272 



Notes on the Churches 



describes the discovery, in a similar blank space in the apsidal Church 

 of Swyncombe, in Oxfordshire, of " a large archaic painting* of Our 

 Lord between two angels, with a liberal supply on their wings of 

 eyes like those on a peacock's tail (a peculiarity which he finds in 

 an Anglo-Saxon MS. of the tenth century). This painting had 

 been partly destroyed by the insertion of three little round-headed 

 windows'" and he concludes that both the apse and the painting 

 were much older than the Norman period. Dr. Baron also states 

 that the original Church dedicated to S. Aldhelm at Bishopstrow 

 (a place which that bishop is recorded to have visited as a missionary 

 bishop) was apsidal and had no east window. There can be no 

 doubt that the centre of the east end here at Manningford was also 

 intended for such a picture as that discovered at Swyncombe, and 

 that the side windows were relied upon for the necessary light : 

 great caution would doubtless be observed in those early days in 

 the number and position of the windows, as being assailable points 

 to be defended, and this probably accounts for the great height 

 at which they are here placed above the floor level. 



A point not mentioned by Dr. Baron is the remarkable position 

 of the two chancel windows on the plan ; they are placed at the 

 chord of the apse, with about three-fourths of their width on the 

 circular part and the remainder on the straight sides. At this point 

 — as if to afford a more definite line from which to start the apse, 

 there is a course of squared stones for the entire height of the wall 

 on each side, but these evidently never formed a terminating quoin 

 as they are rusticated on both sides. In the nave there is a similar 

 window in the north wall, and part of the arch of another opposite 

 in the south wall, but the latter was almost destroyed by the 

 insertion of a two-light window in the fifteenth century. Beyond 

 these four windows — and probably one at the west end in the 

 position now occupied by a three-light window of late fourteenth 

 century date — there were apparently no others. All these have 

 wide splays on the inside and bonnet-shaped arches, but on the 

 outside rebates only — probably for wooden shutters. Whilst speaking 

 of the windows I may remark that in addition to the two later ones 

 mentioned a two-light window was inserted in the south wall of 



