Page:VCH Cornwall 1.djvu/546

 A HISTORY OF CORNWALL ornament, so it is with the inscriptions, for Borlase tells us what the inscription was on the Indian Queens stone, but now only a very few letters are legible. It is most desirable that proper archaeological maps should be prepared on a large scale, with all the monuments marked thereon. These should then be carefully registered, and included under the ' Act for the Preservation of Ancient Monuments.' Till some such steps are taken, there will be no obstacle to the constant and deplorable shifting about 1 of these ancient memorials, or still worse, to the spectacle of their use for alien purposes, or perhaps even to a similar case of mutilation to that at Cardinham just described. Mr. J. Romilly Allen's remarks on this subject are much to the point 2 : 'It may be worth while remarking that no other nation possesses such a wonderful series of monuments, illustrating the history of Christian art at one of its most obscure periods, and probably no other nation would have treated them with such scorn, or allowed them to be so ruthlessly destroyed. Many of these priceless treasures have been lost altogether, others have been damaged by persons ignorant of their real value, and the whole are perishing miserably from exposure to the weather. Casts, or at least photographs should be taken before every trace of the sculpture has disappeared. This is the more important, as many fragments which have been preserved for centuries by being built into the walls of churches are being brought to light from time to time in the course of modern restorations and alterations, and these are now also in many cases exposed to the weather. A gallery of casts of Celtic sculptured stones would be invaluable for purposes of archaeological research, and might be the means of reviving the national taste for the art of sculpture, in which our own countrymen at one time attained so high a standard of excellence.' SCULPTURED NORMAN TYMPANA There are eleven examples in the county, one of which, at Tremaine, has unfortunately been entirely defaced. They fall into two classes, namely, those with figure sculpture, and those with other ornament. In the first class an Agnus Dei occurs at Egloskerry, No. i, St. Michael Caerhays, Perranarworthal, and St. Thomas by Launceston ; a dragon at Egloskerry, No. z, and Tremaine (defaced) ; and a tree between two beasts at Treneglos. Only six retain their original doorways, viz., Cury, Egloskerry, No. z, St. Michael Caerhays, Mylor (both), and Tremaine. The remainder of the tympana, except in one case, have been found in the walls of their respective churches during re-building. With regard to the method of executing the sculpture, it may be briefly stated, that as a rule, it is in rather shallow relief, the general effect being produced by sinking the back ground surrounding the subject, but not to any great depth, a characteristic which is most noticeable in those at Egloskerry and Treneglos. Egloskerry, No. i. This stone, Plate XIX, fig. I, was discovered during alterations to the church in 1887. It had been used as building material in the wall of the south aisle, and is now built into the inside wall of the church immediately over the south doorway. It is made of a sandstone not known in the neighbourhood, and measures 3 feet 1 1 inches long and I foot nj inches high. Within a curiously shaped recess having a moulded border is an 1 By ' shifting about ' is meant being taken up and used, e.g., by private persons as tombstones to someone or other, an object for which they were certainly never intended. One gentleman is blessed with two on the large stone that covers his grave. 446
 * Early Christian Symbolism, 82.