Volume 4: South-East England
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Current Display: Sompting 22a–b, Sussex 
Overview
Object type: Two bases
Measurements: H. c. 15 cm (5.9 in); W. c. 30 cm (11.8 in)
Stone type: Yellowish, soft, much weathered limestone; Caen stone
Plate numbers in printed volume: Ill. 213
Corpus volume reference: Vol 4 p. 184
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Present Location
In situ on the angle shafts of the pair of triangular-headed windows on the north side of the tower at first floor level
Evidence for Discovery
Rickman shows windows of which a and b form part with massive sills, each decorated close to outer end with a volute-like feature (Rickman 1848, fig. on xxviii); presumably he mistakenly interpreted a and b as ends of decorated sills which had already weathered away.
Church Dedication
St Mary
Present Condition
Heavily weathered
Description
Each of the triangular-headed windows has an angle shaft and angle roll carried around the triangular head. Between them the half-round median pilaster of the tower forms a common shaft. Each of the angle shaft bases terminates in an out-turned volute.
Discussion
These volutes reflect a general interest in the form exhibited throughout the decoration at Sompting, as on the impost-like strips flanking the tower-arch capitals (Sompting no. 14) and three of the pilaster capitals on the tower (Sompting nos. 16–17, 19). The dating of them must depend solely on the dating of the fabric, which places them in the mid to late eleventh century.
Date
Eleventh century
References
Rickman 1848, fig. on xxviii; Gem 1973, ii, 492; Gem 1983, 124; Tweddle 1986b, i, 173, ii, 477 - 8, iii, pl. 94a
D.T.
Endnotes
