2

ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.

the Normans , we shall then be at a loss to find many true Saxon buildings, orexamples in this country.*

The church of Stewkley consists only of one space, or aile, which is sepa-rated, by the arches that support the tower, into three divisions : one of theseforms the chancel, which is nearly square; another division, of similar shapeand proportion, is the space under the tower; and a third, between thewestern entrance and the tower, may be called the nave. The walls are thickand firmly built, and are perforated by ten windows, which are uniform inshape, and nearly similar in ornaments. The exterior character of these, withtheir situations, are represented in the accompanying prints. By the ground-plan, will be shewed the shape of the openings at the doorways, the plan of thewestern front, the thickness of the walls, and the length and breadth of thebuilding: and from the south-east view of the church, it will be seen thatthere are three arches at the east end, though the centre one only is openedas a window. The. western entrance is more ornamented than any otherpart of the structure: and consists of a central door-way, with two lateralblank arches. The mouldings are zigzag, and the capitals, with an impostover the door, are ornamented with specimens of rude sculpture, representingbirds with snakes tails, and some other figures. The chancel’has a vaultedcieling, with a small column at each angle, from which two strong ribs orgroins diverge across the arch, and intersect each other at the centre. Theseare decorated with the zigzag ornament. On the south side of the chancel, aretwo arched recesses, or stone seats in the walls, intended for the officiatingpriests at the high altar. The arches, which support the tower, are ornamentedwith projecting and flat zigzag mouldings, and also several grotesque heads ofanimals, &c. Round the upper part of the tower is a continued series of inter-secting arches. It may be worthy of remark, that the shape, size, and generalfeatures of this church bear a close resemblance to that of Iffley, near Oxford .

The village of Stewkley is situated about six miles to the east of Winslow,seven miles south of Fenny-Stratford, and nearly five miles west of Leigliton-Buzzard.

* In an introductory essay to the present work, to be hereafter published, and for which Ihave collected numerous materials, I shall endeavour to elucidate this subject: and shall then pro-duce different examples of the oldest and most artless styles of building that are to be found inGreat Britain .

END OF THE ACCOUNT OF STEWKLEY CHUKCH.