The greater part of a new structure, it is therefore conjectured, was raised on the site of a previous Saxon building, probably early in the reign of Henry I. This is evident from the plain circular windows inserted in the massive basement of the tower, which, like the lower portion of the entire building, is of red stone, and flanked by broad flat buttresses, similar to those on the lower part of the Abbey tower. The tower of St. Mary’s originally was probably not higher than the part composed of red stone, and was terminated like the generality of Norman towers, by a plain parapet. The struggle between the Norman and pointed styles sometimes occasioned incongruous arches, and we may attribute the rude pointed doorway of the tower having an internal arch nearly triangular, to the reign of Stephen. THE SOUTH PORCH of the nave is of the early Norman era, the outward arch circular, having zigzag mouldings issuing from clustered columns, and an inner rib, obtusely pointed; the windows on each side are curious as early specimens of the rudiments of the mullioned window, introduced about the time of Stephen; the arches of these windows rest on short thick columns, and are bisected into two lights by a similar pillar as a mullion, the capitals of which are all different; in the apex is a quatrefoil, one of the simplest and most ancient kind of ornaments. The ceiling of the porch is also an example of the most ancient kind of groined vault, having neither boss nor ornament; above this is a chamber (entered from the church by a newel staircase), and lighted by a pointed window. The inner doorway of the porch is an enriched round arch, with chevron, lozenge, and foliated mouldings. That on the north side of the nave is similar in style; and the doorways (now closed) in the north and south transepts are very elegant specimens of the style which prevailed from the Conquest to the time of Henry I.; the latter is decorated with alternate lozenge panels filled with an embossed flower. A progressive movement of refinement and beauty took place in the science of architecture during the reign of Henry III. when the heavy Norman was succeeded by the slender lancet arch and its attendant ornaments. The transepts of this church are fine specimens of this transition of the styles, the north and south ends of which are terminated by beautifully proportioned triple lancet windows enriched with slender shafts and mouldings. About the close of the 15th century, a greater stateliness of character and ornamental arrangement became the prevailing characteristic of architectural display, and the general features of the building were altered to the fashionable style.