Sanctuary fittings and something rare

As well as the original pavement the chancel of Laxton church in Nottingham is lucky enough to still retain its stone sanctuary furnishings, fourteenth century piscina with double drains, Easter sepulchre, sedilia and image corbels.  All it is missing is the images themselves and the medieval high altar. 

Laxton, Nottinghamshire

Laxton, Nottinghamshire

Laxton, Nottinghamshire

Laxton, Nottinghamshire

The seats of the sedilia are topped by a delicious canopy, a triplet of crocketed ogees.  To the far right of the canopy is a bit of protruding rusty ironwork, the outer casing of a little pulley wheel.  What was this for?  J Charles Cox in his County Churches: Nottinghamshire, published in 1912, suggests it is part if the medieval apparatus used to lower and raise the veil that would have cut off the chancel during Lent.  He may be right.    

Laxton, Nottinghamshire

Laxton, Nottinghamshire

Comments

Anonymous said…
What was the purpose of the double piscina? All that I can imagine would be one for water and one for wine or oils. Any notes on it?

Richard in Rhode Island
Davis d'Ambly said…
Amazing and wonderful. Thanks Allan!
Allan Barton said…
Richard, difficult to tell really. Francis Bond was of the view that one was used to ablute the hands and one to ablute the chalice.