STONE PULPITS.
(Vol. viii., p. 562.)
To Mr. Kersley's list I can add, from my own county, St. John the Evangelist, Cirencester, used; SS. Peter and Paul, Northleach, used; Staunton, All Saints, in the Hundred of St. Briavell's, Dean Forest, not used.
The last has a curious double arrangement in two storeys, like a modern reading-desk and pulpit, projecting west from the north side of the chancel arch, or rather (if I recollect rightly, for I took no notes on visiting the church) of the west tower arch, and to both which there is access from the newel leading to the ancient rood-loft.
To the above might be added those of Coombe, Oxon; Frampton, Dorset; and Trinity Church, Coventry: and if any other than those in churches, the angular one in the entrance court in Magdalene College, Oxford, from which, formerly, the University Sermon used to be preached on the festival of St. John the Baptist, when the court was strewed with rushes for the occasion (vide Glossary of Architecture, in verb.); that in the refectory of Tinterne Abbey, Monmouthshire; and the well-known exquisite specimen of the later First Pointed period, occupying a similar locality in the Abbey of Beaulieu, Hants, so elaborately illustrated by Mr. Carter in Weale's Quarterly Papers.
Brookthorpe.
A collection of English examples alone would make a long list. Besides the well-known one (A.D. 1480) in the outer court of Magdalene College, Oxford, the following are noted in the last edition of the Oxford Glossary, viz:—Beaulieu, Hants (A.D. 1260); Beverley; Chester; Abbey Garden, Shrewsbury: these are in refectories of monasteries. In churches—at Cirencester; Coombe, Oxon (circa A.D. 1370); Frampton, Dorset (circa A.D. 1450); Trinity Church, Coventry (circa A.D. 1470): the latter appears from the cut to be stone.
In the second edition of the Glossary is also St. Peter's, Oxon (circa 1400).
Devonshire abounds in good samples: see Trans. of Exeter Architectural Society, vol. i., at table of plates, and the engraved plates of three very rich specimens, viz. Harberton, Chittlehampton, North Molton, each of which is encircled by canopied niches with statues.
At North Petherton, in Somersetshire, is a curious grotesque human figure of stone, crouched on the floor, supporting the pulpit (which is of wood, as I think) upon his shoulders, Atlas-like.
J. J. R.
Temple.
Mr. Kersley desires a list of ancient stone pulpits. I can give him the following, but cannot
describe their positions, nor certify which of them are still used:—Bedfordshire, St. Paul's, Bedford; Cheshire, Nantwich; Cornwall, Egloshayle; Devonshire, Chittlehampton, Harberton, Totnes, South Wooton; Dorsetshire, Frampton; Gloucestershire, North Cerney, Cirencester, Cold Ashton, Northleach, Pitchcomb, Winchcomb, Gloucester Cathedral; Hampshire, Beaulieu Abbey (fine Early Decorated), Shorwell, Isle of Wight; Oxfordshire, Coombe (1395), Oxford, Magdalene College (1480), Oxford, St. Peter's; Somersetshire, Chedder, Kew Stoke, Nailsea, Stogumber, Wrington; Sussex, Clymping; Warwickshire, Coventry, Trinity Church; Worcestershire, Worcester Cathedral.
C. R. M.
The Glossary of Architecture supplies the following examples:—Beaulieu, Hampshire, c. 1260 (plate 166.), in the refectory; Combe, Oxfordshire, c. 1370 (plate 166.); Magdalene College, Oxford, c. 1480 (plate 166.), in the outer court; Frampton, Dorset, c. 1450 (plate 167.); Holy Trinity, Coventry, c. 1500 (plate 167.), restored by Mr. Rickman.
Are, or were, the pulpits in the refectories of the monasteries of Beverley, Shrewsbury, and Chester, referred to in the Glossary sub voc. Pulpit, of stone?
W. Sparrow Simpson.
There are ancient stone pulpits still existing at Beaulieu Abbey Church, now in use, A.D. 1260; Wells Cathedral, in the nave, A.D. 1547; Magdalene College, Oxford, A.D. 1480, in the south-east angle of the first court, formerly used at the University Sermon on St. John Baptist's Day; Combe Church, Oxon., Perp. style: Frampton Church, Dorset, A.D. 1450; Trinity Church, Coventry, A.D. 1500.
Mackenzie Walcott, M.A.
To the list may be added that of Holy Trinity Church, Coventry, which is a very fine specimen, and furnished with bracket for the book. It adjoins the south aisle piers, and is in use.
G. E. T. S. R. N.