ABBOTS OF TEWKESBURY.

The South Choir Aisle, looking West.Photo. A.H. Hughes.THE SOUTH CHOIR AISLE, LOOKING WEST.ToList

Photo. A.H. Hughes.

THE SOUTH CHOIR AISLE, LOOKING WEST.ToList

It is generally assumed that this is the coffin of John Cotes, who died in 1347. The tomb [H] is supposed to be thatreferred to by Leland as that in which some of the remains of Hugh Despenser the younger, the Earl of Gloucester who was hanged and quartered in Hereford in 1326—just three months before the murder of Edward II. in Berkeley Castle—were interred. Close to this tomb, but more to the east, is a fifteenth century tomb, presumably that of an abbot, but his name is unknown.

To the east of the door of the chapel which is now used as a vestry, is another tomb of an unknown abbot. The coffin lid bears a rich floriated cross, with a representation of an abbot at the one end, and that of a lamb at the other. The arch over the tomb is crocketed, and is enriched with a profusion of ball-flower ornament in the moulding. The finial is very heavy, though beautifully wrought to represent birds and foliage. At the spring of the arch is the very curious figure of a devil. Two pinnacles[28]at the sides have most grotesque faces at the corners instead of the conventional foliage. This idea has been adopted in the decoration of the tomb-recesses in the nave in Bristol Cathedral.

On the western side of the vestry door is a beautiful Early English tomb. The lid of the Purbeck marble coffin is inscribed "Alanus, Dominus Abbas" along the moulded edge, and a similar inscription is to be read at the right-hand end, "HIC IACET DOMINUS ALANUS ABBAS." This is the tomb of Alan, who was made Abbot here in 1187, after having previously been Prior at Canterbury. He was one of the most distinguished of the Abbots of Tewkesbury: he had known Thomas à Becket, and indeed wrote his biography. This tomb is no doubt the oldest monument in the church. The arch over it is a moulded trefoil arch, surmounted by a plain canopy of very simple and formal design. The top of the coffin bears a very beautiful cross.

Further westward, near to the south transept is a thirteenth century recessed arch, with pinnacles at either side and a decorated arch. The tomb has been removed. The floor has been laid with fragments of old encaustic tiles removed from other parts of the building.

Organs.—The church has two organs, both of which are noteworthy, viz., the old organ in the choir, of which theinterest is historical, and the Grove organ in the north transept, the chief interest in which, apart from its tone, is the perfection of its many modern mechanical contrivances.

The organ in the choir was brought to Tewkesbury in 1737 from Magdalen College, Oxford, and was placed on the then existing screen, where it remained till 1875. It was built by John Harris, the grandfather of Réné or Renatus Harris, for Magdalen College, Oxford. By Cromwell's orders it was removed to Hampton Court, and is said to have been played upon there by Milton, who was Cromwell's Secretary. In 1660 the organ went back to Oxford, and was repaired in 1672. In 1690 Renatus Harris contracted, for £150, to put it into thorough repair, and make it "an extraordinary instrument and the best old organ in England." In 1736-37 the Magdalen College organ was sold to the then organ committee of Tewkesbury.

Sixty years later (1796) a sum of £186 18s.2d.was spent in painting the case, in repairs, and in the addition of a swell organ; and in 1848 it was enlarged by Willis at a cost of £322 15s.8d.Little of the original work remains, with the exception of some of the diapasons, the principal, and the tin pipes in the choir front. The old organ is in constant use for ordinary evening services, and for the services on Sunday mornings and afternoons. For the Sunday evening services the Grove organ is generally used. Sometimes the two organs are used together.

