Visits to Fields of Battle, in England, of the Fifteenth Century: to which are added, some miscellaneous tracts and papers upon archæological subjectsBrooke, Richard
History
Visits to Fields of Battle, in England, of the Fifteenth Century: to which are added, some miscellaneous tracts and papers upon archæological subjects
Brooke, Richard
Battlefields -- England; Great Britain -- History -- Wars of the Roses, 1455-1485
There are two windows on each side of the chancel, of which the mullions
and general appearance bear a resemblance, though not quite the same, to
those of the nave, and might be thought to be of a more modern date, if
the whole of the fabric and the appearance of the stonework did not
strongly convey the impression of all having been erected at the same
date; in fact the style and appearance of the church, are just what might
be expected in one erected early in the fifteenth century.
In the chancel is a handsome large modern stone font, with ornaments in
the Gothic style, which supplies the place of the ancient one, of which
some stonework lying within the tower, formed part. There is a small
cemetery still in use for interments on the south side of the church.
On each side of the exterior of the chancel, and nearest the east end,
are dripstones, as if intended for the arch of a window, carried up
nearly but not quite to a point, and with the stones ready jointed, as if
for the purpose of breaking out an additional window on each side of the
chancel, without disturbing the walls; but I think it is quite evident,
from the appearance of the stonework, and from the dripstones for the
contemplated windows or arches not having been carried up to meet at the
top, that no window ever existed in either of those places; and that the
intention of so singular a preparation by the architect, may have been,
to add at some future time, side chapels, such as are often seen in
ancient churches, and are known to have been added subsequently to the
erection of the churches.
The ceiling of the chancel is modern, and is plastered and whitewashed,
and supported by modern incongruous-looking pillars.
The church is approached by a narrow carriage way, which leads from the
westward side of the turnpike road; but it stops at a gate opening into a
field, in which the church stands, and a short path leads to it from the
gate.
There is one remarkable singularity connected with the church, which is,
that there is every appearance of the church, and the college after
mentioned, having stood in a square space enclosed by a moat. A moat
regularly formed, and as straight as a canal, exists at a short distance
from the east end of the church, except at one small spot near the
centre, which appears to have been filled up, in order to admit of the
path to the church; and it turns with an abrupt angle at each end, and
extends a considerable distance on the north and south sides of the
church. I was unable, however, to trace its existence on the west side,
or to discover whether it had ever completely encompassed the church.
Besides the erection of the church, there was erected there by Henry IV.,
or by Roger Ive, clerk, by virtue of a charter or license from Henry, a
small college, consisting of a principal or master, and five secular
chaplains, together with a hospital for several poor persons, of which
Henry IV. was a benefactor. {17a}
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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