62

DESCRIPTION OF THE SALISBURY CHAPEL.

within a garter, are the arms of Sir Richard Pole, namely, Per pale or and sable, a saltire engrailed counterchanged.* On each side, between the windows, (which are enriched by embattled transoms, and curious tracery) is a handsome niche; as there is, also, at each end, though of a different form, and otherwise decorated under that at the east end is a shield sculptured with the five wounds of our Saviour, on a diapered ground. †

Both fronts of this elegant specimen of scientific art are highly ornamented. Niches of various form and character, some canopied by embattled turrets, and others surmounted by rich finials, diversify the composition; whilst the facias, string-courses, and supporting octagonal columns, are covered by minute sculpturing, which gives an air of great richness to the whole. The ogee-headed niches, and surmounting ornaments of the choir front have been decorated with groups of angels, and other statuary, but from the removal of figures, and some wanton dilapidations, the full design cannot be traced. The upper niches exhibit highly-wrought finials terminating in crowns, and their canopies are very beautiful. In the year 1813, a most praiseworthy donation of twenty guineas was made by Richard Norris, Esq., of Boscomb, for repairing this chapel.

Not any inscription for the Countess of Salisbury appears on this monument; but within the upper niche at the west end (vide Plate XIII.) there has been placed a dove-coloured tablet thus inscribed in memory of a late distinguished statesman :

In the vault beneath are deposited the mortal remains of the RIGHT HONOURABLE GEORGE ROSE, one of his Majesty's Council for Affairs of Trade and Foreign Plantations, Treasurer of the Navy, and in six successive Parliaments one of the Representatives of this Borough; who, on the 13th of January, 1818, the 74th year of his age, in the Faith of Christ, and in Charity with all Mankind, concluded a Life, the whole of which was the continued and strenuous effort of an ardent and powerful Mind to promote the Welfare of the State, and the Happiness of his Fellow Creatures.+

See Plate I., Fig. 1., which represents a portion of the chapel vaulting.

+ During the late repairs, two receptacles for coffins were discovered below the floor of this chapel, which were probably intended for the Countess and her son, the Cardinal, but seemed never to have been used. These sepulchres were each six feet eight inches in length, two feet two inches in width, and two feet deep.

This gentleman, who died at Cuffnells, near Lyndhurst, made the following bequest to the male inhabitants of Christ-church and Lyndhurst, by his will, bearing date in the year 1815;

To the Right Honorable SIR G.H.ROSE. G.C.H. One of the Representatives in Parliament for the Borough of Christ Chur

This Plate, us respectfully inscribed by 5. For un

Tondon. Pub Tany 1832 by B Ferrey 105 G Rufsell Str Eloc msbury.