cathedral and an arch in the north transept of Stow church have their weather or label mouldings terminated with sculptured snakes' heads, an architectural ornament prevalent at that time, as shewn particularly in the interesting remain of Malmsbury Abbey church, in Wiltshire. The chancel, or choir end of Stow church, cannot be referred to the Anglo-Saxons, for the series of arcades placed against the lower part of the wall, internally, are evidences of Norman design. In the tower and transept, where the walls are plain, without buttresses, of rude masonry, and where the first gradually diminishes from the church upwards, we may recognise the practice and principles of the Saxons. The side windows and clustered pilaster columns against the wall, which imply that the roof was vaulted, are other AngloNorman features; but the window in the eastern wall is of the first pointed style, about 1200. A critical history of Stow church is a desideratum in archæological literature, for it exhibits some interesting architectural members, and is intimately associated with persons and events of real importance in the Christian annals of the island. Mr. Edward J. Wilson, of Lincoln, has had opportunities to collect much valuable information on the subject, and is well qualified to execute this task, as well as another of still higher import, -a history and elucidation of the cathedral church of Lincoln. The reader will find the fullest account of Stow church, hitherto published, in the "Beauties of England," Vol. IX. Repton Church, Derbyshire.-The crypt of this building, under the east end, or chancel, is a curious design, both in plan, form, and its architectural members. Its plan is nearly square, with four columns in the middle supporting a vaulted roof, arranged in nine divisions. There are three entrances-one from the churchyard, to the north; and two from the aisles of the church, to the west. As shewn in the engraving, the four columns have a sort of cable moulding, or fillet, spirally extending from the bases to the capitals; and these bases and capitals are unusually plain and rude. The former, indeed, are merely pieces of stone, almost devoid of form and ornament. Two are plain, flat, round disks, extending much beyond the lower ends of the shafts; whilst the two others appear more like the upper members of a base. The capitals are squared, as are the four archivaults springing from them. At the centre of the east, south, and west ends are squared recesses, formed by projecting piers, or pilasters, the faces of which are panelled, and have impost mouldings, on which rest the archivaults, extending from the columns. There are ten steps from the exterior to the floor of the crypt, and twelve from the church. The approaches from the latter extend from the aisles, first, in a straight line for about five feet, where they diverge at an obtuse angle, and continue fifteen feet further, where they enter the crypt at the north-west and south-west angles. The interior area measures 16 by 17 feet, exclusive of the recesses. Of this singular specimen of Christian architecture, we have no record to verify its date, or point out its architect; but it may be safely referred to the Anglo-Saxons. It certainly manifests more of science, art, and style, than either Brixworth or the Barton towers, already illustrated in preceding portions of this work; but it does not display so much of architectural skill and masonic execution as the crypts of either St. Peter's-in-the-East, Oxford, Winchester, Canterbury, York, or Worcester cathedrals. There is another singularly interesting crypt at Lastingham, in Yorkshire, which has short massive columns, with rude grotesque capitals; and which may be regarded as a genuine Saxon work.* The topographical history of Repton, anciently Rappendune, Rapenden, Rapinden, is interesting, and will afford some clue towards illustrating that of the church. Though Repton is now only a curacy, and a village, it appears to have been a place of note and influence under the Anglo-Saxon dynasty. It gives name to the hundred; and, according to some antiquaries, was the head, or capital, of the Mercian kingdom; also the burialplace of some of its sovereigns. A monastery for religious men and women was founded here previous to the year 660, which was destroyed by the Danes, in 874, when Edburga, daughter of Adulph, king of the East Angles, was abbess. It was again refounded by Matilda, widow of Radulph, second Earl of Chester, in 1172. Of the extent and architectural character of the first, as well as the second religious houses, with the attached church, we have not any account transmitted to the present times; but the church is evidently the workmanship of different and distinct ages. Part of this seems of the same age as the crypt; but the upper portion is later. The nave and aisles indicate the style of Edward the Third's reign. In the adjoining premises, now occupied as a public school * See Britton's "Chronological History of Christian Architecture in England," p. 199, &c., in which there is a ground plan and a view of this crypt; also an architectural account of the church, &c. It is there referred "to the early Norman times;" bat further investigations induce the author to regard it as Saxon. The east end of the church, as well as the crypt, is semicircular. In the same work is a view, plan, and account of the crypt of St. Peter's-in-the-East, Oxford, which is ascribed to the Normans; but the Rev. Dr. Ingram, in the " Memorials of Oxford," now publishing, contends that it is of the age of King Alfred, when Grymbald is said to have built the church from the foundations. Dr. Ingram, in the same interesting publication, endeavours to shew that the central part of the church of St. Frideswide, now the cathedral, is truly Saxon; and Mr. Garbett, the scientific architect of Winchester cathedral, has endeavoured to prove that part of the tower and transept of that church, as well as part of the Abbey Church, at Christchurch, Hampshire, are genuine specimens of Anglo-Saxon architecture.