While the north aisle is later than the south, the clearstory, as has been said is earlier, being of late Decorated date with large three-light windows of reticulated tracery.  The north transept is more consistent in style than the south.  The large four-light window is peculiar in design.  It has one transom and the tracery is brought down much below the spring of the arch.  The centre mullion is very solid, coming forward almost to the wall face both inside and out and running up to the apex of the arch.  The clearstory windows in both transepts are similar in general design to those of the south clearstory of the nave but with variations suggesting a rather later date.  A very effective view of the north side can be had from the quadrangle of Bond’s Hospital, though here too it loses on account of the depressed site in which it lies.

THE INTERIOR

The interior is not less impressive for its size than the exterior, Sir G.G.  Scott even saying that he knew of no interior more beautiful than St. John’s.

[Illustration:  INTERIOR, ST. JOHN BAPTIST.]

[Illustration:  CLEARSTORY WINDOWS.]

All at least will agree that there is something about it striking and dignified which is obviously not concerned with mere size, is largely independent of elaboration of detail and may therefore be safely attributed to its satisfactory proportions and broad effects of light and shade.  Its plan is quite simple consisting of a nave and choir with north and south aisles, a transept not projecting beyond the aisles at either end and a central tower.  Yet, although it is more or less oblong as a whole, there is hardly a right angle or two parallel walls throughout the church.  In most cases these discrepancies are not apparent, nor do they appear likely to have been intended to produce a studied effect.  Thus a diminution in width towards the east (as at Manchester) may be expected to add to the apparent length, but here the south aisles of both nave and chancel expand instead of contracting.  By standing within either transept and looking up at the roof the want of parallelism of the walls and other irregularities are plainly seen.  The nave has only three bays, the arches being rather lofty and the arch mouldings of the characteristic shallowness of the period.  The south-west pier had to be rebuilt on account of settlement and there are signs of it in the south-east arch next the tower.  The name Bablake is said to have been derived from a pond or conduit near by and the site may have been swampy, thus affecting the foundations.  The district is even now liable to flooding from the Sherborne (or Shireburn) stream and as late as January 1900 the waters rose over five feet within the church as a brass plate at the west end testifies.