On the south side of the market rises up the church, with its great grey
towers, of which the sun illuminates the delicate carving; deepening the
shadows of the huge buttresses, and gilding the glittering windows and
flaming vanes. The image of the Patroness of the Church was wrenched out
of the porch centuries ago: such of the statues of saints as were within
reach of stones and hammer at that period of pious demolition, are maimed
and headless, and of those who were out of fire, only Doctor Portman
knows the names and history, for his curate, Smirke, is not much of an
antiquarian, and Mr. Simcoe (husband of the Honourable Mrs. Simcoe),
incumbent and architect of the Chapel of Ease in the lower town, thinks
them the abomination of desolation.
The Rectory is a stout broad-shouldered brick house, of the reign of
Anne. It communicates with the church and market by different gates,
and stands at the opening of Yew-tree Lane, where the Grammar School
(Rev. ---- Wapshot) is; Yew-tree Cottage (Miss Flather); the butchers'
slaughtering-house, an old barn or brew-house of the Abbey times, and the
Misses Finucane's establishment for young ladies.
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