Records, Historical and Antiquarian, of Parishes Round HorncastleWalter, J. Conway (James Conway)
History
Records, Historical and Antiquarian, of Parishes Round Horncastle
Walter, J. Conway (James Conway)
Parishes -- England -- Horncastle -- History
The present very interesting church is, in parts, so very ancient, that
it is more than likely that some portions of the original fabric of that
day still remain. Only a few years ago the building was in a state of
squalid neglect and architectural disfigurement; but it was restored by
the Commissioners in 1892, and re-opened by the Bishop of Lincoln on
January 17, 1893, the work having been done with great care and judgment;
and the former flat-ceiled, white-washed room has given place to a
structure church-like in all its arrangements. It is nevertheless of a
somewhat conglomerate character, windows, and other objects, breaking
out, as it were, in all sorts of unexpected positions; and thus making it
a study of curiosities. We quote here some of the remarks of the late
Precentor Venables made on the occasion of the visit of the Architectural
Society in 1894, “of the original Norman fabric, itself of more than one
date, and which was shortened at the west end, there are several relics,
especially in the charming narrow doorway in the north wall of the nave,
now built up, the arch of which is surrounded with zigzag moulding; and a
very remarkable little ‘key-hole’ window, high up in the north wall of
the chancel. An incised line which runs round the head of this ends in
volutes, and above it is a small incised cross. Holes in the jamb of the
shutter indicate that this widow was originally unglazed. Opposite the
north doorway are traces of another Norman doorway in the south wall,
also now blocked, having above it a cross with round medallions.”
Eastward in this same south wall of the nave is a two-light early English
window with quatrefoil above, in the eastern splay of which, inside the
church, is a small, but “singularly fine corbel head, crowned.”
Immediately eastward of the chancel arch in the south wall of the chancel
is a small square window, possibly a squint; and east of this a very
narrow small “lancet window has been opened,” and still east of this, at
a different elevation, there is a good two-light decorated window. The
chancel arch is round-headed and plain; on either side of it are a pair
of Norman pillars, with the capitals hacked away; those on the north side
partly retain their rounded columns. There is a perpendicular screen
across the chancel arch of three compartments above with ogee arches and
richly carved finials, the central compartment being open; and below are
two panels on either side the central open compartment, having ogee
arches within semi-circular rims. On the north side of the chancel arch
is a niche for a figure. In the north wall of the chancel is an aumbrey,
and an oblong one above it; and in the south wall a square one
corresponding. In the south wall, under the easternmost window, is an
easter sepulchre a plain semi-circular arched recess, probably marking
the tomb of the founder. In the north wall of the nave is a similar, but
rather larger recess.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account