Visited by the Society in 1890. 



259 



The font is of thirteenth century date — it has a square bowl, the 

 angles of which are slightly canted off. 



S. John Baptist's. Chekington (or Chiuton). 



This Church has been much altered, but there is still sufficient 

 evidence to enable us to form a pretty good idea of its history, 



The first thing which strikes one is the very early roof, quite the 

 earliest example of timber-work that we have seen during our ex- 

 cursions for many years. Perhaps the best means of arriving at its 

 probable date will be to first consider the arcades which support it. 

 These are of three bays each of round arches, with quite plain soffits 

 and without labels. The pillars are round and the caps and their 

 abaci square — the carving in each being of a different type. Now 

 on reading this description alone one would be disposed to say " Why 

 of course this is pure Norman work ! " but if we look a little closer 

 we shall see that, although the builders preserved these peculiarities 

 of the Norman style, the carving shows signs of transition, and I 

 think we must put this work at not earlier than 1170. The 

 main timbers of the roof taken alone might be referred to early 

 in the thirteenth century — but it is hardly reasonable to suppose 

 that the nave could have required a new roof within fifty years of" 

 its completion. I think, therefore, we are bound to assign the roof 

 to the same date as that of the arcades, and pronounce it a Tran- 

 sitional Norman one. And you may observe that, although the 

 rafters and braces have a later appearance, there are tie-beams at 

 which level a ceiling might have been put, and only these and the 

 wall-plates level with them are moulded, and this with the Norman 

 billet mould. 



The beautiful doorway in the south aisle, which we saw as we 

 came in, is of the date of which we are now speaking— with the 

 exception of the inner filling with the pointed arch, which is of 

 fourteenth century date. The jambs and arch of this doorway have 

 a good bold roll moulding, and very varied carved subjects — amongst 

 which are, not only the beak-head, but deer's heads and other 

 animals, human heads, hands, and entire figures — the inner member 

 being the zig-zag. 



