1s03.] 
fouth. From North-ftreet you pafs over 
a bridge of fix arches, ereéted over the 
river. Tone, and kept in repair by the 
tounty, to North-town, or Norton, an ad- 
joining fown or rather hamlet, formerly 
populous, but now greatly reduced in the 
number of houfes and inhabitants. 
Another bridge, at the extremity of High- 
ftreet, leads to South-town, vulgarly called 
Shuttern, which is included in the bo- 
rough, and was alfo once much more 
populous than it is at prefent. Among 
the firft objects which accoft the eye of 
the traveller are the public buildings of 
the town; which, according to the pur- 
pofes to which they are devoted, may be 
claffed into thofe raifed for religion, civil 
government, charity and pleafure. 
The ftruétures confecrated to religion 
are two parifh-churches and five Dif- 
fenting meetings or chapels. ..-Of the 
parith-churches the largeft and moft 
magnificent one, is that of St. Mary 
Magdalen, fituated near the center of 
the town. It is alfo called Mardelin, 
and Maudlin. It is a vicarage, valued in 
the king’s books at 20]. 3s. 4d. . The 
original appointment: of it took place in 
1308, under Walter Hafelfhaw, thcn 
Bifhop of Bath and Wells ; when proba- 
bly the original part of the edifice was 
raifed. For the two outer aifles, as ap- 
pears from the date on the porch, were 
built, or, perhaps, one of them only, in 
1508, This church is a fpacious, beau- 
tiful, gothic ftru&ture, with a fine, lofty, 
ftrong tower, of excellent workmanthip, 
having four ftately pinnacles, 32 feet high, 
which makes the whole height 153 feet. 
This tower has thirteen handiome win- 
dows, with a variety of curious prominent 
ornaments, that give the whole an air of 
magnificence, united to a delicate ele- 
gance, not to be equalled inthe county, 
nor perhaps, in the kingdom. The 
cherubs, lions, fphinxes, and other en- 
richments are much defaced ; and the 
figures that filled the niches, round the 
tower, reported to have reprefented fome 
of the primitive faints, with their cud de 
Sours, are wholly deitroyed ; probably at 
the diffolution of the monatteries, in the 
reign of Henry VIII. or in the civil wars 
of England, during the reign of Charles 
I. From the top of the tower is a molt 
extenfive and’ delightful profpeét of the 
rich vale of Taunton Dean, of gentlemen’s 
feats, of the windings of the river, and 
of the country, furrounded by the diftant 
hills. This tower was, mott probably, 
erected by Henry VIL, who rebuilt many 
Account of Taunton: 
‘feet in breadth. 
327 
churches in Somerfetfhire, in the, ftyle of 
the florid gothic. Itis furnifhed with a 
mufical ring of fix bells of great weight, and 
chimes that play ‘‘ Britons ftrike home,” 
every three hours. The infide of the 
church meafures 98 feet by 86 feet in the 
wideft part, and from the termination of 
that part to the altar 56 feet in length, 
contracting firft into 56, and then into 17 
The porch of the belfry, 
which forms the great entrance, is fepa~ 
rated by a wainfcot fcreen of elegant | 
fret-work, in wood and iron, between the 
doors, and at the ends of which arife, on 
the infide, neat Corinthian pilafters. The 
whole (trudture makes a grand appearance. 
Its curious roof is fupported by 24 pil- 
lars, in four rows, dividing it into five 
aifles and a chancel. The body, or mid. 
dle aifle, with the chancel and two ad- 
joing: ajfles, appears to have been firft 
ereéted ; for the two outfide aifles are in 
a different ftvle of building;.and the 
dates on feveral monumenta! ftones, in the 
middle part, are much prior to the fore. 
mentioned date, 1508, on the porch. In 
the center ftand the defk ‘and the pulpit, 
beautifully enriched with carved werk ; 
the manner in which the canopy is fup- 
ported has a pleating effect. In the mid« 
dle aifle, on the pillars between the upper 
windows, are twelve niches, fix on a fide, 
richly ornamented ; and underneath, in 
one of the pillars, is a. niche of larger 
dimenfions. ‘The former are fuppofed to 
have been occupied with images reprefent- 
ing the apofiles, and the latter with that 
of the patron. There are ga large win- 
dows to this church ; on fome of which are 
the remains of ancient painting on glafs, 
It is adorned-with a noble organ, built by 
fabicription in 1710 3 is neatly pewed, and 
the galleries are conftructed to hold a great 
number of people. The other chureh, 
dedicated to St. fames, though every way 
inferior to St. Mary Magdalen, is never- 
thelefs a firong, plain, ancient building, 
with a good ring of five bells; and as 
well ‘pewed. Near the top of the tower, 
from whence there is a fine profpect of the 
river and country, are two niches filled 
with images,which have been called Adam 
and Eve; though fome fuppofe that they 
reprefent St. John and St. James 5 or per- 
haps St. Peter and St. Paul, to whom the 
priory, founded long before this church 
was built, was. dedicated. It is con- 
ceived, that it was erected fome time in 
the thirteenth century. 
vt (To be continued.) 
