Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 3.djvu/104

84 Its present height is about 10 ft., the span of the arches lengthwise 9 ft. 3 in., breadthwise 8 ft. 3 in. The present height of the piers is 5 ft. 7 in to the spring of the arch, and their circumference about 4 ft. 6 in. The bases appear to have been cased in later times with a thick coating of cement, as they are out of all proportion to the rest of the pier, both in size and height. The crypt is entered from the north (through a cellar, in which are large remains of ancient masonry) by a doorway with a pointed arch, the height of which is 6 ft. 4 in. The thickness of the wall in this part is 5 ft. Mr. Gunner was informed that another crypt, of smaller dimensions, existed under a house on the opposite side of the street, higher up the hill. The popular opinion is that this crypt belonged to the castle of Guildford, but its situation is without all the exterior defences of the castle.

Mr. Boutell, Local Secretary, and Secretary of the St. Alban's Architectural Society, communicated the discovery in the easternmost extremity of the south aisle of the abbey church at St. Alban's, of the remains of two windows, which had long been built up externally into the main wall of the church, and which appear to have communicated between the church and some lateral chapel now destroyed, in a manner similar to the arrangement of the chapel between the buttresses of King's chapel at Cambridge. On opening the ground, now forming part of a public way, the foundations of the destroyed chapel were found, and also an enclosed vault. The windows thus restored to the abbey church are each of two lights, cinquefoiled in the head, and the stonework still retains its original colouring, the blue, green, scarlet, black, and gold, being both distinct and vivid. In the casement-molds, the legend "Domine miserere" occurs painted in a fine bold black letter, and alternating with large flowers. And in a similar molding at the eastern extremity of the remains, is a group of