The Grove organ is a very fine instrument, but it is more fitted for a concert-room than for the accompaniment of ordinary church music. It was given, as the brass tablet sets forth,"To the greater glory of God, and to commemorate the Jubilee of the Queen in 1887."The specification is as follows:

Choir Organ(CC to C in alto., 61 notes).1. Spitzflöte8 ft.2. *Viole Sourdine8 ft.3. *Lieblich Gedacht (w)8 ft.4. Gemshorn4 ft.5. *Zauber Flöte4 ft.6. Flautina2 ft.7. Clarionet8 ft.Accessory Stops.1. Ventil.2. Octave Coupler.3. Pneumatic Piston, acting on No. 1 off and on.4. Swell to Choir.5. Tremulant.Great Organ(CC to C in alto., 61 notes).1. Violone16 ft.2. Great Open Diapason8 ft.3. Small Open Diapason8 ft.4. Claribel (w)8 ft.5. Octave4 ft.6. Flute Octaviante4 ft.7. Quint Mixture,12, 15.8. †Great Mixture (4 ranks),19, 22, 26, 29.9. †Tromba16 ft.10. †Trumpet8 ft.Accessory Stops.1. Sub-Octave Choir to Great.2. Swell to Great.3. Solo to Great.1. Ventil Flue to Quint Mixture.2. Ventil Flue Great Mixture and Reed.Two Pneumatic Pistons acting on Ventil placed beneath the keys as in the Choir.Three Composition Pedals.Swell Organ(CC to C in alto., 61 notes).The swell-box is made in three thicknesses, each of one inch. Between each thickness is a layer of felt.1. Flauto Traverso8 ft.2. Open Diapason8 ft.3. *Viole d'Orchestre8 ft.4. *Voix Celeste8 ft.5. Geigen4 ft.6. †Mixture—3 ranks,15, 19, 22.7. †Contra Posaune16 ft.8. †Horn8 ft.9. Oboe8 ft.Accessory Stops.Octave Coupler.Ventil Flues to Geigen, Mixture, and Reeds.Two Pneumatic Pistons acting on Ventils, as in the Great Organ.Tremulant.Three Composition Pedals.Solo Organ(CC to C in alto., 61 notes).1. Harmonic Flute8 ft.2. *Violoncello8 ft.3. †Tuba8 ft.4. Voix Humaine (metal, enclosed in a Swell-box)8 ft.Accessory Stops.Octave Coupler.Tremulant.Two Ventils, two Pneumatic Pistons, as in the other manuals.Pedal Organ(CCC to F, 30 notes).1. *Harmonic Bass (w)32 ft.2. Great Bass (w)16 ft.3. *Dolce Bass (w)16 ft.4. Great Flute (w)8 ft.5. †Bombarde16 ft.* Stops thus marked are of novel construction, being fitted with prolongement harmonique.† Stops marked thus are on heavy wind.wStops marked thus are of wood.Pedal Couplers:1. Choir to Pedals.2. Great to Pedals.3. Swell to Pedals.4. Solo to Pedals.Manual Couplers:1. Choir Octave.2. Swell Octave.3. Solo Octave.4. Choir Sub-Octave to Great.5. Swell to Great.6. Solo to Great.7. Swell to Choir.The Tremulants are set in action by one pedal, or by the use of the draw-stops, separately or collectively.Pneumatic action is applied to the Organ throughout, except to the Choir Organ, which is direct action.

Choir Organ(CC to C in alto., 61 notes).

1. Spitzflöte8 ft.2. *Viole Sourdine8 ft.3. *Lieblich Gedacht (w)8 ft.4. Gemshorn4 ft.5. *Zauber Flöte4 ft.6. Flautina2 ft.7. Clarionet8 ft.

Accessory Stops.

1. Ventil.2. Octave Coupler.3. Pneumatic Piston, acting on No. 1 off and on.4. Swell to Choir.5. Tremulant.

Great Organ(CC to C in alto., 61 notes).

1. Violone16 ft.2. Great Open Diapason8 ft.3. Small Open Diapason8 ft.4. Claribel (w)8 ft.5. Octave4 ft.6. Flute Octaviante4 ft.7. Quint Mixture,12, 15.8. †Great Mixture (4 ranks),19, 22, 26, 29.9. †Tromba16 ft.10. †Trumpet8 ft.

Accessory Stops.

1. Sub-Octave Choir to Great.2. Swell to Great.3. Solo to Great.1. Ventil Flue to Quint Mixture.2. Ventil Flue Great Mixture and Reed.Two Pneumatic Pistons acting on Ventil placed beneath the keys as in the Choir.Three Composition Pedals.

