Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 4.djvu/128

110 ARCHITECTURAL NOTES, &C. Norman remains lately dug up are preserved in it, which may have belonged to an earlier structure on the same spot. At Leckhampton are some good monumental effigies in the churchyard. The ruined chapel of Sudely castle is a well- known Perpendicular specimen of great beauty. It will be observed that we have a very satisfactory gi^ada- tion of Norman work, from the early parts of Tewkesbury (indeed we may include the Saxon of Deerhurst) to the tran- sition, as seen in Bishop's Cleeve, Bredon, and Withington. There is less of the Early English than in any district I am acquainted with, though it is not devoid of specimens, as the chapter-house (as it is called) of Tewkesbury furnishes a fine example. Of the Decorated and Perpendicular there are abundant specimens, some of the highest beauty : indeed the Perpendicular of Gloucester cathedral is almost a peculiar style by itself. We also notice the great variety exhibited in the village churches, as regards outline and character. We have every sort of tower ; the plain one without parapets, the embattled tower, the pinnacled tower, the parapet and spire, and the broach spire. Of the latter, Shurdington offers a fine instance ; it is one of the most taper spires of masonry that I ever saw. And the central tower or belfry seems to occur more frequently in this district than many others in England. According to Atkyns' Gloucestershire, which though it gives a very short and meagre description of each church, generally enables us to form some idea of its plan, there are upwards of forty examples in the county ; I have certainly seen more than half that number myself. Wiltshire also con- tains many instances. In Northamptonshire, a county re- markable for the beauty of its churches, it would be difficult to find more than six or seven. It has not been my intention to give a minute description of every building I have visited ; I trust I have said enough to induce the church antiquary who may be resident at Cheltenham for a time to give special attention to the village churches within his reach ; he will find not only curious architectural features, but also valuable specimens of decora- tion ^ painted glass, tiles, wood-work, as well as monumental remains, that will amply reward his research, i. l. p. b Among minor decorations I might the altar-cloth at Winchcomb, which has remark the painting in one of the monu- embroidery belonging, as far as I can mental chapels in Tewkesbury cluirch, and judge, to the fifteenth or sixteenth century.