Page:The Boynton family and the family seat of Burton Agnes.djvu/105

 THE CHURCH.

The Church of Burton Agnes is dedicated to St. Martin, and was given with the tithes by Gosfrid Baynard to the Abbey of St. Mary at York.

The earliest existing remains indicate a Church of the first half of the 12th century, the plan of which consisted of an aisleless nave, doubtless with an aisleless chancel with square east end. The surviving remains of this 12th century Church, include the masonry at the four angles of the nave, and a narrow little window placed high up in the wall nearly opposite the present south door. Under the south aisle roof are some eaves corbels of this earlier work re-used. The chancel arch has been restored. The jamb shafts and outer order and hood-mould of the arch are original work, but the arch has been altered to the pointed form, and the inner order was made new possibly in the 13th century, and probably the arch itself was widened.

The font dates from the middle of the 12th century, its sides are decorated with interlacing arches.

Burton Agnes Church was a typical aisleless Church of the type common in the Wold district, as elsewhere in the early part of the 12th century.

During the third quarter of the 12th century, a north aisle was added to the Church. The earlier wall was pierced with an arcade of three bays. The piers are cylindrical, with scalloped cushion caps, square chamfered abaci and pointed arches of a single square order. This aisle was much narrower than the present one.

In the second quarter of the 13th century a south aisle was added to the nave. The earlier wall was taken down, and replaced by an arcade of three bays. The piers are