Swell Organ(CC to C in alto., 61 notes).

The swell-box is made in three thicknesses, each of one inch. Between each thickness is a layer of felt.

1. Flauto Traverso8 ft.2. Open Diapason8 ft.3. *Viole d'Orchestre8 ft.4. *Voix Celeste8 ft.5. Geigen4 ft.6. †Mixture—3 ranks,15, 19, 22.7. †Contra Posaune16 ft.8. †Horn8 ft.9. Oboe8 ft.

Accessory Stops.

Octave Coupler.Ventil Flues to Geigen, Mixture, and Reeds.Two Pneumatic Pistons acting on Ventils, as in the Great Organ.Tremulant.Three Composition Pedals.

Solo Organ(CC to C in alto., 61 notes).

1. Harmonic Flute8 ft.2. *Violoncello8 ft.3. †Tuba8 ft.4. Voix Humaine (metal, enclosed in a Swell-box)8 ft.

Accessory Stops.

Octave Coupler.Tremulant.Two Ventils, two Pneumatic Pistons, as in the other manuals.

Pedal Organ(CCC to F, 30 notes).

1. *Harmonic Bass (w)32 ft.2. Great Bass (w)16 ft.3. *Dolce Bass (w)16 ft.4. Great Flute (w)8 ft.5. †Bombarde16 ft.

* Stops thus marked are of novel construction, being fitted with prolongement harmonique.† Stops marked thus are on heavy wind.wStops marked thus are of wood.

Pedal Couplers:1. Choir to Pedals.2. Great to Pedals.3. Swell to Pedals.4. Solo to Pedals.Manual Couplers:1. Choir Octave.2. Swell Octave.3. Solo Octave.4. Choir Sub-Octave to Great.5. Swell to Great.6. Solo to Great.7. Swell to Choir.

The Tremulants are set in action by one pedal, or by the use of the draw-stops, separately or collectively.

Pneumatic action is applied to the Organ throughout, except to the Choir Organ, which is direct action.

Church Plate.—The oldest pieces of plate are two silver chalices, one dated 1576, the other 1618. There is also a paten of the latter date. A flagon weighing 54 ounces was given to the church by the bachelors and maidens of the borough in 1688, and another was given in 1724. Curiously they are both fitted with whistle-handles. There are also two cut-glass cruets, said to be of the fifteenth century.

The Church Registers.—These date from 1559, containing baptisms to 1598 and marriages to 1574, but are copies on parchment of an older register (on paper) now lost. Another register, on paper, dates from 1595, and contains baptisms down to 1610, marriages to 1629, and burials to 1608. Thenceforward, with few exceptions, the registers are complete. The register of baptisms, 1607-1629, contains a quaint composition:

"Lo, heare thou maiest with mortall eie beholdeThy name recorded by a mortall wighte;But if thou canst looke but spiritualieUnto that God which gives such heavenly sighteThou maiest behold with comfort to thy souleThy name recorded in the heavenly roule.And therefore praie the Register of heavenTo write thy name within the booke of life;And also praie thy sinns maie be forgeven,And that thou maiest flee all ceare and strife:That when thy mortall bodies shall have end,Thy soule maie to the immortal bliss ascende.

"Per me,Guilielmus Parke, 1609."

Arms of the Abbey.—The arms are gules, within a border argent, a cross engrailed or, and are so given by Willis in hisSeals of Parliamentary Abbeys, and by Tanner inNotitia Monastica. In Sir Charles Isham's copy of theRegistrum Theokusburiæ, in a window in the choir, and also on the old organ the border is omitted. It is also a disputed point whether the Abbot was a mitred prelate or not. Fuller, in hisChurch History, is in doubt about it, while Bishop Godwin admits that some of the Abbots sat in Parliament. The Abbots, without enjoying any prescriptive right, were summoned to Parliament in the reigns of Henry III., Edward I., and Edward II., and the last Abbot (Wakeman) was certainly summoned as a mitred Abbot. It may be that the Abbot received the dignity in the time of Abbot Strensham, who died in 1481.

