Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 2.djvu/120

98 island. An interesting and striking feature is presented in the peculiar battlement, which is common to all the ancient structures, ecclesiastical, castellated and domestic, and it is stated to be the only battlement which occurs in Ireland, affording, in the opinion of the author, a happy illustration of fitness or adaptation to the nature of the building materials of the country. The illustration here given represents a picturesque example of this singular battlement, taken from the tower of the abbey of Jerpoint in the south of Ireland: "This peculiar form admits of the most simple construction, being sometimes met with where none but small common stones are employed; where good mortar has been used the work remains secure for centuries." It may be observed, that the churches of Perpendicular date, in the county of Essex, many of which are built of brick, supply examples of a battlement very similar in design. It is a remarkable fact, as stated by the author, that no spires are met with in any ancient buildings in Ireland. In comparison with the ecclesiastical architecture of England, the author remarks, that the Norman style in Ireland exhibits two or three distinct characters. First, that in which the ornament more resembles the sculptured foliage of Roman work; this was probably a style of imitation, originating from the hard nature of the sandstone, which was better suited for work requiring more of surface-cutting than deep carving. Secondly, the style as commonly displayed in England, in which the hollow mouldings contain bold sculptured figures, or flowers, carved heads, &c. Thirdly, a style which appears more of a foreign character, prevailing chiefly in the west of Ireland, in which the arches and groins spring from long, tapering, and ornamental corbels, containing peculiar carvings; of this a very interesting and beautiful example is given in Plate 14, which we regret we cannot here display.

Some beautiful examples of the transition Pointed style are to be found in Ireland, as also of the early Pointed: some fine remains in the style familiarly known in England as the Decorated, are also to be noticed; and the latest or Perpendicular style appears to have developed itself to a limited extent only at the time of the Reformation, when Gothic Architecture, as in England, altogether declined.