Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/41

Rh about the close of the eleventh century. The church was called "Ecclesia Sanctæ Crucis " (the Church of the Holy Rood). The accompanying illustration (Pl. I. A.) shows the whole length of the Priory church, viewed from the north side. It is a most imposing mass of building, comprising a nave, with aisles, a chancel, and north and south transepts, each of which have aisles on their eastern sides, and communicate by deep moulded Early English arches with the chancel, but these have been for some years blocked up by the monuments of the Camden family. The remains of a chapel, unroofed, with an altar-window and piscina, on the south side of the great chancel, are visible; the entrance being by a small door. The chancel and nave have at their entrances under the intersection of the transepts beneath the great tower, finely worked open screens of the Decorated period. The interior of the chancel deserves especial attention, from the beauty, delicacy, and fine finish of the masonry. It is lighted by lancet windows, on each side, of great height, which, splaying inwards, are separated by three detached slender and banded Early English shafts, supporting the commencement of a groined roof, which it appears was never finished. The east window is a combination of lancets.

The length of the nave of this church is 136 feet; the breadth, 28 feet. On the east side of the north transept, the chapel or aisle is called "Battle," or "Capel y Cochiaid," "Chapel of the Red-haired Men, or Normans." It is 38 feet long, and 29 feet wide, and has in it a very curious slab, mentioned by Johnes in his "History of Brecknockshire." It exhibits two figures recumbent, one holding a cross on the breast, and angels swinging censers above them. Nearly the whole of the transept and chancel are paved with large monumental slabs, ornamented with highly floriated crosses; many exhibit the badges of ancient guilds, as old, it is supposed, as the times of the Edwards. Five chapels in the nave are designated as follows: the Weavers', Tuckers', Tailors', Corvisors' (Shoemakers), Glovers' or Skinners'; and at a remote period these guilds had probably their different halls for meeting for the settlement of their affairs. Little remains now of the monastery attached to this church: the stables of Lord Camden's residence appear to have formed either a refectory or a dormitory, of considerable size. Some large lavatories remain, and a tomb, said to