Collections Online

Reverse. Above the houses of Winchelsea, and fringing the waters of the Rother, a series of gothic-type niches crocketed and pinnacled with a central embattled tower of two storeys. In its lower storey, under a triple-trefoiled panel, a figure seated dexter in the gateway at the top of a flight of steps, perhaps the porter; with two other figures sinister (one possibly kneeling). In the upper storey, a saint bearing a palm. In turret above, a watchman standing to right and holding a lantern, between dext. A standard bearing three chevronels (perhaps for LEWKNOR – Sir Roger Lewknor holding property in the town); sin. A shield: three lions passant guardant in pale, ENGLAND. Within both the two lateral trefoiled niches, dext. (the first pinnacle topped by a bird, the second by a cross), the figure of St Giles sitting on the ground under a large ear of rye (for nearby Rye, but Birch sees here a tree) caressing a hind. In the three trefoiled niches sinister (which bear a central tower giving way to a spire) the martyrdom of St Thomas Becket, who (in centre niche) kneels mitred to right before an altar, his primatial cross to his left side, whilst in each of the side niches a baron approaches him, he dexter with drawn sword, he sinister unsheathing his sword. A rhyming legend of two hexameter verses.