Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 3.djvu/321

Rh are these all the difficulties of the question, for of the churches mentioned in Domesday, few of those reputed by as at present to be Anglo-Saxon are noticed, although churches generally through those particular counties where they exist, are comprehended in the Survey. For instance, the Northamptonshire churches of Barnack, Earl's Barton, Wittering, Brigstock, Stowe Nine churches, and Green's Norton, which all contain long and short work, are passed over. Nor yet have I been able to trace in the Survey the names of any other Anglo-Saxon churches, presumed to he so from their having long and short work, than those at Bretford in Wiltshire, Stow in Lincolnshire, Rapendune (Repton) in Derbyshire, and Stanton belonging to Roger de Lacy in Shropshire. On the other hand, no notice occurs of the church of Dorchester in Oxfordshire, although the seat of a bishopric had been removed from it but a short time before the Survey was taken. These facts, it will be observed, apply in different ways to the question before us, and it is for this reason they are adduced for examination.

Two sources of information bearing upon the history of ecclesiastical architecture seem hitherto to have met with little, if indeed any, attention. The abbatial chartularies of Great Britain probably contain a vast amount of matter bearing on this subject that deserves both carefully sifting, and comparing with the buildings to which it relates. This manuscript knowledge might very profitably be brought to bear on churches that are known to have been connected with those great establishments. To the importance of viewing ecclesiastic architecture by the aid of manorial history, as exhibited in the Inquisitiones post mortem, a more decided testimony may be borne. These illustrations may be very briefly, but conclusively, explained by the following examples, where such a method has been pursued. Passing over the noble specimens of regal architecture of a military description at Harlêch, Conway, Beaumaris, and Caernarvon, where the identity of styles, age, molds, and architecture, must be undisputed, we cannot help being struck with the extraordinary resemblance in certain points of detail existing betwixt the churches of Crick in Northamptonshire, and those of Bilton and Astley in Warwickshire, all built or re-edified by Sir Thomas Astley. The same method of comparison will also be found deserving attention when applied to the churches built or enlarged by Sir Ralph Crumbwell, the lord treasurer to