Durham St Nicholas - Diocese of Durham

4The roof of the nave is of eight bays, with collar-beam trusses with arched braces,those of alternate trusses coming down onto carved corbels, the other springing fromthe wall-plate; the chancel roof is similar, but of only two bays. The principal timbersare painted, the trusses green and the rafters red. The aisle roofs also have arch bracesto their principals.The interior of the vestry block has been considerably altered. The main hall is set alittle below the level of the church, and has a 20 th -century stair descending to its floor;an older stair rises at the east end to the upper hall (also reached by the recent stair inthe north aisle), which has a fine scissor-braced roof with ashlaring to the eaves.,Fittings and FurnishingsMost of the fittings and furnishings of the church date from the later 20 th century, andlargely from 1979-81 restoration, and are not described in detail here. There is somegood glass of 1961 by L.C.Evetts in the south aisleThe Font, which stands at the south-west corner of the south aisle, is dated ‘1700’; ithas a moulded circular shaft and a gadrooned bowl and base.The Clock in the tower is dated 1871 and by Dent ‘by special appointment to theQueen and HRH the Prince of Wales’, of 61 the Strand, LondonThe Bell Frames are of timber, and of the long-headed form, with braces from sill tohead but no corner posts (Pickford type 6A); in plan they are Pickford form 6.1, withtwo pits in line set along the south side of the belfry, and four parallel north-south pitsbeyond. Five of the bells are of 17 th century date, and all bear the same inscription(differently arranged) and the stamp of James Bartlett, of Whitechapel:FVNDATVR DEI GLORIÆ REGNO AVGVSTISSIMI IACOBI SECVNDINATHANIELE : : EPISE ROBERT DELAVAL ARM: PRÆTORE RALPHTROTTER ROB: ROBSON CH WARDENS 1687.The treble is inscribed:CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDOIN 1889THIS BELL IS THE GIFT OF THOMAS AND ELEANOR WINTERTHE OTHER FIVE BELLS WERE REHUING AT THE SAME TIMEREV H.E.FOX VICARGOERGE CHAPMANJOHBN ROBINSON . CHURCHWARDENSWILLIAM BOYD, MAYOR 22 Information on bells from Bells of the Newcastle and Durham Dioceses (1979) Durham & NewcastleDiocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers.