Somerset | Page 9

purposes,
the most conspicuous are Wells Cathedral and Bath Abbey. But the
parish churches, in their way, are almost as remarkable. Their
excellence is largely due to the splendid building-stone which abounds
in different parts of the county, especially near Bath, Dundry, Doulting,
and Ham Hill. Of Saxon architecture Somerset has no example such as
Wilts possesses in Bradford, though some of the ancient fonts may
possibly be of pre-Norman origin. The majority of early fonts, however,
are Norman, and the number of them shows how thickly Norman
churches once covered the country. But surviving instances of churches
wholly or mainly Norman are rare: the best examples are Compton
Martin, Christon, and Stoke-sub-Hamdon. There is herring-bone work
at Elm and Marston Magna. Of Norman chancel arches and doorways
retained when the body of the church has been re-constructed the
examples are numerous; noteworthy are those at Glastonbury, Milborne
Port, Stoke-Courcy, Lullington, Huish Episcopi, Portbury, St Catherine,
South Stoke, Flax Bourton, Langridge, Clevedon, Chewton Mendip,
Englishcombe. Wells Cathedral contains some splendid Transitional
work, of which there are also specimens at Clutton. Complete churches
of the Early English and Decorated periods are few, but many
buildings preserve specimens of these styles in combination with work
of a later date. The W. front of Wells is a beautiful example of E.E.,
and windows of this period occur at E. Stoke, Bathampton, Chedzoy,
Martock, Keynsham, Somerton. There are E.E. arcades at St Cuthbert's,
Wells, and further illustrations of E.E. work are furnished by Compton
Bishop, Creech St Michael, Stoke St Gregory, etc. Decorated windows
are found at Ditcheat, Compton Dundon, Huish Champflower, Shipton
Beauchamp, Barrington, Montacute, Brympton, and very fine ones in
the choir and lady chapel at Wells. In many parish churches the
chancels have been retained when the rest of the building was
reconstructed, with the result that, whilst they often preserve early work,

and are accordingly of the greatest interest, they appear relatively to
their surroundings insignificant and mean.
But it is in Perpendicular churches that Somerset is richest; and
examples of this style are too abundant to require to be cited. It is,
indeed, a source of wonder that funds and skilled workmen were
forthcoming in sufficient quantity to erect or rebuild so many churches
within a comparatively short period. It was upon the Towers that the
greatest skill of the Perp. builders was lavished. They are generally
lofty, are often beautifully crowned with pinnacles and embattled or
pierced parapets, and not unfrequently abound with niches and statuary.
The quality of the tracery, however, varies with the stone employed;
and the towers W. of the Quantocks are, as a rule, inferior to those of
the centre and east of the county. Most have large external stair-turrets
(commonly at the N.E. or S.E. angle), which, when carried above the
parapet and surmounted by spirelets, add dignity to the plainer
structures, but which are less appropriate where the pinnacles are
sufficiently prominent and graceful to give of themselves an adequate
finish. In the case of some of the finest towers the staircase is wisely
suppressed before reaching the summit. In most instances the tower is
at the W. end, and is square; but a few churches have octagonal towers,
which are usually central (S. Petherton, Stoke St Gregory, Doulting, N.
Curry, Barrington). Spires are comparatively rare, but they occur at E.
Brent, Congresbury, Bridgwater, Croscombe, Yatton, Pitminster, Castle
Cary, Frome, Worle, Whatley, Porlock.
The classification of Somerset Perp. towers has often been attempted,
perhaps most successfully by Dr F.J. Allen, with whom the late R.P.
Brereton was in general agreement. By these careful observers they are
grouped according to the number and character of the windows inserted
in each stage. Adopting their principle of classification, though
arranging the order of the classes rather differently, we should separate
the best towers (viz. those that have two or more windows side by side
on the W. front) into two main divisions, according as (I.)
perpendicular, (II.) horizontal lines predominate. The first division (I.)
has the windows of the belfry stage (three or two in number) prolonged
as panels into the stage below. The group is a small one, but includes,

perhaps, the finest towers in the county (Batcombe, Evercreech,
Wrington, St Cuthbert's, Wells). The second division (II.) has the stages
clearly marked off by string-courses or horizontal tracery, and may be
subdivided into subordinate classes according as there are (i.) three
windows in two tiers, the belfry and the stage below (Mells,
Leigh-on-Mendip, Ilminster); (ii.) three windows in one tier (belfry)
only (Bruton, Shepton, Cranmore, Winscombe, Banwell, Weston
Zoyland, etc.); (iii.) two windows in three tiers, the belfry and two
stages below (St Mary's, Taunton); (iv.) two in two tiers, the belfry and
one stage below (Chewton Mendip, St John's, Glastonbury); (v.) two in
one tier