Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 3.djvu/262



interesting little effigy at Horsted Keynes, which, inclusive of the lion at the feet, is not more than 2 feet 3 inches long, lies in the wall on the north side of the chancel, under an Early English trefoil-headed recess, with chamfered edges, 2 feet 10 inches in length, and about 2 feet and a-half from the floor. The church itself, which was originally cruciform, is an Early English structure; and lancet windows still light both sides of the chancel. For some time this effigy lay on a window-sill in the south transept; but, as it exactly fits this recess, which, unless it was made to serve the purpose of an Easter sepulchre, seems to have had no other assignable use, and as the parts of the effigy most effectually protected by the recess are those which are best preserved, and no other appropriate place for it appears, in all probability it was originally placed where it now lies, and had not long been removed. It is of a fine grained oolite or a sandstone, more likely the latter, closely resembling Caen stone in colour and was, it is evident, carefully executed, but has suffered both from time and ill-usage, although less than might have been expected. The effigy and the slab on which it rests are apparently one piece of stone. Until recently the whole was moveable but it is now fixed. Possibly it was moveable in order to allow the recess to be used at Easter for the sepulchre.

It represents a cross-legged knight, such as is commonly miscalled a Templar, of the latter part of the reign of