Page:A History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 2.djvu/133

Rh Bk. V. Ch 1. WOODEN CHURCHES. 117 That at Urnes is botla more sobjer and better than either of these, but much smaller, being only 24 ft. wide by 65 ft. from east to west. As may be seen from the view (Woodcut No. 562), it still retains a irood deal of the Runic carving that once probably adorned all the panels of the exterior, as well as the various parts of the roof. As these decayed they seem to have been replaced by plain timbers, which of course detract very much from the original appearance 561. View of the Church at Hitterdal. (From Dahl's " Holtz Baukunst in Norwegen.") All the doorways and principal openings are carved with the same elaborate ornaments, representing entAvined dragons fighting and biting each other, intermixed occasionally with foliage and figures. This style of carving is found on crosses and tombstones, not only in Scandinavia, but in Scotland and Ireland. It is only known to exist in its original form on wood in these singular churches. There can be no doubt about the age of these curious edifices, for not only does this dragon-tracery fix them to the 11th or 12th cen- tury, but the capitals of the pillars and general character of the mouldings exactly correspond with the details of our own Norman architecture, so far as the difference of materials permits.