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I Location

II General Description

A cruciform church of c.1200 with aisled nave, transepts and aisleless chancel. The crossing tower was removed and a W tower built to replace it, referred to in 1502 as the novum campanile and probably dating from around that time. The nave clerestorey is also late medieval, as is the chapel added to the N of the chancel. The W crossing arch provides a spectacular display of chevron ornament, and all four crossing arches have carved capitals, as do the nave arcades. Finally there are plain arches leading from the nave aisles into the transepts.

IV Interior Features

1. Arches

b. Tower/Transept arches

(i) Tower arches

It should be said at the outset that each crossing arch is supported on half columns, and between adjacent half columns within the crossing space are slender shafts with capitals. The capitals of the major supports differ from one another, and those of the secondary shafts always continue one or other of the designs alongside them, but the system is not really regular enough to say that some of the arches have two orders towards the centre and others have only one. For example, the shafts on the E side of the N and S arches clearly belong to the E crossing arch, while those on the W side belong just as unambiguously to the N and S arches rather than the W arch. In addition it should be noted that orders in the arch never correspond to what is going on in the piers below, and for that reason the arch decoration is always described separately from the piers.

(i) E crossing arch

Pointed, two orders to W, one to E.

First order (shared).

Coursed half columns with demi-octagonal capitals and bases. Both N and S capitals have two syncopated rows of flat leaves, the lower ones with a spinal bead and the upper with a spinal groove. Each leaf is decorated to L and R with a pellet. Neckings are chamfered, imposts have a roll and deep hollow with a beaked moulding above.

Second order (W face only).

Between the half columns of the E arch those of the N and S arches alongside rise slender, coursed shafts with capitals linked to and sharing the design of the first order E arch capitals. Neckings and imposts are continuous from the first order. In the arch to E and W are three plain orders and a chamfered label.

(ii) S crossing arch

Pointed, single order to N and S. Coursed half columns with demi-octagonal capitals and bases. E capital has large waterleaf-type leaves with spinal grooves. W capital similar to the main E arch capitals. Neckings and imposts as E arch. In the arch to E and W are three plain orders and a chamfered label.

(iii) W crossing arch

Pointed, two orders to W and E.

In the arch to the E are three orders: first an angle roll, second a keeled angle roll, third plain and square with a chamfered label. In the arch to the W are three orders; first a row of dogtooth on the angle between two deep hollows, each carved with a row of undercut trefoils; second point-to-point freestanding hyphenated chevron with the points resting on a roll. Two of the triangular field towards the N side of the arch have foliage decoration, while the remainder are plain. The third order is plain and square with a chamfered label.

First order (shared).

Coursed half columns with demi-octagonal capitals and bases. The N capital has a row of tilted trefoil leaves of the stiff-leaf genus, the S two syncopated rows of trefoils with spinal reeds. Neckings and imposts as E arch. Second order (E face). Between the half columns of the W arch those of the N and S arches alongside rise slender, coursed shafts with capitals linked to and sharing the design of the first order N and S arch capitals respectively. Neckings and imposts are continuous from the first order.

Second order (W face).

Slender shafts, generally coursed but the S shaft with a large en-delit repair. Capitals are linked to and share the designs of the first order capitals alongside. Neckings and imposts are continuous from the first order.

(iv) N crossing arch

Pointed, single order to N and S. Coursed half columns with demi-octagonal capitals and bases. The E capital has flat leaves with a spinal reed and the W capital a form of stiff-leaf: quadrilobed upright leaves with spinal reeds. Neckings and imposts as E arch. In the arch to E and W are three plain orders and a chamfered label.

2. Arcades

c. Nave

(i) N nave arcade

Four bays, pointed arches with two plain square orders and chamfered labels. All piers have octagonal bases (demi-octagonal for the responds) and all capitals are octagonal with chamfered imposts and plain neckings, carved with a limited range of multi-scallop designs as described below. There is a later fifth bay at the W end (not recorded).

E respond: attached demi-octagonal shaft and multi-scallop capital with sheathed scallops and wedges between them.

Pier N1: circular column and multi-scallop capital with sheathed scallops (but no wedges).

N2: octagonal column. Multi-scallop capital with sheathed scallops and wedges between them. The shields of the scallops are hollowed out.

N3: circular column, capital as N1.

W respond: attached half-column. Capital as N1.

(ii) S nave arcade

Design as N arcade.

E respond: attached demi-octagonal shaft and multi-scallop capital as N2.

S1: circular column. Capital as N2.

S2: octagonal column. Capital as N2.

S3: circular column. Capital as N1.

W respond: attached demi-octagonal shaft. Capital as N1.

Most capitals on both arcades have obvious 19thc. repairs.

VII History

VIII Comments/Opinions

IX Bibliography