equal height with the last. The spandrels of the arches in the north side, have angels holding scrolls, and those on the south side, demi-angels. There is no clerestory, the nave being lighted by the windows of the aisles only, four on the north, three on the south, each of three cinquefoiled lights, square-headed. The dripstones of these windows are good, and terminate in very well-carved corbels of the following designs:
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South. 1. Bust of a man and woman, the faces much distorted. 2. Busts of a king and queen. 3. Busts of a merchant and a bishop. |
North. 1. A lion, and a monster. 2. Half figuves of a giant, devouring a child; and of a knight in the armour of the time of Edward III. 3. As South 2. 4. A fiend tormenting a lost soul, and St. Michael embracing a redeemed one. |
"There is no chancel-arch. Of the rood-screen the lower portion only remains, and that is partly concealed by pews. It is of stone and of good character. In a line with it, the lower portion of an oak screen extends across the north aisle. Close to it is a handsome wooden eagle gilt, rather an unusual feature in a parish church. The font is Decorated, of octagonal form, and of the following dimensions: height, 3ft. 7in., width across the top, 2ft. 5in., width of bowl, 1ft. 10in., depth of same, 1ft. 1in. A figure of it is given in Rickman's 'Attempt.' The panelling and tracery differ in each of its sides.
"In the chancel is a recess under a semicircular arch, 3ft. 10in. wide, serving the purpose of a double sedile; and a piscina 2ft. 4in. wide, with a triangular-headed arch. The ascent to the Altar is by four steps. The ancient altar-stone is fixed in the pavement of the south aisle, at its south-east corner, partly hidden by pews. The crosses in the uncovered part are very distinct.
"The tower is a beautiful structure, and is surmounted by a lofty crocketed octagonal spire; its height is said to be 185 feet; of the bells, one is ancient, and has the legend, in Lombardics, 'Ave Maria gracia plena dominus tecum.' In the lower story the springers remain of what would have been a fine vault of fan-tracery had it been completed. The neighbouring chapel of St. John is in a state of ruinous disorder, but it contains some objects of great interest. These are a rood-screen, a parclose, a pulpit, and several open seats, with good Perpendicular tracery at the ends, of oak; a font somewhat similar to that at the parish church, but scarcely so finely carved; and the tomb already mentioned. The font is 4ft. 4in. high and 2ft. 712in. wide at the top; the diameter of the bowl is 1ft. 10in. and its depth 1ft. It has on one side a shield of arms, barry of six, on a chief, a lion passant dexter. The tomb is of Early English date, ridged, 6ft. 7in. long, 2ft. 4in. wide at the head, and 1ft. 7in. at the foot. Its ornaments consist of a rich cross with a slender shaft, and ten very deeply-cut circular scrolls of foliage and fruit, two above and eight below the transverse limb. The altar-stone of this church is under the seats in the nave; the crosses rudely formed.
"From Laughton I proceeded to Anstan, passing in my way some remains of earth-works which I had not time to examine. I was prevented from taking such notes as I wished of Anstan church, by the presence of a party of men who were busy making arrangements for some festival, and putting up a temporary gallery for the purpose. I noticed however that the end of each aisle had formerly been
