By C. H. Talbot 



343 



preservation, but more 1 remain in the walls. No Norman work 

 pemains in situ. 



: The oldest part of the existing building consists of the walls and 

 vindows of the north transept. Until 1861 that transept retained 

 is original proportions, and probably the roof which had a rough 

 cambered tie-beam, was original, but as it was ceiled and white- 

 washed, no distinctive features were apparent. 



In 1861 the Church underwent the process conventionally called 

 .'est oration, which was carried out with a want of judgment not 

 uncommon, but was not so destructive in this, as in some cases. 

 However, one great mistake 2 was made, in the raising of the 

 transepts. The great Perpendicular transept arches had evidently 

 : been prepared with the intention of re-building the transepts, but 

 had a beam across the springing and, above it, were closed with 

 lath and plaster, and, no doubt, had never been permanently open. 

 Some of the mouldings of the north transept arch appeared ex- 

 ternally, above the old roof of the transept. In order to open 3 



bright, when found, but the greater part of the painting has since faded. There 

 |are also stones of a Norman hood-moulding. In cutting through the east wall 

 ?of the south transept, near the ground, for a ventilation opening, a mutilated 

 iNorman cap was found. There are also two fragments, apparently of a Norman 

 jgable cross, in which are two very remarkable clean cut sockets, the only ex- 

 planation of which, that I can think of, is that they were intended as receptacles 

 jfor relics, for the supposed protection of the building. 



1 Two pillar stones remain, over the great arch of the south transept. 

 2 1 am thankful that I have no share in the responsibility for that mistake. 

 1 1 was absent from Lacock at the time, and, in any case, should probably have 



had very little voice in the matter. 



3 When it was too late, those of the parishioners who understood the subject 

 ; saw the mistake that had been made. If a model of the intended alteration 

 j had been first made, they might probably have seen it in time. I was told 

 ' that the architect did not desire to open these arches. Apparently he was 

 i induced, against his better judgment, to undertake the solution of a not 

 1 particularly easy problem, and he cannot be congratulated on the result. Un- 

 ] fortunately, also, a state of things has been produced which will require to 



bo rectified, in the future. The then owner of Lackliam offered, either to 



give a certain sum to the restoration fund, or to restore the south transept 

 | at his own expense. Unwisely, as I think, the second alternative was accepted, 

 , and he put a new roof, according to his own ideas, and differing from that 



of the north transept. 



J VOL. XXVIII. — NO. LXXXV. 2 B 



] 