Old Tiles.—In the Founder's Chapel (1397) are some tiles containing the arms of Fitz-Hamon (a lion rampant), impaled with the arms of the Abbey, a cross engrailed, and showing the head of a crosier above the shield in the centre. In the Warwick chantry there is to be seen a set of tiles with the arms of Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Worcester, in whose honour the chapel was built. The arms are a fess between four crosslets with a crescent for difference. There are also some in the Trinity Chapel, showing the arms of the Despensers, impaled with those of Burghersh. Other tiles found in the church at different times give the arms of De Clare, Despenser, Berkeley, De Warrenne, De Bohun, Corbet, and De la Zouch.

Giraldus(1102-1109), previously Abbot of Cranbourn, was the first Abbot of the Benedictine foundation. Deprived by Henry I. in 1109.Robert I.(1110-1124). In his time the greater part of the Abbey as it stands was finished, and dedicated in 1123.Benedict(1124-1137).Roger(1137-1161).Fromundus(1162-1178). No new Abbot was instituted till—Robert II.(1182-1183).Alan(1187-1202). His tomb is in the south ambulatory of the choir. He was a friend of Thomas à Becket, having previously been Prior of St. Saviour's, Canterbury.Walter(1202-1213), previously Sacrist of the monastery. He was succeeded by—Hugh(1214), who had been the Prior. Dying in a year, his successor was Bernard, but the latter was never instituted.Peter(1216-1231) was a monk from Worcester.Robert Forthington(1232-1254), orRobert III.had previously been Prior. A tomb ascribed to him is in the south ambulatory.Thomas de Stokes(1254-1275) had been Prior of St. James, Bristol.Richard de Norton(1276-1282).Thomas Kempsey(1282-1328).John Cotes( -1347).Thomas de Legh(1347-1361).Thomas Chesterton(1361-1389).Thomas Parker, or Pakare(1389-1421).William Bristow, or de Bristol(1421-1442).John de Abingdon(1442- ), who was probably identical withJohn de Salis, or Galys.John Strensham, or Streynsham( -1481). He was Abbot at the time of the Battle of Tewkesbury.Richard Cheltenham(1481-1509).Henry Beoly, or Bealy(1509- ), was Abbot in 1526.John Walker(d. 1531).John Wich, Wyche, or Wakeman(1531-1539). This ecclesiastic was the last Abbot of Tewkesbury. He, unlike the Abbot of Gloucester, seems to have been in no wise unwilling to surrender his Abbey. In return he obtained a pension of £266 13s.4d., and also the house and park at Forthampton. When, later, Gloucester was made a bishopric, he was the first bishop. He was buried at Forthampton.

Giraldus(1102-1109), previously Abbot of Cranbourn, was the first Abbot of the Benedictine foundation. Deprived by Henry I. in 1109.

Robert I.(1110-1124). In his time the greater part of the Abbey as it stands was finished, and dedicated in 1123.

Benedict(1124-1137).

Roger(1137-1161).

Fromundus(1162-1178). No new Abbot was instituted till—

Robert II.(1182-1183).

Alan(1187-1202). His tomb is in the south ambulatory of the choir. He was a friend of Thomas à Becket, having previously been Prior of St. Saviour's, Canterbury.

Walter(1202-1213), previously Sacrist of the monastery. He was succeeded by—

Hugh(1214), who had been the Prior. Dying in a year, his successor was Bernard, but the latter was never instituted.

Peter(1216-1231) was a monk from Worcester.

Robert Forthington(1232-1254), orRobert III.had previously been Prior. A tomb ascribed to him is in the south ambulatory.

Thomas de Stokes(1254-1275) had been Prior of St. James, Bristol.

Richard de Norton(1276-1282).

Thomas Kempsey(1282-1328).

John Cotes( -1347).

Thomas de Legh(1347-1361).

Thomas Chesterton(1361-1389).

Thomas Parker, or Pakare(1389-1421).

William Bristow, or de Bristol(1421-1442).

