DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32039#0067
MANOR-HOUSE AND CHURCH AT GREAT CHALFIELD, WILTSHIRE.
45
tlie marriage; and to the left, the Tropenell arms on another shield, as on
the tomb in the Chantry at Corsham Church* represented in Plate VIII.,
Ecclesiastical Architecture: these bosses have been richly painted and gilt* as
also the moulded tie-heams and cornice shewn at the bottom of the Plate, to the
left, in section. The Masks concealed small openings into the dressing-closets ;
one seems to represent a King with asses’ ears, the other a Bishop; tlie eyes
and mouths are pierced, so that a person might overlook the Hall without
being seen ; the head at the top of the Plate is for a similar purpose, and
overlooks the Music Gallery from the large bed-room.
Plate XX. Plcister Bosses of the Hctll Ceiling. These bosses are shewn
one-fourth full size, and are run in plaster with a dark core : they, together
with the ribs which subdivided the squares of the Hall ceiling, formed by the
tie-beams and the corresponding mouldings in the centre, were taken down a
few years ago, as they threatened danger to the inmates, and were presented
to the present venerable Bishop of Bath and Wells, ofwhose valuable collection
in the Crypt at the Palace of Wells, they now form part; they shew the motto
introduced in various ways. At the bottom of the plate is one compartment
of the ceiling, which is shewn as it is presumed to have existed with these bosses
applied; some represent oak lecives, some the water lily, and others bear the
letters tf)£—Jesu hominibus crucifixo.
The Church.
Plate I. sliews the West Elevation and the Longitudinal Section. The
Stone Screen which at present divides the chancel from the body of the Church,
is placed in its original situation, which is under the arch between the Chantry
Chapel and the body of the Church. The arch in the chancel is modern,
and being a segment of a circle, a block of stone has been left to hide the
awkwardness of the arch mouldings cutting obliquely on the capitals. The
levels of the floor have been raised at different times, but the original levels are
here shewn. The walls of the body of the Church are certainly more ancient
than the other portions, and must have been those of the original Chapel, which
existed here as early as a.d. 1308. The West Window, the Porch, and the
Bell-Turret, have been additions, about the time of Henry VII.
Plate II. gives a Ground-plan of the whole Church as it now exists, and
45
tlie marriage; and to the left, the Tropenell arms on another shield, as on
the tomb in the Chantry at Corsham Church* represented in Plate VIII.,
Ecclesiastical Architecture: these bosses have been richly painted and gilt* as
also the moulded tie-heams and cornice shewn at the bottom of the Plate, to the
left, in section. The Masks concealed small openings into the dressing-closets ;
one seems to represent a King with asses’ ears, the other a Bishop; tlie eyes
and mouths are pierced, so that a person might overlook the Hall without
being seen ; the head at the top of the Plate is for a similar purpose, and
overlooks the Music Gallery from the large bed-room.
Plate XX. Plcister Bosses of the Hctll Ceiling. These bosses are shewn
one-fourth full size, and are run in plaster with a dark core : they, together
with the ribs which subdivided the squares of the Hall ceiling, formed by the
tie-beams and the corresponding mouldings in the centre, were taken down a
few years ago, as they threatened danger to the inmates, and were presented
to the present venerable Bishop of Bath and Wells, ofwhose valuable collection
in the Crypt at the Palace of Wells, they now form part; they shew the motto
introduced in various ways. At the bottom of the plate is one compartment
of the ceiling, which is shewn as it is presumed to have existed with these bosses
applied; some represent oak lecives, some the water lily, and others bear the
letters tf)£—Jesu hominibus crucifixo.
The Church.
Plate I. sliews the West Elevation and the Longitudinal Section. The
Stone Screen which at present divides the chancel from the body of the Church,
is placed in its original situation, which is under the arch between the Chantry
Chapel and the body of the Church. The arch in the chancel is modern,
and being a segment of a circle, a block of stone has been left to hide the
awkwardness of the arch mouldings cutting obliquely on the capitals. The
levels of the floor have been raised at different times, but the original levels are
here shewn. The walls of the body of the Church are certainly more ancient
than the other portions, and must have been those of the original Chapel, which
existed here as early as a.d. 1308. The West Window, the Porch, and the
Bell-Turret, have been additions, about the time of Henry VII.
Plate II. gives a Ground-plan of the whole Church as it now exists, and