Jump to content

Page:Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries.djvu/102

From Wikisource
This page needs to be proofread.

Dewm Notes and Queries. 67 45. John Grebnbway and his Chapel at Tiverton (II, p. 41, par. 33). — Greenway's work extends over the whole of the southern half of the Church, and stops only with the chancel ; his reiterated initials are on almost all of the capitals on the south side of the nave. It is highly probable that he erected the present chancel arch — a very curious piece of building. At the restoration fifty years back it was found that the flat panelling which forms the uprights had never been properly bedded into the main chancel wall ; on both sides the stones are raked back, while the arch itself is depressed and does not follow naturally from its supports. On either side of the arch, and each below an empty niche, are two finely carved half-length figures ; they are winged and in the attitude of prayer. The one is a male, and the other seems to be a female figure. Greenway's monogram is above the male figure. The male head, which is intact, is beautifully carved and is almost certainly a portrait, and if a portrait, a portrait of John Greenway, with his wife upon the other side of the chancel ; a careful drawing of the male figure is about to be made. In addition to the two figures described by Mr. Rogers (p. 44, 1. 12) are two similar figures on the east and two figures on the west side of the chapel itself. The first on the west wall of the porch is a sitting figure, but sadly defaced ; the second stands with a hawk on fist. The first on the east wall sits with a book with a child figure on the right ; the second sits and holds a long scroll with an animal, seemingly a dog, on the right. Here we seem to have Greenway in his sporting and parental capacities. The west wall of the porch is built of old red stones, and contains the monogram P five times repeated. I have foimd the same monogram once in the ceiling of the porch, and twice in the capitals on the north side of the nave, which are said to have been executed early in the seventeenth century. But the most mysterious initials are in the porch, imme- diately above the kneeling figure of Joan Greenway above the inner door. The initials of John and Joan Greenway are repeated almost ad nauseum throughout the southern half of the Churchy but here, in perhaps the most conspicuous place of all, instead