^Econd Dag's Iptoceedings. on Wednesday Morning the Members
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— Blcadon Chnrcli. 33 ^econD Dag’s iptoceeDings. On Wednesday morning the members left Grove Park in brakes for Bleadon, Axbridge, the Brents, and Brent Knoll Camp. The weather was very favourable, both on this day and throughout the Meeting. ISIealion Cfturcb. On leaving the brakes, the party inspected the Cross (figured in Pooley’s Crosses of Sornerset, p. 66) on the way up to the Church, where they were met by the Rector, the Rev. J. T. Langdale. Before entering the Church, Dr. F. J. Allen made the following remarks on the tower :~ “ This tower belongs to the leading type of the Mend ip dis- trict, namely, those having three windows abreast, —the triple window class. The principal towers of this class in the West Mendip district are those of Ban well and Winscombe, and this tower is a later and inferior derivative from their design. pecu-liar this The features of tower are ; (1) the diagonal but- tresses ; in all other related towers they are rectangular, at least in their lower part the situation of the staircase at ; (2) a corner; it is usually on one side, near a corner; (3) the great distance between the window-sill and the top string- course : the effect is better when they coincide.” The party then went into the church where the President, Lt.-Colonel J. R. Bramble, F.S.A., delivered the following- address : “ The church is said by Collinson to be dedicated to St. Peter, and this is followed in the Diocesan Kalendar. Weaver’s Somerset Incnmhents says SS. Peter'and Paul. It consists of a nave, chancel, western tower and south porch. There are two arches in the wall on the north side of the eastern portion of the nave, intended to communicate wdth a north aisle or chantry chapel. This is stated, but I have been unable to find the Vol. LI (Third Series, Vol. XI), Part I. c 34 Fifty-seventh Annnal Meeting. authority, to have been dedicated to St. Paul. The arches are noAv oulv visible from the outside, the interior havino^ been liberally coated with plaster. \Y e<t of these arches there are signs of the junction of a west wall. “ The two eastern hays of the chancel form the oldest part of the existing church (Som. Arch. Soc. lYoc. Ill, pt. ii, 20). They are of good Geometrical work, and Mr. Freeman describes them as some pleasing work of that era. It appears by an entry in the Wells Registers that the chancel and high altar were dedicated 1317 {Collinson III, 571). The eastern window (modern) of three trefoiled acute lancets under a containing arch, and the four two-light side-windows are of very good design and proportion. All these windows have five foiled rear-arches and filleted hood-mouldings. Between the two south windows is a priest's door with five trefoiled cusps ex- ternally and a five-foiled ogee rear-arch. The window west of door is continued below a transom so as to form a Mow side- Avindow.’ The upper part of each light in the latter has tracery in the form of a pointed quatrefoil. There is a deep internal, but no external, splay. South of the altar is a plain slab of large size under an ogee arch in the wall. This might have been an Easter sepulchre although they are not usually on the south. “The nave and Avestern bay of the chancel of the same date of Perpendicular. I am disposed to think that a central tower formerly occupied the position of this western bay, standing between the chancel and nave—no transepts—in a similar manner to Christon. The present western tower was substi- tuted about 1370. “ The pulpit of stone in the north-eastern corner of the nave is a modern enlargement of a former one. The font is Aorman or A'ery Early English. The remains of the stair and entrance to the rood-loft are by the pulpit. “On the south side of the chancel within the altar rails are lying two interesting sepulchral effigies. For many years — Bleadon Church. 35 these lay in the churchyard south of the church— at one time separately, but subsequently side by side. But they are not a pair—they are separate and distinct memorials. They are figured in Mr. Boland Paul’s Inscribed and Sepulchral Slabs of North-west Somerset^ and described as ‘ man and woman.’ The effigies are much worn, but a careful examination shows that Mr. Paul’s description is a mistake. Both are distinctly male —it may be sufficient to say that in no female effigies of the date are the feet and ankles exposed. The error is continued in the Rev. W. Jackson’s Visitors'^ Handbook. “ The slabs on which the effigies repose are respectively of 6ft. 6in. and 6ft. in length, and are wider at the head than at the feet—-the ancient coffin shape. On the longer the figure is under a trefoiled projecting canopy : the head rests on two cushions, the lower placed square and the upper diagonally. “ The neck is bare. On the head is a low-crowned hat wdth a narrow brim turning downiwards. The ears are very promi- nent, the hair short. The gowm extends to the knees : it falls in close folds (like a pleated alb) : there is no girdle. There is ft large square pouch, or gypciere, on the left side supported by a strap over the right shoulder. The right hand rests on the head of a staff—the low^er portion missing. The left arm is also w^orn away. From below the knee the legs and feet are showm but they and the remains of some animal at the feet are too much worn for description. “ The shorter effigy differs somewdiat in detail from the other. There is no canopy, the hair hangs in long locks, the pouch square —is on the right side, the suspending strap coming straight dowui from the right shoulder. The hands are in the attitude of prayer. The feet and ankles uncovered. The gown hangs in loose folds from the shoulders, and has appar- ently a scapular shaped garment over it. There is a small shoulder cape, with sleeves tight to the elbow, wdiere they ter- minate in short liripipes. There are vestiges of an animal at foot. — 36 Fifty-seventh Annual Meeting. “ The date of these effigies may be put at c. 1350, about the same period as that of the present nave and the western bay of the chancel. Probably they were originally in the chapel, of which they or one of them may well have been the founders. “ Gasquet, in his Great Pestilence, preface 18, 19, speaking of Hhe Black Death’ (1348-9) writes; ‘The New Keligious Spirit found outward expression in the multitude of Guilds which sprung into existence at the time even the very adornment and enrichment of the Churches .... bears witness to the change Moreover the source of all this wealth and elaboration is another indication of the change that had come over the country. Benefactions to the church are no longer contributed entirely or at least chiefly by the great nobles, but they are now the gifts of the burgher folk and middle classes in fact the 15th century witnessed the beginnings of a great middle-class movement which can be distinctly traced to the effect of the great pestilence.’ “ The carving in the east wall of the porch was probably the former head of the village cross, still standing by the west entrance to the churchyard. “The celebrated William de Edington, afterwards (134*5) Bishop of Winchester, became Rector of Bleadon, by ex- change in 1321.” Mr. F. Bligh Bond, f.r.i.b.a., has sent the following note on the chancel of Bleadon Church : “The existing chancel is of two dates, the eastern section being apparently of early XIY Century character, with a western addition of Perpendicular character. “ It would appear as though the central part of the original church had been pulled down, and if cruciform, as was very possibly the case, the central section rebuilt in connection with the chancel. “ But the chancel, as it stands now, is almost disproportion- ately short, when judged by ancient standards, and if the later portions Avere subtracted, what would remain would be Axbridge Church. 37 less than we should ever expect to find in a church of this date. “ Moreover, there is a problem internally which requires solution. There is a recess for a founder’s tomb formed in the south wall, but instead of this being placed at some distance westward of the sanctuary, it abuts upon the east wall, and there is no room left for sedilia, piscina, or other customary features. “ The low side window on this side also appears now in the centre of the south wall of the chancel, instead of at its western extremity. “ All these incongruities appear to be fully explained by a remark made by a late sexton of the place to a member of the Somerset Archteological Society some time ago. He said that in former times the chancel was twelve feet longer, but that for some reason it had been decided to shorten it, by bringing in the east wall.^ “Mention was made at the summer meeting (1905) of a supposed chantry on the north side of the nave of this church, but an examination of the existing external features, such as the plinth mould, etc., shews that the north wall stands as it was in the XV Century.