Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 1.djvu/417

Rh Abbey, and like it, is dishonoured by having its interior blocked up so that part of the monument is in the chapel, and part forms the wall of the vestry.

".—The floor of the Altar (immediately under the communion-table) consists of a slab of marble, eight feet long by four feet wide, which is most beautifully carved with rose-wheel circles and hexagonal elongated departments, sustaining what would seem to have been an altar-stone, about six inches in height, the sides of which are deeply grooved or fluted, in one hollow, with roses interlaced with leaves carved thereon in bold and beautiful relief. The Altar is ascended from the nave by three steps; the edge stones of the upper compartment or step have been beautifully cut in bas-relief with shields, arabesques, &c.

".—The chancel and its chapels were separated from the nave and side aisles by a cancellum or screen, the basement of which is still left; it is of Decorated character, and has been richly painted; each of its compartments formerly contained a painting of some saint, and in one the figure of a female may yet be deciphered, but it is in so mutilated a condition that it would be difficult to guess whom it was intended to represent.

".—The nave is filled with the original open sittings of Perpendicular character, quite entire, and beautifully and elaborately carved. At the north-east corner of these pews is a shield cut in wood, and on the south-east corner is another, whereon are blazoned horse-shoes (arms of Ferrers), and rudders of ships or vessels.

".—Those of the north transept are very beautiful specimens of Decorated work, as is also the great window of the south transept. Those of the south side of the church are Perpendicular. On the north side the windows are debased and bad. The eastern window, which Hickman states to have been 'a fine one,' has been destroyed since his survey, and a choice specimen of the true Churchwardenic style inserted in its place.

".—In the south transept is a shield of arms blazoned quarterly, but at too great a height for me to decipher them. Such also was the case in a debased window in the north side of the nave, where appears to be a figure resembling a knight, and a shield argent, charged with a cross gules, but turned upside down. The glass representing Sir William Ferrers and his lady, in tracing which C. Stothard fell and was killed, and which was in the east window, is probably in a deal case (marked glass) which is kept in the north transept. An engraving of it may be seen in Lysons' 'Magna Britannia.'

" extremely rude. It is described by Rickman as being of rather singular character. To me it appeared only as a rude imitation by unskilful hands; it consists, to use the words of Lysons, 'of a truncated polygonal shape, resting upon four foliated ornaments, encircled by a band of rather rude execution.'

" is yet left, but much mutilated. The door and steps leading to it are nearly choked up with rubbish, &c.

".—Beside that in the chancel previously alluded to, there is a very beautiful effigy in an arched recess, in the wall of the north transept, representing a knight cross-legged, in the act of rising from his recumbent position and drawing his sword. He is armed completely in mail, over which is a surcoat. The sword is suspended from a broad belt, and his heater-shaped shield is pendent from his neck by a guige or strap—his mailed head rests upon his helmet. The effigy has been broken off at the knees, and the body of the animal on which his feet rested is gone, but the four paws and tail yet remain. The whole monument bears great