John de Abingdon(1442- ), who was probably identical with

John de Salis, or Galys.

John Strensham, or Streynsham( -1481). He was Abbot at the time of the Battle of Tewkesbury.

Richard Cheltenham(1481-1509).

Henry Beoly, or Bealy(1509- ), was Abbot in 1526.

John Walker(d. 1531).

John Wich, Wyche, or Wakeman(1531-1539). This ecclesiastic was the last Abbot of Tewkesbury. He, unlike the Abbot of Gloucester, seems to have been in no wise unwilling to surrender his Abbey. In return he obtained a pension of £266 13s.4d., and also the house and park at Forthampton. When, later, Gloucester was made a bishopric, he was the first bishop. He was buried at Forthampton.

[7]In point of actual size the Tewkesbury piers are 30 feet 8 inches high, and 6 feet 3 inches in diameter; while the piers at Gloucester are 30 feet by 6 feet. Those at Malvern are considerably less in height.

[8]This boss represents the Virgin as being present at the Table.

[9]The ball-flower here as well as that in the vestry differs from that in the neighbourhood, as there is a curious little side-twist or kink in it.

[10]Mr. W.H. St. John Hope's description of this quotedin extensoin "Gloucester" (Cathedral Series) is most interesting, and should be carefully studied.

[11]Letters in brackets refer to the plan at the end.

[12]This Transept was used from 1813-17 as a temporary National School.

[13]The columns are, with the exception of one which is round, roughly hexagonal.

[14]In some plans this chapel is ascribed to St. Nicholas.

[15]The arch of this chamber shows distinct traces of fire, not mentioned in any records, and the staircase to the tower, which then communicated with this chamber, shows traces for a short distance on the stonework.

[16]The same moulding is found at Durham in the doorway from the nave into the cloisters, but there it is much mutilated; it is also found at St. Joseph's Chapel, Glastonbury, and in various forms in the West of England.

[17]It is not quite certain whether Sir Guy is actually buried here.

[18]It is generally considered to be that dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The other altar in this chapel may have been dedicated to St. George, though the chapel of the latter was probably one of those in the nave.

[19]The dedication of this Norman chapel, like that of several others here, is not known.

[20]The choir at Gloucester is 140 feet long and 33 feet wide.

[21]The sun was a favourite badge of Edward IV., and is said to have been adopted in consequence of the appearance of three suns before the battle of Mortimer's Cross. It appears upon some of his coins.

[22]The altar-stone at Gloucester was at one time used to pave the south porch, and is now in the crypt.

[23]The safety of the old glass has been ensured by a protective external window of rolled glass let in the mullions from the outside. This was done in 1889.

[24]This Gilbert de Clare is said to have had a copy of Magna Charta and the Charta de Foresta made and deposited in the Abbey.

[25]The floor of the upper part was never flat, and was in all probability never intended for use.

[26]Heraldically speaking.

[27]Henry VII. left instructions in his will that a kneeling effigy of himself should be placed on the top of the Confessor's shrine at Westminster.

[28]The western pinnacle was carved locally in 1825-8, and is a very careful piece of work.

Deerhurst Priory Church, from the South.Photo. R.W. Dugdale.DEERHURST PRIORY CHURCH, FROM THE SOUTH.ToList

Photo. R.W. Dugdale.

DEERHURST PRIORY CHURCH, FROM THE SOUTH.ToList

Deerhurst, or Deorhurst—the wood or grove of wild beasts, as its etymology implies—lies close to Tewkesbury, and the visitor to the latter must on no account omit to pay a visit to the older building. It may be reached by a pleasant walk through meadows on the left bank of the Severn, by the road or by a path across the fields.

