Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/247

 The Archeological Journal

SEPTEMBER, 1872.

THE SHRINE OF ST. ALBANS.

By is not often that an object of such size as the shrine of St. Alban is so completely recovered after having been lost for more than three centuries. I think, therefore, that some account of the finding, as well as of the monument itself, will be of interest, the more so as the history of the finding throws considerable light on that of the destruction of the shrine. It is convenient to use the word shrine, for we have no other single word which will serve the purpose; but what has been found is, speaking strictly, the marble base, which carried the feretrum or shrine proper. In the widest meaning of the word it is but a part of the shrine. To understand what follows, it is necessary to remember the plan and condition of the eastern part of St. Albans Abbey Church : the main building originally opened eastwards into the Lady Chapel by five arches, three in the central span, and one in each aisle. But in the year 1553, fourteen years after the surrender of the Abbey, these five arches were walled up, and the church west of them was made parochial, whilst the eastern portion was desecrated—part of it was made into a schoolhouse, and the rest became a public thoroughfare. It is most likely that the chapels which had been formed in the outer wall of the south sanctuary aisle were destroyed at the same time.

The recovery of the shrine was begun several years ago by the late Dr. Nicholson, who caused the central of the five eastern arches, and that next to it on the north, to be opened out, and found in them a considerable quantity of wrought Purbeck marble. Sufficient was not found to give any clue to the general design, but the fragments were at the time believed VOL. XXIX. (No. 11')).