Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 4.djvu/239

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IFFLEY CHURCH, OXFORDSHIRE.

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doubt that Iffley church belongs to the latest period of the Norman style, no portion of it being, probably, earlier than 1160, and the whole finished within ten years of that time, with the exception of the eastern bay, which was added about fifty years afterwards. The church, which was given to the priory of Kenilworth by the lady Juliana de St. Remi, in the time of Henry II., is not mentioned in the recitation of the charter of confirmation at the beginning of the reign of that king, and it is most probable that the monks rebuilt the edifice soon after it came into their possession, according to the usual custom of those times^[1].

An image should appear at this position in the text.

The ground-plan is a simple oblong, (drawn out to rather a disproportionate length by the addition of the eastern bay,) with the tower in the centre. The west front is remarkably fine and rich Norman work, and the deeply recessed central doorway affords perhaps one of the best specimens in existence of this style. The dripstone is ornamented with some of the signs of the zodiac, and with birds, winged lions, and a cherubim ; the two next orders are ornamented with beak-heads, the inner arch with zigzags only^[2]. The tall and narrow blank arches on each side of this rich central doorway are plain, the buttresses are also quite plain, and the strings are not continued round them.

Over the central doorway are the remains of a large circular Norman window (oculus), filled up with a debased Perpendicular one, which, it is apparent at first sight, should be

↑ The resemblance between the west doorways of Iffley and Kenilworth churches, has frequently been noticed, and helps in some degree to confirm this opinion. There is a good engraving; of the Kenilworth doorway in the Builder for August, 1817, which may be compared with that of Iffley here given.
↑ It was well shewn by Professor Willis in his lecture on Norwich cathedral, that whatever its origin may have been, the zigzag ornament did not come into general use until late in the Norman style. The earlier parts of Norwich are without it, but ill the later portions it begins to appear.

[1] The resemblance between the west doorways of Iffley and Kenilworth churches, has frequently been noticed, and helps in some degree to confirm this opinion. There is a good engraving; of the Kenilworth doorway in the Builder for August, 1817, which may be compared with that of Iffley here given.

[2] It was well shewn by Professor Willis in his lecture on Norwich cathedral, that whatever its origin may have been, the zigzag ornament did not come into general use until late in the Norman style. The earlier parts of Norwich are without it, but ill the later portions it begins to appear.

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