Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 4.djvu/50

38 from a very remote period; a stronghold having been erected in its immediate vicinity, as early as in 924, by Edward the Elder, son of Alfred the Great, in his struggle with the Danes for possession of this part of the kingdom of Mercia; the earth-works of which, it is said, may be yet traced on Castle hill, within a short distance of the town.

In the year 1841, it was found necessary to commence some extensive repairs in the parish church; in the course of this work a large number of incised grave-stones, or coffin-lids as they are sometimes called, with crosses of various devices cut upon them, of very early date, were discovered, together with fragments of stones, carved with the interlacing bands, or knots, which are usually considered characteristic of those ancient monuments, known by the name of Runic crosses. As these remains are remarkable on several considerations, and no detailed description of them, so far as I am aware, has yet appeared, the following account may be acceptable to those who feel an interest in tracing out the history of the early sepulchral monuments in this country.

It will be desirable first to state some particulars respecting the church, in which these remains were found; both because it contains several architectural features in themselves well worthy of notice, and presents some curious illustrations of the way in which additions in different styles are often found to be engrafted upon the works of preceding periods, and because we shall thereby be enabled to ascertain the probable date of some portion of these ancient grave-stones. The present edifice is a cruciform structure of considerable size, being about 150 feet in length, and 105 feet across the transepts, of lofty elevation, erected at different periods, but externally presenting a general uniformity of outline, from the flat roofs and battlements, added throughout nearly the entire line of building, probably early in the fifteenth century. An octagonal tower resting on a square base, with the angles boldly cut off, rises from the centre, surmounted by a lofty spire. In the church-yard is one of those remarkable so called Runic crosses, which whatever may be their real origin, are confessedly of high antiquity. Very few particulars respecting the history of the foundation of this church, or of the circumstances under which the several additions were made to the original fabric, have been preserved. One might be disposed to conjecture, that a church, or chapel of some kind, may have