Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/205

 ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE IN FRANCE. 117 in the space above, externally comprised by an arch, and internally by the vaulting cell. The spring of the vaulting is on a level with the string under the clerestory. The piers are mostly cylindrical, with engaged shafts, that on the face supporting on its abacus the cluster (a triplet) of vault- ing shafts. The clerestory Avindows of the apse are plain pointed ones of a single hght. Those of the apsidal chapels (two to each) are of three trefoil-headed lights, surmounted, as at Cambronne, by a large trefoil. The easternmost chapel has more projection than the others, and has three of these windows. It is carried up also another story, forming an addition to the choir, something in the nature of Becket's crown at Canterbury, though of less importance with regard to the rest of the building. This, with the flanking towers, and the peculiar nature of its site, gives the east end of the building a very picturesque and imposing aspect. The width of the nave between two opposite piers being about 30 feet, this church might rank with such of our conventual cliurches as Romsey. As it is close to a station, at which some of the fast trains stop, it might be easily examined b}'- the traveller who has not time to see more. Near St. Leu is Villers. The church has a small central steeple, which appears to have Romanesque work. I have not visited it. Between this and Beaumont we pass Precy, which, from its flying buttresses, gives promise of a vaulted nave ; it has a late south-western tower, and a Flamboyant eastern rose- window ; Boran, with a fine tower and crocketted spire of Flamboyant date, at the south-western angle of the nave ; and Bruyeres, with a small Romanesque tower in the angle between the nave and a northern transept. Beaumont appears to have some early pointed work ; it has a Flambo^^ant tower of good outline at the south-west angle. Champagne — Situated on a high bank overhanging the Oise, and a striking object on the right-hand side of the railway, is well worth notice, both as a very fine church and as showing our approach to a district where the general characteristics diff"er from those we are leaving. The plan is cruciform, the chancel being extremely short and flat, but it is flanked by Romanesque apses (of late date) projecting from the eastern sides of the transepts. The central tower