n
and transition design. On the latter rest the round boldly-moulded
arches. The arches opposite the windows in the outer wall are
slightly larger than the others. It will be observed that there is
no main vaulting shaft carried up over the main piers, as is almost
invariably the case, for the purpose of strengthening the wall. On
the contrary, the triforium arcade is continuous, and no provision
is made to support the side wall, except the single shafts of the
running arcade, which have a very weak effect. In the usual
arrangement, the triforium arches are separated by a substantial
piece of wall, including a vaulting shaft, and the triforium arch,
which is generally subdivided into several subordinate arches, is
introduced between the vaulting shafts. That is a much more
substantial form of construction, and also more satisfactory to the
eye, than the plan adopted here of a simple continuous arcade." In
the exterior of this portion of the choir the outside of the
clerestory windows is visible, being simple round-headed openings,
with flat buttresses between them. The remainder of the wall is
plain, but, judging from the level of the triforium window, the
vaulting of the aisle, which was very high and partly covered the
windows, seems to have been added at a later date. The crossing is
square; the piers are about nine feet square--that at the
south-east angle standing detached in consequence of the opening
into the south aisle, while those at the north-west and south-west
angles are incorporated with the walls. The piers are designed as a
series of shafts, set in square nooks (four on each of the complete
sides), with a large semicircular shaft at each angle. The shafts
are all built in courses with the piers, and have transition bases
and caps. From the latter spring large pointed arches, with plain
chamfered orders. The pointed arch indicates the transitional
character of this part of the building, and was probably introduced
in this position to give strength to sustain the tower. The three
arms of the cross branching to the north, south, and west from the
crossing are of equal size--an unusual arrangement, as the nave is
generally the longest division of the church. This was part of the
original design, as the western doorway is one of the most
prominently Norman portions of