-See Britton's "History &c. of Winchester Cathedral," and Brayley's "History of Christchurch." house, under the mastership of the Rev. Dr. Sleath, are some remains of the old priory buildings; and the school-room is said to have been the monastic refectory. It contains a row "of strong, round, Saxon pillars, evidently of very ancient date, which formerly extended to the end of the priory. The dormitory was at the north end of the hall; and on the east side was situated the cloisters, the area of which is converted into a garden for the master."-(" Beauties of England," Vol. III. By Edward W. Brayley.) In this extract, we find the word Saxon applied to certain pillars of the domestic buildings, which are most probably of Norman execution; but the author, at the time of writing his account, was not so critically precise in language as we find him in his elaborate and interesting history of Westminster Abbey church, and also in that of Christ Church, just completed. (As the term is often indiscriminately used by the Messrs. Lysons, in their "Magna Britannica;" by Mr. King, in "Munimenta Antiqua," and by almost all topographers and antiquaries, I propose to devote another paper to this class or series of my architectural essays. Much confusion prevails, and much frivolous disquisition has been employed on the subject of the arts and architecture of the Anglo-Saxons.) June 17, 1834. J. B. ANTIQUITIES, ETC. Arra. In denar collect. Rec de Johe Hoxhm rust.instaur be Mariæ. CHURCH AND PARISH BOOKS OF DARTINGTON, DEVONSHIRE. (Continued from vol. v., p. 669.) In pmis re comp de lv. ij. de arris suis ut pat in compo pr antea Itm re comp. de xxiv". viija. rẽ de hognero de una pte et de xxxiij'. iiija. re de alia pte de hogenero et vlt rem in man Johis Hawkyn xxvi. viija. in denar collect in pata alia vice p dict Johan et aliis. Itm red comp de iiij'. va. iiija. rè de Johe Miller cust instaur be Itm red comp de xii. p una patella vend Johi Brode. Sums tot xiiij'. xvi. ix. unde in expensis et solut. In prim sol calvatori p lab Rici Symon et Johi Willm p. lab ejusd xia. viij. Itm Vincent Sanger pr lab suo. ija. Itm pr un clavo empt et pun cista ij. Itm p papiro. Sum' tot Recept xx'. viij*. Sum Thomæ Huxham et Willmi Allerton receptor et solut opis ecclesia fact. die domca prox post festm corpis Xti ano regni regis Henrici Sept. [Here follow entries of small sums paid as rents and presentsale-house profits; among these are-] It: re de rectore ecclesie de Dertynton ex do ipsius Rectis. It re de Ric Ayschelegh ex don Step: Baron ut nomen ejus ponat in rotulo orat. Sum' vi'. viij. It, re de eod Rico ex don Thom Waryn et Dame Waryn ut heant iiij noma pos in Rot orat. Sum* xxvj. viij. It re de eod Rico p focal vend in claus apd Podefen. Sum* vij. iiij. Itm re de Rico Berde p Willmo Martyn de Wastcomb pr uno pype de Sedar sibi vend. Itm re de Priore de Totton exdon ipsius prior ad campan. Sum xija. Itm re de Bellat apud Exon ex don ips ad campan, xija. Expens. Inpmis pdidimus incista in eccla quando eccles fuit spoliata Sum. iiij'. xix. vja. I'm in expens peod" et aliis eod tempe occupat. Sum. xij. Itm in expens pan et pot dat hoibus eodm tempe laborant circu diva oper eccle. Sum. iiij3. vija. Itm in expens car lapid et maceremi ad ecclm. Sum. vij. Itm in xxxvi qr calcet empt et caro ejud". Sum. xxxvija. va. Sum. x'. Itm sol. Wollecote carpent p lab suis plm solut p pte boreal ecclie. Itm in expens lapid sedend et tend p ecclia necess. Sum. xva. ija. Bells. Itm p cambit campan et dusa ptm. Sums. xxij'. x'. vija. Itm sol Latham in plen solut p fenestro campan. Sums. iiij'. xv. va. iiijd Itm lib smel Priore Totton in rewarde p amore mr sui. [And several other payments.] Recd. Hire of an anvil. Payments. Itm re de Johe Knyght Custod instaur be Mare 1. ix. v. [Then follow receipts for cottage and field-rents, for the ale-house, for bark and wood; also-] Itm re comp de vij'. xja. de recept de custodTM de Dene priore* p le Crane et ........ pertinentibus. Sum. vij. xia. Itm re comp de xxvi. viija. red de Rico Berde.... Coceliar dat ecclie p dom Thomam Plumere rect". argent Itm de Rico Symon p Johe Myller de Yernere et de x. de Johe Derte p locate Incudis vid p ij anno et dim an. In pmis p ij pellbus emp: p libo xijd. Itm Rico Andgel p deto libo fact et sept xiij. ij. Itm deto Rico p ligačne dei libri iiij. Itm in vino dat Johi Jackson ija. Itm in expens Rob' Dyere-Rici Ayschelegh et Rici Berde apud Exon p querel capt in com veri dem Robtum p captand Selynger Olla Cma ecclie... Itm p. amerciamt in dea Curia Com xiiija. [I think these two last entries have reference to an historical fact that took place in the preceding reign. Dartington, from the time of Richard II., was in the possession and the residence of Hollands, Dukes of Exeter. The widow of the last duke, sister of Edward IV., married secondly Sir Thomas St. Leger, and they resided in the great house here. In a premature rising of the adherents of the Duke of Richmond (2 Rich. III.) in this part of the kingdom, St. Leger was engaged, and being soon after taken, was executed at Exeter. Pro The parish of Dean Prior is very near to Dartington. |