The Priory church of Deerhurst is one of the oldest buildings of any importance that yet remain in use in England. Its exact date is more or less a matter of conjecture, but it seems certain from documentary evidence, which is still accessible, that in the ninth century the Abbey or Priory was in a prosperous condition—the document referred to above being a grant of lands in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire to the Abbey in 804. No earlier authentic evidence than this exists, though alapsus calamiof Leland (who credits the Venerable Bede with an acquaintance with Deerhurst about the year 700) would seem to give it an earlier date. From the earliest time Deerhurst—situated where it is, so near that great highway the Severn, and occupying a position on the direct line of traffic by road between Worcester and Gloucester, must have had an important part to play. Legend has it that Edmund Ironside and Canute, intent on fighting a duel after Essendune, met at Olney in 1016, but settled matters without coming to blows, and later tradition affirms that this meeting took place in the meadow—once an island or eyot, hence its present name—called the Naight.

Tradition, again, has it that the Abbey suffered from the Danes, and this seems likely enough, seeing that they were encamped at Cirencester for fully a year. Werstan, one ofthe monks who escaped from the Danes, is said by Leland to have founded a cell at Malvern, and was later murdered by the Danes in his own chapel there. In the windows of Malvern Priory he is described as "Sanctus Werstanus Martir," but little else is known about him.

The Abbey, though small, was richly endowed with land, and is said to have been possessed of nearly forty thousand acres. Its wealth in landed property was the cause of its being transferred by Edward the Confessor in 1054-56 to the great French Abbey of St. Denis; and what was not so transferred was mostly given by the King, together with the Manor of Pershore and other possessions, to his Abbey of St. Peter at Westminster, which was then building.

The Abbey lost its importance when it became an alien priory, and its landed possessions, which had once surpassed those of the abbeys at Gloucester and at Winchcombe, were dwarfed to very scanty dimensions. It suffered, too, in prestige, having become a priory, and was constantly being harried by successive monarchs.

We find that the Conqueror confirmed the grant of the Abbey of Deerhurst to St. Denis, but that King John confiscated its revenues. In 1225 Pope Honorius III. by a Bull approved that the Priory should be perpetual and conventual. In virtue of this the Prior could claim not to come into the King's hands, but it was many years before this claim was barely recognised. In this same year the Prior was again in possession of the Priory and its lands; but in 1250 (temp.Henry II.), the Priory was sold to Richard, Duke of Cornwall, who seems to have driven out the monks and destroyed the greater part of their buildings. Later in the same reign, 1260, the Abbot of St. Denis again got possession of the Priory.

In 1295 Edward I. took possession of all the existing alien priories for the sake of the revenue they would bring into his exchequer. Edward III.[29]again despoiled the monks of what was theirs, and his grandson, Richard II., followed in his steps.

The Priory had a respite from such continued harryings with the accession of Henry IV. (1399). This king tookpossession of it as an alien Priory, but immediately handed it over to William Forester, the then Prior, with the stipulation that in the event of a war with France the King should receive a sum of money equal to that which in time of peace would be paid to the Abbey of St. Denis. With halcyon days like these the Priory set about rebuilding what had been destroyed, and works were undertaken—much of which is standing at the present time.

Henry V. by charter in 1419 confirmed the policy of Henry IV. in giving the Prior all the rights and privileges enjoyed by William Forester, and Henry V. acknowledged the claim of the Priory to be conventual and perpetual, and as such, not to come into the King's hands. However, one king proposes, another disposes. Henry VI. in 1463, while confirming all existing rights, made the Priory a denizen priory with the same status as all other similar English foundations. But this change was followed by yet another in four years' time. Henry VI. being the founder of Eton College, and King's College, Cambridge, was in want of funds, and he relieved the pressure on his exchequer by appropriating the possessions of the Priory, and handing part of them to his royal College at Eton, and part (in 1422) to the already rich Abbey at Tewkesbury. Much litigation followed with Eton, and in 1469 the Priory was united and annexed by Carpenter, Bishop of Worcester, to the monastery at Tewkesbury, with the stipulation that the "Abbot of Tewkesbury was to find and maintain there one monk in priest's orders, to be called Prior or Warden, four other monks, and one secular priest daily to perform divine service in that priory."

