, on a pale 

 cotized sable, three roses of the first.' 1 The other relic of the olden 

 times is to be seen at the north-western extremity of the church. 

 One of the pillars has a shield on its capital rudely carved with 

 emblems of the Passion, and beneath is a shaft terminating with a 

 head of our blessed Lord. 



Judging from the pillars and arches which divide the body of the 

 church from the two side aisles, one would conjecture that portion 

 of the work to be about the date of 1350. The capitals are four- 

 sided, and very similar to some that will be found in the other 

 Donhead. Some small arches on either side, at the east end of the 

 nave, are well contrived, and show some architectural taste and skill. 

 Now, as a chantry in honour of the Blessed Yirgin was founded 

 here as early as 1327, according to the registry of Bishop Mortival, 

 and as the Historian of the 1 Hundred of Dunworth ' says that in 

 1837 an exact similarity of style marked the building of the Church 

 and Chantry Chapel — it will not be too hazardous a conjecture, 



1 A seal bearing this coat was engraved by Vertue some years ago for the 

 Society of Antiquaries. 



