This church is situated between the cathedral wall on the north-east and
the sea (see =C=, Fig. 457). It was entirely lost sight of till the year
1860, when the foundations were exposed. Little else remains except the
foundations. The east wall rises about 3 feet above the ground, and the
other walls run from nearly level with the surface to about 2 feet in
height. The structure (Fig. 460) consisted of a nave, transepts, and
chancel. The nave and chancel do not coincide in their orientation.
There was probably a low central tower supported on four arches, with a
stair to the tower at the north-west corner, where the foundation of
what appears to have been the stair turret is traceable. The remains of
a bench are visible in the north transept. The chancel is the best
preserved portion, and is of the first pointed period. It has a base all
round, including the buttresses, of which those at the north-east corner
have disappeared. There has been a narrow splayed doorway on the north
side. A projecting piece of masonry in the south wall may have been a
sedilia. A large square of masonry, 11 feet by 4 feet 4 inches, at the
east end suggests the position of an altar. There is an early slab in
the chancel, carved with a cross, set on steps, and a sword beside it.
Another monument, of a hog-backed type, lies to the north of the nave.
The existence of other stones at further distances indicate this as the
position of an ancient cemetery. The masonry of the chancel is finer
than that of the nave and transept, but which is the earlier it is not
possible to say with any confidence.
[Illustration: FIG. 460.--St. Mary’s Church. Plan.]
The history of this chapel, with a descriptive account, will be found in
the _Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries_, Session 1860-61, Vol.
IV. p. 82. The internal dimensions of the chapel are:--Length of nave,
27 feet; width, 18 feet 11 inches. Length of chancel, 46 feet 8½ inches;
width, 20 feet 2 inches. Total length inside, 97 feet 11½ inches;
outside, 105 feet.