CHRISTCHURCH TWYNEHAM PRIORY. view is also to be seen the extremity of the new altar railings. The font is represented in our View of the nave; and, in the same View, the effect of removing the before-mentioned lath-plaster partition is likewise, observable. The engraving of Draper's chapel will shew, on a small scale, how much has been done towards the restoration of the whole of this highly-interesting fabric, by cleansing it from whitewash and plaster. The two transcepts which, formerly, were receptacles only for rubbish, are now filled with pews. On entering the Church by the great northern porch we pass through the splendid door-way represented in the title-page to this volume. Standing in the north aisle, at the distance of about four feet from the door, we made our drawing of the nave, which, in this part, is entirely free from pews. The massive piers of the nave, with the story of circular, and upper story of pointed arches, give to the building a singularly grand effect. A narrow gallery extends along all the upper parts of the Church, from the transcepts to the western extremity. The font is octagonal, and has, at the alternate angles, the initials I. D. and H. R. It was no doubt formed in the time of John Draper (the first of that name), who was prior of Christchurch in the beginning of the reign of king Henry VII. The screen separating the nave from the choir, and on which the organ was placed about twenty years ago, has been of very elegant workmanship. It contains twelve niches for statues, CHRISTCHURCH TWYNEHAM PRIORY. each niche supported by three short columns placed in a triangle, the capitals of which, enriched with foliage, are all different. On the east side of the northern transcept there are two oratories that contain some very interesting remains of ancient architecture. The choir is a work of great magnificence; the altar screen and the countess of Salisbury's chapel, on the north side of the communion rails, constitute its most important features. The former, the production of the fourteenth century, is thirty-three feet in height, and twenty-one feet in width. It is entirely of stone, and contains several figures as large as life, and betwixt forty and fifty others of smaller size.. Lady Salisbury's chapel contains, particularly in its interior, an infinity of the most exquisite and elaborate workmanship. It was founded by Margaret de la Pole, countess of Salisbury, who was beheaded, on a suspicion of treason, in the early part of the reign of Henry VIII. The tragical fate of this lady was occasioned by the imprudence of her son, cardinal Pole, who, while resident at Rome, was engaged in the publication of numerous satires against Henry VIII. on account of his alterations in religion. This incensed the king so highly, that he made all the family and friends of the cardinal feel the effects of his displeasure; accordingly he procured the attainder of the countess for holding a correspondence with her son. This however was not done without great |