Cathedrals, abbeys and churches of England and Wales : descriptive, historical, pictorial . ildings in this country. To this rule Winchelsea is no excep-tion. The lofty arches which separate the choir from the chapels north andsouth, with the clustered columns of Caen stone and Sussex marble, are wellworth examination. So, too, is the window tracery, especially the curiousarrangement of quatrefoils in the north and south windows. Tlie principaleastern window is also good, but it is a modern restoration. There are sediliaand a piscina in the chancel, but these have been much injured. A bracketi
Cathedrals, abbeys and churches of England and Wales : descriptive, historical, pictorial . ildings in this country. To this rule Winchelsea is no excep-tion. The lofty arches which separate the choir from the chapels north andsouth, with the clustered columns of Caen stone and Sussex marble, are wellworth examination. So, too, is the window tracery, especially the curiousarrangement of quatrefoils in the north and south windows. Tlie principaleastern window is also good, but it is a modern restoration. There are sediliaand a piscina in the chancel, but these have been much injured. A bracketin the wall is supposed to have once supported a figure of the patron saint. 380 ABBEYS AND CEURCEES. [Rye and who was no less a personage than Thomas of Canterbury. Probably that wasdestroyed to vindicate the royal supremacy. Here the south aisle is dedicatedto St. Nicholas, the north to the Virgin. In the former is the Alard Chantry;in the latter the Farncombe. Both contain monuments of exceptional the Alard Chapel are the two finest. That nearer to the east has a beautiful. WINCHELSBA : THE CHURCH AND CHURCHYARD. gabled canopy, and all the details— grotesque heads, with clusters and sprays ofoak-leaves, the mouldings, and the ornaments—are admirable, belonging as theydo to tlie best period of Gothic architecture, when natural leafage and naturalexpression were carefully imitated, but with the feeling of the truest art. Thefigure, which also is admirably executed, is clad in armour, the hands hold asmall heart, the legs are crossed, the feet rest upon a lion. This effigy isbelieved, with good reason, to represent one Gervase Alard, a native of theplace, and one of a family of bold sailors. He was appointed Admiral ofthe Cinque Port fleet in the years 1303 and 1306, and the first documentaryevidence of the use of this title in England is in connection with his other tomb, which is rather later in date and not quite so good in execu-tion, is probably, th
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Keywords: ., book, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectchurchbuildings
