Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/365

 NOTICES OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL PUBLICATIONS. 305 butions to East Anglian Topot^rajjhy, will bear in mind how greatly tlie satisfaction of that day was ensured by the obliging exertions of their author, and by his local knowledge of the interesting sites and traditions to which the volumes before us relate. In the " Handbook of Bury St. Edmunds," Mr. Tymms has realised the wish of many who have been led by fresh facilities of access to visit that ancient town. He has not here sought to enter into the general liistory, a subject which we hope that he may on some future occaBion be encouraged to undertake, and upon which the stores of unpublished evidence gathered during his long and careful researches would, we doubt not, throw much light. The little volume which he has now given us presents the leading facts of interest connected with the antiquities and institutions of the town, both ancient and modern ; it comprises a graphic sketch of the monastery, of its foundation in Saxon times, its architectural grandeur, of which the two magnificent gate-towers are now the principal remains, the decaying reliques of the conventual buildings, and that unique and beautiful example of ancient architectural skill, the Abbot's Bridge. He guides the visitor to the churches, their rich decorations and sepulchral memorials, the religious foundations, ancient hospitals, the Guildhall with its picturesque porch and entrance, the reliques of ancient domestic archi- tecture in the town, and the traces of its walls, constructed it is believed, in the twelfth century, but demolished for modern convenience. This acceptable manual closes with a sketch of the chief objects of attraction easily accessible from Bury, Mr. Tymms has recently completed the undertaking commenced some years since, and to which he very successfully devoted his researches, namely, the "Architectural History of the Church of St. Mary, at Bury." In this monograph illustrative of a very remarkable and highly-enriched fabric of the early part of the fifteenth century, Mr. Tymms commences with some notices of the more ancient church of St. Mary, recorded to have been founded by Sigebert, iu 637, and superseded by a structure of more suitable dignity, in which the incorruptible body of the royal martyr was deposited by the monks iu 1032. This, however, was deemed unwor- thy, and soon gave place to a more stately structure, completed in 1095, being the conventual church of which some massive ruins may still be seen, suflScing to indicate its grand proportions. The existing church of St. Mary appears to have been constructed upon a new site, not very far removed from that which had preceded it ; it was finished about 1433, and it presents a fine example of the Perpendicular Style in vogue at that time. Of the elaborate enrichment the accompany- ing representation of the north porch, which Mr. Tymms has kindly jilaced at our disposal, supplies a good example. We are also enabled to place before our readers a view of the western door, and of the niches of highly ornamented character introduced at its sides. (See woodcut p. 306.) The plan of this striking church is one of rather uncommon occurrence, although examples exist in the eastern counties. It consists of a nave and chancel with spacious aisles extending throughout the entire length, and a .--quare apse ; a tower near the N. W. corner, and a north porch. There was also originally a porch on the south side. The beautiful north porch was erected in pursuance of the will of John Notynham, grocer, steward, it has been stated, of the Abbot of Bury ; it is dated 1437.' The richly ' " Bury Wills,'" edited Mr. Tymms, for the Camden Sofiety, p. 5.