OBJECTS OF INTEREST 55
What remains of it is said to be " the earliest
undoubted specimen of the Norman style of archi-
tecture now existing in England."
Originally in the form of a cross, with a massive
tower rising out of the intersection of the nave and
transept, all but the western part of the nave was
either destroyed or fell to the ground when left
unsupported by the rest of the structure. The
work of destruction must indeed have been carried
out eagerly for us to find this extract from the
churchwarden's accounts in 1556: "Anno 1556.
Imprimis for coles to undermine a piece of the
steeple which stood after the first fall, 2s." The
present building has been carefully restored in
recent years, and some of its ancient beauty again
brought to light. The columns, each one differ-
ing from its neighbour, are well worthy of special
study. The crypt, which Fuller, the historian of
the abbey, and, for a short time, curator of the
parish, described as "the fairest that ever I saw,"
the Lady chapel, recently restored by Sir T. F.
Buxton, and the many curious monuments of
worthies who have lived and died under the
shadow of the abbey, are worthy of note.