The struggle between the Norman and pointed styles sometimes occasioned incongruous arches, and we may attribute the rude pointed doorway of the tower having an internal arch nearly triangular, to the reign of Stephen.
The South Porch of the nave is of the early Norman era, the outward arch circular, having zigzag mouldings issuing from clustered columns, and an inner rib, obtusely pointed; the windows on each side are curious as early specimens of the rudiments of the mullioned window, introduced about the time of Stephen; the arches of these windows rest on short thick columns, and are bisected into two lights by a similar pillar as a mullion, the capitals of which are all different; in the apex is a quatrefoil, one of the simplest and most ancient kind of ornaments.
The ceiling of the porch is also an example of the most ancient kind of groined vault, having neither boss nor ornament; above this is a chamber (entered from the church by a newel staircase), and lighted by a pointed window.
The inner doorway of the porch is an enriched round arch, with chevron, lozenge, and foliated mouldings. That on the north side of the nave is similar in style; and the doorways (now closed) in the north and south transepts are very elegant specimens of the style which prevailed from the Conquest to the time of Henry I.; the latter is decorated with alternate lozenge panels filled with an embossed flower.
A progressive movement of refinement and beauty took place in the science of architecture during the reign of Henry III. when the heavy Norman was succeeded by the slender lancet arch and its attendant ornaments. The transepts of this church are fine specimens of this transition of the styles, the north and south ends of which are terminated by beautifully proportioned triple lancet windows enriched with slender shafts and mouldings.
About the close of the 15th century, a greater stateliness of character and ornamental arrangement became the prevailing characteristic of architectural display, and the general features of the building were altered to the fashionable style.
The walls of the side aisles previous to this time were much lower, which is indicated by a slope in the stone work at the west end and a pier at the south-west, on which the roof originally rested. When the walls were raised, three mullioned windows were substituted on each side for round-headed lights, which narrowed towards the exterior surface of the wall, similar, no doubt, to that still remaining at the west end.
The nave shortly afterwards received the addition of a clere-story, lighted by a range of short windows with obtusely pointed arches, extending the whole length of the nave and chancel.
To render these important alterations of the fabric complete, the low massy tower was raised, and large double pointed windows were placed on each side, and the whole surmounted with an embattled parapet and pinnacles, which (being much decayed) were judiciously restored in 1816. From this tower rises an octagonal spire of noble proportions, which may be ranked as equal in height to the third loftiest spire in the kingdom, and forms an interesting and prominent object from every part of the rich and beautiful scenery which surrounds the town.
The dimensions, as taken at the last repair in 1818, are—tower, 78 feet 4 inches; spire, to the top of vane, 141 feet 10 inches; total height, 220 feet 2 inches.