on each side. This clerestory dates from the same
time as the North Aisle and South Porch, about 1430.
The present roof, dating from about 1700, is segmental
and plastered. There was formerly an open-timbered
roof, as may be seen from the eight corbels still in
position; these formerly supported the braces for
the tie-beams, and are worth a careful study. On
the south side from east to west, we have first a
grotesque head between two bands, and then an
eagle representing St. John, who soars high,
commencing his gospel with the divinity of the Word.
Next comes the winged lion for St. Mark, whose
gospel opens with scenes from the life of St. John
the Baptist in the wilderness, and then comes
another grotesque head. On the north side there is a
grotesque head in the east, then a demi-angel or
man representing St. Matthew, who begins his gospel
with the humanity of our Lord, tracing His descent
from David. Next there comes the winged ox or
calf representing St. Luke, whose gospel opens with
the priest sacrificing in the temple. These symbols
of the Four Evangels, possibly also having reference
to the Cherubic Vision described in Ezekiel i., 10,
occur frequently in church architecture of the
Fifteenth Century.
The North Aisle, built about 1420, is separated from
the Nave by a perpendicular arcade ; the arches of
two reveals spring from clustered shafts with
"hollow-moulding" and well shaped plinths and
capitals. In the north wall, built into an enlarged
buttress of unusual type, is a rood staircase, which, as
at Woodham Ferrers, is one bay westwards from the
east end of the aisle. This was necessitated by the
existence of a side chapel, the piscina niche of which
can still be seen to the south of where the altar
formerly stood. The staircase led to a gallery crossing
the aisle and thence returned, so as to give access
to the rood loft built across the chancel arch. In
the north-east corner there is a curious recess now
occupied by a simple memorial recording the names
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