238 The Churches of Devizes. St. Mary's. 



central light enclose a qnatrefoil. Between these windows, on 

 the outside, are buttresses of slight projection, terminating above 

 the parapet (which is embattled) with crocketed pinnacles. In the 

 centre of the east wall, above the ridge of the chancel roof, is a 

 canopied niche, containing a bold and well executed statue of the 

 Blessed "Virgin Mary bearing in her arms the Infant Saviour. On 

 the plinth are two shields sculptured with the initials "W. S." 

 evidently those of the rebuilder of this part. At the north-east 

 angle is the rood turret, of an hexagonal form, embattled at the 

 top, and rising to the height of two or three feet above the nave 

 roof. The entrance to it from the chnrch is by a small doorway 

 in the wall at the east end of the north aisle, and from it to the 

 roodloft by another door above the chancel- arch, on the north side 

 (this, however, is now blocked up). There are also doors opening 

 on the roofs of the nave and aisles, as well as into the space under- 

 neath the roof of the chancel. The upper part of this turret may 

 have perhaps contained the Sancte bell, as, on account of the niche 

 and statue above described, there was no room for it in the usual 

 place, on the point of the eastern gable. 



On either side of the chancel- arch, towards the nave, is a canopied 

 niche, and below the bracket underneath it, which formerly sup- 

 ported a statue, is a hagioscope. 



The roof is of oak, divided by tie-beams into five compartments, 

 or bays, one of which, towards the west, is represented in the 

 annexed engraving. The wall-pieces spring from boldly carved 

 corbel-heads, representing a king, queen, and bishop, 1 each four 

 times repeated. The tie-beams, and cornice (of which a section is 

 given, Fig. a) are ornamented with mouldings and paterae, and the 

 space above the former filled with pierced tracery. In each com- 

 partment, between the ridge and cornice, a single purlin, b, is 

 introduced, and in the two at the extremities an additional rafter, 

 at the termination of which a demi- angel, bearing a shield, projects 

 from the cornice on either side. The space between the rafters 



1 No doubt the reigning Sovereign (Henry V. or VI.) and his queen, and the 

 bishop of the diocese (Chandler, or Neville). 



