DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6911#0017
st. john's church, devizes.
These are decorated with the zigzag ornament. On the south side of the chancel
are two arched recesses, or stone seats in the walls, intended for the priests officiat-
lng at the high altar. The arches which support the tower are ornamented with
projecting and flat zigzag mouldings, and also several grotesque heads of animals,
(• Hound the upper part of the tower,, externally, is a continued series of inter-
secting arches. It may be worthy of remark, that the shape, size, and general
features of this church bear a close resemblance to that of Iffley, near Oxford, and
another at Avingdon, near Hungerford, in Berkshire.
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 Leighton-Buzzard
END OK THE ACCOUNT 01' STEWKLEY CHURCH.
DEVIZES, WILTSHIRE.
To the architectural antiquary there are few small parish churches more interesting
and curious than that of St. John, at Devizes* In its present form and character
are exhibited four or five different and very distinct styles of ancient architecture,
each characteristic of the period when it was designed, and calculated to exemplity
the prevalent taste and science of the age. Could we ascertain the exact era when
these different parts were erected, it would be peculiarly gratifying; but this is
denied us, and we must seek for some exposition in analogy, when we are unable to
obtain the evidence of history or authentic document, f
* Bishop Lyttelton, in his account of Exeter Cathedral, published by the Society of Antiquaries,
this building, though he calls it St. James's, and that of Iffley in Oxfordshire, « are undoubtedly ~xon
t In the search after truth we must carefully beware of the temptations of fancy i and the writer w o wi ^
to establish useful and substantial facts, must warily guard his mind against the adoption of hypothesis. mo g
all classes of authors, no one is more subject to become a victim to this delusion, than the antiquary ; am,
the perplexing ambiguity that usually envelopes the subjects of his studies, no one is more likely to deceive n.rasen
and. by ingenious sophistry, to impose on his reader. Many instances of this description have occurred; but
perhaps none is more remarkable than that of Dr. Stukeley, who, with a laudable enthusiasm for English anti-
quities, frequently extended his disquisitions beyond the boundaries of probability, and where that terminates
These are decorated with the zigzag ornament. On the south side of the chancel
are two arched recesses, or stone seats in the walls, intended for the priests officiat-
lng at the high altar. The arches which support the tower are ornamented with
projecting and flat zigzag mouldings, and also several grotesque heads of animals,
(• Hound the upper part of the tower,, externally, is a continued series of inter-
secting arches. It may be worthy of remark, that the shape, size, and general
features of this church bear a close resemblance to that of Iffley, near Oxford, and
another at Avingdon, near Hungerford, in Berkshire.
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 Leighton-Buzzard
END OK THE ACCOUNT 01' STEWKLEY CHURCH.
DEVIZES, WILTSHIRE.
To the architectural antiquary there are few small parish churches more interesting
and curious than that of St. John, at Devizes* In its present form and character
are exhibited four or five different and very distinct styles of ancient architecture,
each characteristic of the period when it was designed, and calculated to exemplity
the prevalent taste and science of the age. Could we ascertain the exact era when
these different parts were erected, it would be peculiarly gratifying; but this is
denied us, and we must seek for some exposition in analogy, when we are unable to
obtain the evidence of history or authentic document, f
* Bishop Lyttelton, in his account of Exeter Cathedral, published by the Society of Antiquaries,
this building, though he calls it St. James's, and that of Iffley in Oxfordshire, « are undoubtedly ~xon
t In the search after truth we must carefully beware of the temptations of fancy i and the writer w o wi ^
to establish useful and substantial facts, must warily guard his mind against the adoption of hypothesis. mo g
all classes of authors, no one is more subject to become a victim to this delusion, than the antiquary ; am,
the perplexing ambiguity that usually envelopes the subjects of his studies, no one is more likely to deceive n.rasen
and. by ingenious sophistry, to impose on his reader. Many instances of this description have occurred; but
perhaps none is more remarkable than that of Dr. Stukeley, who, with a laudable enthusiasm for English anti-
quities, frequently extended his disquisitions beyond the boundaries of probability, and where that terminates