228 



The Churches of Devizes, 



shafts or capitals. The face of that opening into the transept is 

 ornamented with panelling and paterae ; among the latter, on the 

 point of the arch, will be found apparently two rudders, and in the 

 hollow moulding on the north side of the east window 1 was disclosed, 

 some years since, a scroll with the following inscription painted, in 

 black letter, on it : — 



"<®rate . p . fusnts . tftatti . rtcarftt . l&mW 



[Pray for the good estate of Richard Lamb]. 



The lettering appeared to have been continued in the corresponding 

 moulding on the opposite side of the window, but its purport could 

 not be deciphered. 



Whether the person thus commemorated was the founder of the 

 chapel, or merely a benefactor to an altar which no doubt from the 

 arrangement of the window stood immediately below it, is not 

 known. The rudders above alluded to may have some reference to 

 this subject, but the writer has hitherto been unable in any way to 

 connect this device with the name of Lamb. 2 



The roof of this chapel demands particular attention from its 

 extreme simplicity and beauty. It is nearly flat, and consists of 

 two large moulded beams, intersecting each other in the centre, and 

 forming four square compartments, each of which is divided, in a 

 similar manner, by the same number of smaller beams, forming in 

 all sixteen squares. Each of these is again subdivided into nine 

 others, making in the whole no less than one hundred and forty- 

 four square panels, each filled with pierced woodwork. The wall- 

 pieces spring from brackets, some of which are carved. 



In the centre of this chapel stands the font, the whole of which 

 with the exception of the bowl, is modern. It is hexagonal, raised 

 on steps, which form a cross ; is lined with lead, and has a drain. 



1 In the space beneath this window are recorded (in illuminated letters on a 

 rich blue ground) the charitable bequests made at various times to the church 

 and parish. This was substituted, some years since, for the unsightly boards 

 which previously disfigured the walls of the church. 



2 For some account of the rudder found in Wiltshire churches and monuments 

 see Wilts Magazine, I. p. 183. 



