Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 7.djvu/448

 440

NOTES AND QUERIES. [9 th s. vn. JUNE i, 1901.

the dead were deposited take occasionally the shape of dwellings. From whatever point of view it is regarded, this is a memorable work. We shall await with some impatience the second volume, which of course will contain the index, and will also be of highest value to all interested in primi- tive culture. The mention of this second volume recalls the fact that we still await the concluding volume of Mr. Farneli's ' Cults of the Greek States^ (see 8 th S. ix. 519), a work with which, naturally, the present has something in common. The illus- trations to Prof. Ridgeway's work, drawn from various sources, add greatly to its value.

The Church Towers of Somersetshire. By E. Piper, R.P.E. Parts XXIII.-XXV. (Bristol, Frost & Reed.)

WITH the appearance of the twenty-fifth part this monumental work on 'The Church Towers of {Somersetshire 3 is completed. We have followed with interested attention the appearance of each successive part, and congratulate the lovers of church architecture upon the result. Both as regards the merits of Miss Piper's etchings and the

brief printed descriptions of Mr. John Lloyd War- Page the same high level of excellence is

den

maintained. In the present instalment the first illustration depicts the church of St. John the Baptist, Wellington, a fine, though by comparison plain, specimen of Somerset Perpendicular, con- veying the idea of great solidity and strength. The church contains, at the east end of the north aisle, a tomb assigned to circa 1300, with an English inscription: "Richard Persone de Mere of Welintone liggith in grave IHV Crist Godes Sone grawnte him [mercy]," a remarkable instance of the use of English in such a place. The church itself is fifteenth - century. It seems probable that the monument is from the earlier church, traces of which remain. The tall, plain, and symmetrical towers of Norton Fitzwarren, on the plan of Taunton, date back to the time of Richard II. Special attention is drawn here to the quaint and grotesque gargoyles, the de- signs of which are not, however, easily traced in an etching. Its famous screen, dating from 1509, and symbolizing, it is conjectured, the devastation of the county by a dragon, cannot, of course, be shown in an exterior view. The red sandstone tower of St. Mary's, Bishop's Lydeard, in the valley of the Quantocks, repays close attention. The church has suffered from time and restoration, the latter accomplished in 1850, but the tower occupies still a high place in Somersetshire esti- mation. Comely, but unadorned, is the tower of St. Decuman's, Watchett, on the extreme west of Somerset, dominating the pleasing little seaport on the Bristol Channel. Unlike most of its fellows, the tower of St. George's, Dunster, springs from the centre of the church, and not from the west end. It is in four stages, each stage slightly smaller than that beneath, so as to present a tapering appearance. The top is embattled, but the general effect is not specially striking. For the last is reserved St. Michaels, Minehead, the dominant situation of which is not its least charm. To this it may be due that the building conveys a slight suggestion of a fortalice.

We congratulate artist and publishers upon the termination of their labours, and the public upon the possession of a work the designs in which are worthy of the noble monuments they present. In

days in which reverence for ecclesiastical monu- ments is firmly established there is no fear that the Somersetshire towers will be forgotten. It is a matter for rejoicing that those who are prevented by occupation or distance from refreshing their memories by revisiting spots hallowed by associa- tions as well as by beauty may have a souvenir at once pious and artistic such as Miss Piper presents.

The Cathedral Church of Saint David's. By Philip

A. Robson, A.R.I.B.A. (Bell & Sons.) OF all the volumes of the admirable "Cathedral Series" of Messrs. Bell & Sons, this is the only one which we haye no lurking hope of being able to turn to practical account. In every other case we have dreamed of revisiting the cathedral, book in hand, and reviving associations which are among the most pleasurable in our memory. St. David's we have not seen and shall not see. It is too dis- tant, and opportunities and means of access are too difficult to furnish a chance that we shall gaze on its walls or pace reverently its aisles. We are none the less glad to possess the volume, even though it mock us with the portraiture of joys beyond attainment. Very far from being the worst or the least interesting of the series is the volume. It presents a series of views, chiefly photographic, of the exterior and interior of the cathedral and of spots and objects contained in it or connected with it, and it supplies an animated, and we doubt not faithful, record of a not very eventful history. An excellent idea is conveyed of the richness and massiveness of the interior decoration. The view on p. 25 of a Norman shaft with a carved capital is specially striking. The book constitutes a welcome addition to the series.

to

We must call special attention to the following notices :

ON all communications must be written the name and address of the sender, not necessarily for pub- lication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

WE cannot undertake to answer queries privately.

To secure insertion of communications corre- spondents must observe the following rules. Let each note, query, or reply be written on a separate slip of paper, with the signature of the writer and such address as he wishes to appear. When answer- ing queries, or making notes with regard to previous entries in the paper, contributors are requested to put in parentheses, immediately after the exact heading, the series, volume, and page or pages to which they refer. Correspondents who repeat queries are requested to head the second com- munication " Duplicate."

J. B. McG.

And the night shall be fill'd with music is by Longfellow, ' The Day is Done.'

L. J. C. ("I am Sir Oracle "). < Merchant of Venice,' I. i. 94.

NOTICE.

Editorial Communications should be addressed to " The Editor of ' Notes and Queries ' "Advertise- ments and Business Letters to "The Publisher" at the Office, Bream's Buildings, Ghancery Lane, E.G.

We beg leave to state that we decline to return communications which, for any reason, we do not print ; and to this rule we can make no exception.