Page:Walks in the Black Country and its green border-land.pdf/437

Rh feature to these streets, or the two main ones that intersect each other at right angles. They run into the heart of the town through the porches or between the feet of churches, as if all who entered or issued should pass under the cloud of sanctuary influence. St. Mary's is the great, commanding edifice, and a kind of Westminster Abbey to the noble families of the castle. Most of the building is comparatively modern, and fails to impress you with the sense of venerable antiquity. The tower is a lofty, massive structure, standing on four feet, between two of which the main street passes; so that doubtless loads of hay are frequently seen going through the porch on the way to market. The church itself is a spacious building and creditable to modern architecture, but presenting nothing impressive inside or out. But the choir, which is a part of the ancient edifice, is a beautiful structure. The groined ceiling overhead is a work of wonderful art. The ornate roofage is supported by long delicate branches that seem to grow out of the graceful trunks of the stone trees planted against the side walls on either side. They are called flying ribs, but are more like long taper fingers of white marble. In the centre of the choir lie on an altar-shape monument the full length effigies of Earl Thomas Beauchamp and his second countess, both clad in the costume of their time