The independence of Deerhurst was now at an end, and little is heard of it again. At the Dissolution, like many of the Tewkesbury possessions, it became private property, the site, the buildings and the tithes being conveyed to George Throgmorton, a local personage, who became the lay impropriator. The tithes passed later into the hands of the family of Cassey, of Wightfield Court; but the lands became the property of the Coventry family, and at the end of the seventeenth century gave the title to Viscount Deerhurst, the fifth Baron. At the Dissolution Deerhurst became a curacy, and remained so till 1682, the advowson then being transferred from lay hands to those of the Bishop of Worcester.

EXTERIOR.

Of the exterior of the church there is not much to be said. The chief feature is theTower. It has been reduced in height, probably at the time that the steeple was blown down in 1666, but no churchwardens' accounts of that date remain. It is 70 feet high, 21 feet 8 inches from east to west, and 14 feet 4 inches from north to south, with a slight batter to the walls, which at the base are 32 inches in thickness. For about 35 feet or so the masonry is Saxon work, but has been subsequently severely handled, especially on the west side. The east side contains a wall-plate of early date, and more of the interesting early work. The upper part is later work, having ashlar quoins at the four angles.

The entrance door is a Pointed arch of the fourteenth century date inserted within the earlier round-headed arch, of which the outer edges have considerably crumbled away. Above the arch is a piece of stonework, similar to one above the long, narrow window, considered by some to be a mutilated carved head, but with more real likeness to a broken mechanical contrivance for hoisting up weighty goods into the upper part of the tower. On the right of the entrance door is the door which now gives entrance to the belfry. In many parts of the exterior there are traces of the coarse herring-bone work so prevalent in Saxon masonry. At the north-west and south-west angles of the aisles are gargoyles, that at the north-west corner being the better preserved.

The church was rough-cast all over in the early part of this century, but was restored in 1861-62 to practically its present appearance. Part of the tower, that to the west, has a battlement, while the rest has a low gabled roof. The windows in the belfry are decorated in character, but much of the masonry near them seems to be re-used stone from other parts.

By obtaining entrance to the farmyard upon which the east end abuts, traces of the original apsidal termination may be seen. It is much to be regretted that the church precincts are so built upon that examination is difficult.

INTERIOR.

The western entrance is situate in the tower front, and by three doorways gives access to the nave.

The Nave.—The nave of the present church measures60 feet by 21 feet, including what was the original choir, which was under the central tower, and which, from the plan, must have been 20 feet in length. The nave proper would be 38 feet by 21 feet, making allowance for the thickness of the choir arch wall. It is more than probable that the wall which separated the choir from the nave was in character like the present eastern wall, with a spacious and lofty arch spanning the opening, which gave access to the apsidal eastern end. Traces of such an arch were found at the restoration of the church in 1861-62. As was the case at Tewkesbury, Gloucester, and elsewhere, the nave was the parish church, and the choir and the rest of the building eastwards the private chapel of the Priory. Small though the original nave was—for the present aisles are later additions—it was, if the walls are of the original height, unusually lofty for a church of its date. The original nave had transepts, as shown in plan on page 118, with a room, probably a sacristy, to the east of the north transept and a similar room or a chapel at the east of the south transept.

On either side of the nave the original walls have been pierced, and an arcade of three good Early English arches was inserted in the thirteenth century. It will be noted that the easternmost of the three arches on each side is slightly wider in span than the other two. All the capitals differ in their details. Over these arches on either side is a triangular opening about 18 feet from the floor level, similar to the opening in the west end of the nave. The edges of these openings are left quite square,i.e., there is no splaying.

The clerestory windows are, for the most part, early fifteenth century, and replaced the early windows, which may have been of circular form.

At the west end of the nave there are several very curious features. The arch of the doorway is a plain, round-headed arch with its edges left quite square, and the impost is plain with the exception of a hollow immediately below the abacus. In height the doorway is 10 feet, and in width 5½ feet, and it leans slightly to the north. Above this doorway, in the corners of the west wall, are two impost members or brackets, similar to those in the chancel, which may have been intended to support the floor joists of a chamber or gallery at this end of the nave. Not far above these brackets is a triangular opening similar to those in the north and south walls of the nave, andthrough which, from the room in the tower, a view is obtained of the nave generally. It is on the same level as those in the nave. To the right of this is a blocked-up round-headed doorway, which once gave access from the room in the tower on this level to a gallery at the east end of the nave. The jambs are each of two similar blocks of stone.

