w with the exception of Ludlow, by much west in the county. The walls of the nave ed on each side by four semicircalar arkes, woldings peculiar to the pointed style, and their from fine clustered pillars, their shafts having dat rib which belongs to the thitzorth en The capitals are highly enriched with foltage, usual in ancient churches, av att d

Above the arches is a clere-story, with a high short windows on both sides, running the fede of the Church. These are irregularly aged lets, and have herds very obtusely pointed, ras ed by a single ullion. The ceiling of the wave, of oak, rises into so extremely fat are sp by its principal wams into square pannels, includ drcles richly adorned with quatrefoils and foltage. e ribs and bosses, at their intersections, are carved double roses, devices, and knots, those attached to entre beam having pendant ornaments, pelicans, an with musical instruments, and grotesque sculptures. The chandel is considerably elevated above the area the Church, by two ascents of steps. On each side is pointed arch, blocked up, resting upon imposts similar to the clustered pillars in the nave. That on the south

ST. MARY'S CHURCH, SHREWSBURY.

buttresses of the transcept and choir, but now, excepting those on the chapel, not one remains.

St. Mary's Church within is spacious, lofty, and interesting, and, with the exception of Ludlow, by much the handsomest in the county. The walls of the nave are supported on each side by four semicircular arches, with mouldings peculiar to the pointed style, and these spring from fine clustered pillars, their shafts having the small flat rib which belongs to the thirteenth cen tury. The capitals are highly enriched with foliage, and, as is usual in ancient churches, are all of different designs. Above the arches is a clere-story, with a high range of short windows on both sides, running the whole length of the Church. These are irregularly arranged in cauplets, and have heads very obtusely pointed, each divided by a single mullion. The ceiling of the nave, which is of oak, rises into an extremely flat arch, separated by its principal beams into square pannels, including circles richly adorned with quatrefoils and foliage. The ribs and bosses, at their intersections, are carved into double roses, devices, and knots, those attached to the centre beam having pendant ornaments, pelicans, angels with musical instruments, and grotesque sculptures.

The chancel is considerably elevated above the area of the Church, by two ascents of steps. On each side is a pointed arch, blocked up, resting upon imposts similar to the clustered pillars in the nave. That on the south

ST. MARY'S CHURCH, SHREWSBURY.

other with the chantry chapel, now used as a vestry and registry of the peculiar. On the north side, near the altar, is a beautiful triple window, with arches, remarkably sharp pointed, the centre rising much higher than those of each side, and supported on slender insulated columns, whose capitals are adorned with foliage, busts, and grotesque heads. The ceiling, which like that of the whole Church, is of oak pannelling, was in this part quite plain. The interstices between the beams have lately been plastered over, and painted with trefoil and other appropriate enrichments, and the intersections adorned with carved roses and devices, which were collected from the ruins of St. Chad's and St. Alkmund's.

In this Church are some tombs of considerable antiquity. In the chapel of the Virgin Mary, under the lofty arch which was formerly open to the chancel, is an altartomb, on which is a recumbent figure of a cross-legged knight, in linked armour, the sides adorned with rich foliated niches, once containing figures. Churchyard informs us, that this monument belonged to a Leyborne; of that ancient family, seated at Great Berwick, in this parish, called also, from them, Berwick Leyborne. Roger de Leyborne is mentioned by Matthew Paris, among the knights of Shropshire, who, in 1263, took up arms for Henry III. against the nefarious faction of the earl of Leicester. John de Leyborne, of Berwick Leyborne, last of his family, it is conceived, was the person to whom the tomb belongs.