Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 2.djvu/121

Rh The most interesting examples are certainly in the Norman and early Pointed styles, the former appearing to have displayed itself earlier than in England, and to have extended over a much longer period than with us, and in the same manner did the transition, and early Pointed styles.

The author advances some very interesting remarks on the much greater use of stone in ancient buildings than in those of the present day, and illustrates the varied mode in which it was applied. We submit to our readers a curious illustration of a style in which the old domestic buildings in the town of Galway were constructed, and of which many interesting remains are still to be found in some of the towns of the west of Ireland; these buildings were erected at a time when the decline of feudal habits gave importance to towns, by occasioning a change from castles to the castellated mansions, which, being erected with solid masonry, are still perfect, where undisturbed by violence.

Several towns in the west of Ireland still display curious specimens of architecture, of a modified style of the Elizabethan era ; and speaking of the town of Galway, which at the period in question had much intercourse with Spain, and little with England, Mr. Wilkinson observes that the intricate tracery of some of the ornamental details appears to indicate their Moorish origin.

Of a remarkable class of ancient monuments, intimately connected with the ecclesiastical antiquities of Ireland, and the characteristic style of decoration which is displayed in architectural remains, we regret to find only a passing notice in Mr. Wilkinson's work. We allude to the sculptured