Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/287

 THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTK. 211 excellent. The nioukliiigs ami splay rather flat, tlioiigli bold. Tlio centre shafts have been ribbed ; several stones present traces of fire. The inai;- nitude of tliese bases gives some idea of the extent and grandeur of the Church, independent of the monastic buildings. The site of the fourth base is actually being explored ; and Mr. Chapman has kindly promised to forward an account of any further discoveries. This Cistercian Abbey, it is stated by some writers, was founded by Gilbert de Gaunt, Earl of Lincoln, in Stephen's reign, or rather, by William, Earl of Albemarle, about 1147. The monks selected here, as usual, a beautiful spot, in a wooded dell, close to a trout stream. White, in the history of Lincoln- shire, mentions the site as situated in Grimsthorp Park, about a mile from the Castle, and states that three or four sculptured stones alone remained to be seen. Visiting the spot two years since, I hinted my suspicions that remains probably existed on the same site, not, however, knowing it at that time to be the site of the Abbey." Mk. Johx J. RouEus communicated notices, the result of the examina- tion of a group of churches near the Lizard Point, Cornwall, namehs Mawgan, Grade, Cury, Landewednack, and Wendron ; illustrating especially the obscure subject of the intention of " Lychnoscopes," or low-side windows. They will be given in a future Journal. The Rev. Joseph Huxteu observed that he Lad noticed a curious example of this curious feature in church architecture at Crewkerue Church, Somerset. Mr. Westwood read an account of recent excavations on the site of the Abbey of Eynsham, or Egnosham, Oxfordshire, which he had received from Mr. Shurlock, of that place. The site is actually a nursery-ground, in which a considerable extent of flooring, formed of decorative tiles, has been exposed to view. Mr. Shurlock has sent drawings of two patterns, one representing a mounted knight brandishing his sword; a small shield on his arm bears a chevron ; the trappings of the horse are very long. Date about 1300. The other tile presents the sacred monogram i,}i r in bold character, yellow on a red quarrel. He had found eighteen other perfect designs, the eagle displayed, lion rampant, <tc. Mr. Shurlock stated that the occupant of the ground, Mr. Day, had already sold three cartloads of decorative tiles, for the repairs of the parish roads. A chamber had been discovered, supposed to be a bath-room, indications still appearing of the mode by which water had been conveyed : the floor was likewise of decorated tiles. Mr. Shurlock sent a section of a respond of Early-English character. A stone coffin and other remains had been brought to light. These vestiges of an important monastery, which dates from times prior to the Normans, had been wholly unheeded : no one but himself in Eynsham, Jlr. Shurlock observed, cared to take the trouble to go and inspect them, or took the slightest interest in their investigation. There exists a drawing, taken about 1657, in one of Anthony Wood's MSS. (in Mus. Ashm. No. 8505), representing the west end, with its towers and a large window, as also some piers of the Conventual Church, I aud parts of the cloisters. I Mr. Westwood expressed his surprise that, within a few miles of Oxford, i and within tlie immediate influence of an Architectural Society of so i prominent a character as that instituted in the University, such heedless neglect and destruction of the remains of a monastery of such note could
 * have occurred.