Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 2.djvu/257

Rh The nave, measured internally, is 31ft. 6in. in length, and 15ft. 5 in. in breadth. The chancel measures 14ft. 4 in. by 12ft. 8in. in breadth. The thickness of the walls of the nave is 3ft. 4in., and that of the chancel walls 2ft. 6in. There are no stone benches in the nave, probably the scats were of wood, but in the chancel there is a stone bench continued all around from the entrance, along the wall, meeting the altar at each side; this bench measures about 1ft. 6in. in height, and the same in width. The altar is constructed of stone, and lies north and south; it measures about 4ft. 10in. in length, and it was probably not more than 2ft. 6in. or 3ft. in width; in its present ruinous condition it is impossible to ascertain with precision the original dimensions. At present it is little more than 3 ft. in height. The walls of this structure were constructed in the same rude way as those of St. Piran's, with rough stones of all shapes and sizes put together without any lime in the mortar. This interesting ruin is situated beside a spring, near a river, and adjacent to the sea shore. It had been overwhelmed in the same light calcareous sand as Perran-zabuloe. It is little known, and unfrequented; the dead rest in undisturbed security beneath the rich green turf which now covers the cemetery. It was first discovered by a farmer in the neighbourhood, who employed his men to dig a pond in the vicinity of the spring, or holy well. In the course of excavation they came to many skeletons, and soon after to a portion of the eastern wall. Beneath this and under the altar, there were found eight skeletons ranged side by side, at a depth of three feet below the foundation. Below these skeletons they struck upon the ruins of another wall of rude construction, about three feet in height; beneath this again they found other skeletons, still buried in sand, at a depth of fifteen feet from the surface, here water prevented any further research.

From this let us pass on further west to the parish of Madron or Maddern, in which the town of Penzance is situated. In this and the adjoining parishes there are traditions, records, and traces of several oratories and wells. Nothing is known of St. Maddern, whose oratory or chapel, as it is commonly called, and well, we will consider next. The chapel is internally 20ft. in length, by 10ft. in width, and the wall measures 2ft. in thickness, and at present about 8 or 9ft. in height. The floor of this oratory, as well as that of