The Church of All Saints, The Leigh, near Cricklade.

By C. E. PONTING, F.S.A.

HE following brief description of this Church was given by me on the occasion of the joint visit of the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Archæological Societies in August, 1892. At that time it was hoped that the Church, which has fallen into a sad state of dilapidation and unfitness, might be repaired and secured for many centuries on its present site: but, owing mainly to the difficulties of access in winter, the parishioners and others responsible deem it necessary to remove it to a more convenient place. If this scheme be carried out the chancel will be repaired and retained as a mortuary chapel, and the nave and tower taken down and re-erected -each worked stone and each piece of timber in roof and framing will be first separately marked, and a corresponding mark put on its counterpart on drawings of the various parts so as to ensure its occupying its ancient position in the re-built structure. A suitable chancel will be added to this. Although this will require great care it is quite practicable, and it will be a work of much interest. With this in view careful measured drawings of the Church in its present state have been made, some of which accompany this paper. This structure consists of nave and chancel, the former having a south porch and a western tower constructed of timber. The walls of the nave are of thirteenth century date, and are entirely without buttresses, but the various features have been subsequently altered and the chief distinguishing marks of the early work are the piece of string-course and the lancet opening for the bell (the marks of the gudgeons of which can be traced) in the east gable of the nave, and the chancel arch, which is a low one of two orders of chamfers carried down to the floor. Late in the fourteenth century the porch was constructed, and it still retains its original roof, doorway, and niche with pedestal for figure in the east wall. The original door is stowed away under the gallery. At the same time a two-light

window was inserted in the south wall of the nave eastward of the porch, the tracery of which has been disturbed by a lowering of the walls and window-head-probably to receive the new roof in 1638. At about the middle of the fifteenth century a great alteration took place in this Church. The interesting (and in some respects unique) wooden tower, with its massive posts and braces rising from the ground inside the nave walls was erected, the west gable was rebuilt and a new three-light window introduced, two similar windows of two lights each and a second doorway were inserted in the north wall of the nave, and the cross on the east gable renewed.

At the same time the chancel was entirely re-built with the diagonal buttresses characteristic of the period. The three-light window in the south wall of the sanctuary, with its inside sill carried down as sedilia, and the charming piscina in the east jamb, are coeval with the re-building; the east window (a good three-light one temp. Edward I., with early cusping and the nail-head ornament on outside label) and the priests' door, which is of late fourteenth century date, were, however, parts of the previous chancel, re-built with the walls at this time.

The roof of the chancel is concealed by a coved plaster ceiling, and it has a modern tie-beam; but its ancient pitch is retained, and the old roof probably exists. Shortly after this a rood-loft was erected, and, although it does not still remain, traces of its former existence may be seen in the cutting away of the label of the chancel arch and the insertion of the small square window to light it. A two-light square-head window was also inserted in the south wall of the nave westward of the porch.

The roof of the nave is an absolutely unique feature in a Parish Church so far as my experience goes, and its Gothic character at so late a period may be attributed to the revival in the Church which took place at the time of Archbishop Laud. On the wall-plate on the north side is carved the inscription :