Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/204

 146 NOTES ON EXAMPLES OF chevrons, as are also the diagonal ribs of the compartment belonging to it. The present nave and chancel give the idea of an imitation of old work at a later period. The windows of the chancel are round, its roof is vaulted in cells with boldly projecting ribs. The nave has a timber roof, the piers and arches are very plain, and have rather a modern air. The upper stage of the tower was probably added to give it sufficient height for the new nave and chancel. Continuing our route by railway towards Paris, we see on the left hand St. Maximin, a picturesque church of several dates, with a low central spire. The adaptation of the arches below to a tower of less width than the nave should be remarked. They are of rough workmanship, and may be of considerable antiquity. About five miles from Creil, on the right hand, we notice — St. Leu d'Esserent — The largest and finest church we have hitherto visited. It is situated on a somewhat precipitous bank overlooking the town, and its striking outline can hardly fail to command attention. It consists of a nave with aisles, and an apsidal choir, also surrounded with an aisle, the bays of which swell out into apsidal chapels of small projection, not in the decided manner that we find so frequently in the southern provinces, and of which St. Etienne, at Nevers, fiirnishes so fine an example. The west front is Romanesque, and has a south tower and spire of that date ; a northern one was probably also intended, if not built. The western door, though of Roman- esque character, is pointed : above it runs an internal trans- verse gallery, which is given by Woillez. The original church, of which this front was a part, was evidently smaller than the present, as may be seen by the commencement of its pier-range on the western wall of the interior. The present church, with this exception, is early pointed. The nave consists of six bays, the choir of three, besides the apse, the round of which has seven arches. The apse (which is semi-circular), is flanked externally by two small towers, not rising much higher than the roof, and having the gable termination. Both nave and apse have flying buttresses. The square abacus prevails throughout. The triforium of the nave consists of three arches, open, and forming a gallery, comprised by a single arch, all pointed. The cleres- tory has a couplet of plain pointed windows, with a six-foil