Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 2.djvu/220

196 church. Thirty or forty blocks, of a hght calcareous material, are to be seen piled up against the southern wall, with sculptured fragments of various dates, near the old door-way which led from the church into the cloisters. Each measures about 1 ft. 8in. by 10 in., and they appear to have formed part of a flat ceiling. The contrivance by which they are "joggled" together is shewn in the annexed wood-cut, which represents two of these blocks. The connecting mortices are formed on two adjoining sides of each block, and on the opposite sides are the corresponding tenons, which are cut with great precision, and measure in width 2 in. The dressed face of the stone, which formed part of the flat ceiling, measures about 1 ft. 8 in. by 8 in., the opposite side of the block being left rough-hewn; and the accuracy with which the stone-cutters had performed their task must have rendered this curious "joggle" a very durable construction, available in a case where a flat ceiling of masonry might be required.

A letter was read, addressed by Mr. R. G. P. Minty, of Norwich, to Mr. Barnwell, in reference to the injury occasioned to St. Julian's church in that city, by the fall of the east end of the chancel. Mr. Minty stated that there appeared to have been a settlement in the chancel-arch, partly caused, perhaps, by the pressure of the steeple and church, which is built on the side of a hill, and partly from the custom prevailing in Norwich, of digging graves close to the foundation of the building. It appeared that, several years since, the east window fell out, when it was partly blocked up, and an unsightly one inserted in its place. Mr. Minty observed that in the event of the church being restored, it is proposed to re-open the Norman doorway on the south side, which is engraved in the Archæologia, vol. xii. p. 174. It is to be regretted, however, that little of the mouldings there delineated have escaped the destructive effects of time and the violence of man. The outer moulding is entirely gone; it is difficult to ascertain what the second has been; and only a small portion of the inner moulding is perfect. The door has been bricked up, and the earth has accumulated to within three feet of the abacus. As there is a possibility of the church being destroyed, Mr. Minty forwarded the dimensions of it, as nearly as he could ascertain them.