Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/476

 412 PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OF vestjo'e of any wimlows could be found, but tbcy were probably formed at a greater height from the iioor than any portion of the existing walls. The altar (No. 1, in Plan) remained nearly entire, it was formed of coarse __i rubble-work, and it was speedily demo- V i lished in search of treasure. At its north side was found part of a shallow stone trough (No. 2), amongst the /4'/ rubbish, and probably not in its ori- """ " ginal position. In the south-west angle ' ^i ^ there was a small bason (No. 3), , . described by Mr. llodtrson llinde as a Plaii of the North Door. ,, , *^ , . ,? . . ,. • ,i holy water vessel. Adjoining tins there was a portion of a low stone bench, which also ran along the north and south sides of the nave, as shown in the ground-plan (No. 4).^ In the south-east angle of the nave there was a cavity in the wall which apparently had contained a piscina, and near the south door there was found a stone basin, very rudely formed, supposed to have been a font. No stones were found with mouldings or ornaments, nor any sepulchral slab, which might aid in fixing a date ; the roof had apparently fallen in, as numerous stone slates for roofing were found aniongbt the rubbish. The building to the west of the nave seemed to have been erected subsefpiently to it, and the rubble-walling was of much coarser and inferior work to the other parts of the chapel, the mortar being almost without lime; it was constructed with straiglit joints where the north and south walls met the west end of the nave, without any attempt to bond their courses into it. A low stone bench was formed along the walls as in the nave. At the south-east angle there appeared an irre- gular opening in the wall, which, from its appearance when first excavated, was considered by Mr. Hodgson llinde to have been a doorway ; it is possible that this western chamber may have been the dwelling of an anchorite or of the priest. The ground-plan of the curious ruined church near Low Gosforth House, Northumberland, described by Mr. Bell in the Archaologia yK liana. Vol. ii. ]t. 213, presents much general conformity to that at Ebb's Nook, and a narrow space there appears westward of the nave, resembling that here described, but without any opening of communication with the nave ; Mr. l>ell BUj)posed, however, that the west end had been rebuilt, and the nave being shortened a portion of the original church had been cut off. These simple examples of the early Northumbrian churches are well deserving of attention, and it is to be regretted that the little oratory at Ebb'h Nook, disinterred by Mr. H. Hinde, was not carrfully examined by bome ouo versed in the peculiarities of ancient architecture in North liritairi and Ireland, where it is stated that primitive buildings exist, which present features strongly resembling those noticed in the ruined remains in 'The Htiiiiff l).iirh ran roiiini flic Collins, p. 'J!!. The Icni,' lirncli iilonj; tlic j{r<-iit«r part »»f tin- wcHt, nortli, uml HdUtli wiill, iiny Mr. ilnxhinrH |)lnn, in hiu oiini|iiirativcl_v late conslniction. A por- ft<-iriunt of iliiit n inurkaldc litilc l.iiildinc, tion may Htill ho win in tlio pjirocliial 1>. r.'J. .Soc iilnu " i'crraii/.ikliiiloc, the «'lnircli at Holy Islaml. /Out Clnnvli fotiiKl," liy the Ilov. C;. 'I'.