Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/303

 NOTICES OF ARCHAEOLOOICAI. I'lMJLIf'ATION.S. 'Z a tolerably complete record of the most rcmarkalilc of the nrcliitfctiiral niitiiiuitics of the counties of Anglesca and Caernarvon ; aeoompanying tlie former are plates of several fonts, interesting on account of singularity or elegance of design, and of ancient monuments, as well as many vignettes of architectural details ; to the latter are appended, also, a numlier of well- engraved illustrations, including one of a tine rood screen at Llanengan church ; and two others of the collegiate church of Clynnog Fawr, with the chapel of St. Bcuno attached. We might notice several valuable contributions of Monastic History, and documentary evidences, as also a few ancient seals. Amongst these medieval relics the seal of the Abbot of Strata Florida is an example of unusually good execution. (See woodcut.) The name of the Abbot to whom it originally belonged appears to have been cut out, affording a sin- gular instance of a personal seal converted into an official one. Among the numerous contributions of Mr. Westwood, we must not omit to notice his very interesting and valuable series of papers " On certain peculiarities observable in some of the early Monumental Effigies in Wales," which evince great research, and contain a mass of information on this subject, culled from continental sources, in addition to those afforded by our own country. (Vols, ii., pp. 233, 314 ; iii., p. 35.) The same may be said of his still more curious, and we may add unique, papers upon " The ancient portable lland-bells of the British and Irish Churches." We believe that no other pu])lication contains any such detailed information on this sin- gular subject. (Vols, iii., pp. 230, 301 ; iv., pp. 13, 167.) The notices of monumental effigies, by Mr. Westwood, comprise one of singular interest to the English archaeologist, the sculptured tomb of the JVincess Joan, daughter of King John, and consort of Llewelyn, Prince of North Wales. The bust only is shown on this curious slab, with foliage of elegant design. Its date is about 1240. The investigation of castles and their history must necessarily often arrest the attention of archaeologists in Cambria : of memoirs of this class, that relating to Caerphilly,' a valuable example, which will doubtless attract many visitors on the occasion of the approaching meeting of the Institute at Bristol, affords a good specimen. For this highly interesting memoir, we are indebted to a writer whose ability in this division of archaeological inquiries is already known to the readers of the Journal. We allude to Mr. G. T. Claik, whose contribution to the first volume of our publication, supplied so useful an outline of the subject of "Military Architecture."^ " This castle is i-o])utcd to cover, with its outworks and earthworks, about thirty acres, and owes its cclebiity to its great extent, and to the peculiar manner in which one of its towers has been thrown out of the perpendicular. ' Vol. i, New Series, p. 251 . ' Archaeological Jouriml, vol. i.. p. 93.