Page:County Churches of Cornwall.djvu/190

 156 THE CHURCHES OF CORNWALL chancel chapels, a most exceptional feature for this county. Fine S. porch used to have upper chamber ; newel stairs remain. In N. wall are 3 large recesses with stone-ribbed roofs ; two served as small chapels, whilst W. one forms N. porch. Old Norm, church gradually disappeared, save the tower, during 14th and 15 th cents. Town records con- tain agreements between Prior and Convent of St. Stephen, Launceston, and Mayor and Commonalty, as to erection of S. aisle, and Lady chapel annexed in 1428, of S. chancel aisle in 1430, and of N. chancel aisle in 1477. Clear evidence of 14th cent, work in Dec. piscina niche of S. aisle, with cinquefoil ogee-shaped head ; it must have been replaced here in 1430. Plain large octagonal font, with diameter of 45 in., probably 14th cent. Bowl of old Norm, font built up in N. porch, where it long served as holy-water stoup. Documentary evidence shows that there used to be two towers to W. front. Up to beginning of this century, the survivor of these towers, 57 ft. high, was standing; it was of Norm, workmanship, with later alterations, including good granite W. doorway dated 161 7. This tower gradually became so insecure that its removal was a necessity. Liskeard is to be congratulated in possessing a local architect (Mr. Samson) and a local builder (Mr. Trehane) capable of erecting so finely proportioned a successor in grey granite, upwards of 100 ft. high, which forms a distinctive ornamental feature of the district.