Interior, Looking West.Photo. R.W. Dugdale.INTERIOR, LOOKING WEST.ToList

Photo. R.W. Dugdale.

INTERIOR, LOOKING WEST.ToList

Above this, in the centre of the upper part of the west wall of the nave, is perhaps the most curious architectural feature of the church. It is a two-light window, each light having a head formed of an isosceles triangle. The outer jambs, as also the broad central massive pier, are slightly fluted, and in some of these flutings is a bar in relief. On the church side the bars are inserted in the upper part of the hollow; on the tower side they are in some cases at the top, in others in the lower half.

The following dimensions show how massive is this piece of primitive work. The sill on which the window is built is of stone concealed by plaster. Each light in its widest part is 18 inches, 13 inches between the plinths on the sill. The plinths are 14 inches in thickness, and that of the central pier is 21 inches. The central pier itself is a trifle shorter than the jambs, 1 foot 8 inches, but this difference is made up by a much more massive impost, the central impost being 9 inches thick as compared with 8 inches in the case of the others. Each impost is, as it were, in square-edged layers, each layer overhanging the one below it. The head of each opening is formed of two single stones so cut that they meet at an angle of about 30 degrees. These stones are 11¼ inches in thickness, and 3 feet 6 inches long on the outside edges. In the angle between the two portions of the window they measure 3 feet 1½ inches. They are carried right through the wall, with a plain label almost square in section.

Above the window, resting on the label points is an oblong block of stone which is thought at one time to have been painted, as no inscription can be traced.

Near the tower end is a portion of the Perpendicular timbered roof, and the rest of the roofing of the nave and chancel is modern work designed upon the basis of the older example.

TheSouth Aislewas added in the twelfth century. The south wall of the south transept was continued to the west, the greater part of the west wall of this transept being removed,a segmental arch being inserted exactly where the oak-screen is now. The wall from the original south-east corner of the tower was carried southwards to meet the new wall mentioned above. Next, the solid walls of the nave were pierced with three unequal openings, and, from the piers thus left, arches were carried across the new south aisle to the new south wall of the church, and the walls of the inner porch seem to have been pierced with arches about the same time, one being also made to span the space from the extreme end of the original wall of the nave to the new south-east corner of the tower. A turret and staircase seem next to have been made outside the church in the angle thus made by the new works, but the plan seems to have been soon altered by the carrying out of the west wall of the aisle till it was flush with the west front. The then external doorway into the turret became an internal one, but has been blocked up, access to the tower staircase being obtained by the narrow door in the west front. The remains of Transitional Norman work in the south aisle are scanty, but of extreme interest.

In the thirteenth century theNorth Aislewas constructed, and made to correspond with the south aisle, though it is slightly narrower. Its beautiful capitals inspired the workers to do their best and harmonise those in the south aisle arcade with those in the other aisle.

The walls of the nave were carried up to receive the clerestory windows about the year 1400, but as to their original height it is only possible to conjecture.

The Decorated windows of the north aisle all differ in style and date, that in the north transept being the earliest. The westernmost window in the south aisle is approximately of the same date, and contains the only glass in the church that is of any interest. The other windows in this south aisle are Perpendicular, and are high in the wall owing to the existence of the cloister, a blocked-up door into which can be seen under the westernmost window. Some fifteenth century oak seats in this aisle are worth notice.

In the north aisle the north-west window of four lights (by Wailes) is a memorial to Hugh Edwin Strickland (1853). The head of the window contains the fanciful device relating to the Persons of the Trinity, and below are Noah, Aaron, David, and St. John the Baptist.

In the lowest tier are Adam and Eve, Abraham and Isaac, the Annunciation, the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan.

The next window (by Clayton and Bell) is a memorial window erected by the Rev. G. Butterworth, till lately Vicar of Deerhurst.

In the north wall near the font is a blocked-up doorway, containing another memorial to a member of the Strickland family.

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