Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 3.djvu/235

Rh which is of transition Norman character. Here the bells are still hanging in the openings, and seem to be as old as the building. The plain Norman imposts to the arches leave no doubts of their age, and the peculiar form of the bells, having no runs turned outwards, but a thick plain edge, seems to indicate an equally great antiquity.

These three examples being all in the same neighbourhood, the fashion may perhaps be considered as a provincialism, but it is probable that if the plaster or rough-cast were stripped off the west gables of very many of our small ancient churches, the same arrangement would be found to have formerly existed. The same neighbourhood furnishes us with another example of a different kind, not less remarkable, and of about the same age. King's Somborne church,(4)in Hamp-