NOTES ON EXAMPLES OF ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE

IN FRANCE.^ BY THE REV. J. L. PETIT, M.A., F.S.A. NoGENT LES ViERGES. — A fine cross church, with a central tower ; visible at a short distance on the left-hand side, about a mile before we arrive at the Creil station. Its nave has no aisles, but is wider than the square of the crossing ; hence it opens into the transepts by two arches, one on each side of the western tower arch. This latter is pointed, of a square section ; the others, as well as the transept arches, are round, of one-square order. The east arch of the tower is a pointed insertion, corresponding with the beautiful decorated chancel, which has north and south aisles, from which it is divided on each side by two arches resting on a slender cylindrical pier. This part is vaulted w^ith ribs, and does not exhibit the square abacus. The window^s are of three lights, with three quatre- foils in the head. The date of this chancel must be late in the thirteenth, or early in the fourteenth, century, A little painted glass remaining in the east window seems of early date. Externally the principal feature is the towxr, of which a geometrical elevation is given by Woillez. The upper stage is clear of buttresses, and has on each face three large round arches, of a single-square order, on massive cylindrical shafts ; the imposts at the angles being enriched with smaller shafts. The label exhibits something very like the early English toothed ornament. The stage below has a triplet of narrower arches, of one-square order, with shafted imposts. Below are two windows, with a plain impost between them. The billet and cable appear as ornaments ; and at the top is a corbel-arcade, wiiich seems peculiar to the district, as it occurs in several churches in the neighbourhood, both of Romanesque and early pointed character, and I do not remember to have met with it elsewhere. It is an arcade of round arches resting on brackets, each divided into two pointed arches of an inferior order, springing from a point. ' Continued from p. 68. The illustrations of this Memoir have been presented to the Journal by Mr. Petit. VOL. IX.