Architecture And Archæology.

date . The next effigy was supposed to be that of Walter do Dunstauville , of Shiffnal , who died in thc i-oign of Richard I . If this were so , it must have been made long after , as the cross-logged effigies , of which this was one , were not made until 1230 , or later , and this would be , thou , another instance of monuments being erected to individuals long after their decease . Another recumbent figure is in the

north aisle , but Mr . Blanche had nothing to add to what had been already written about it : ho attributed it to the time of Edward II . It represents a judge , but it is not known whom . Another in the north porch was described in the guide-books to bo in plate armour , which was a great error . It was a fine old figure of the time of Edward III . in civil state attire . It had tho mantle of state similar to

those in all civil effigies of that period . This was removed from St . Alkmimd when that church fell down . Another adjoining , also from St . Alkmuncl , was of the same period or slightly older—probably a merchant or official . Mr . T . J . Bettigrew , P . R . S ., treasurer , read a brief rjaper on a unique monumental effigy of a sub-deacon in the south aisle—a stone slab of the thirteenth century sculptured

with a small figure below a floriated cross The day had now nearly closed , and , together with a stead )* rain , prevented much further research amongst the antiquities of the city . The president , however , and a score of others , were zealous enough to mako their way to the fine old church , of Saint Mary ' s , which was described by Mr . Edward Roberts , whose account differed considerabl

y in respect of dates from the Guide-book . Mr . Roberts made a difference of 70 or 80 years in the dates of some of the parts described in the " Guide . " Ho said , it is generally considered to have been founded about 980 , by King Edgar ; but the earliest portion visible hi tho present building is of about the end of the eleventh century , and from that time

up to the last period of Lancasterian ancl Tudor specimens are to be seen here , a great part of it of excellent character , but some very debased and inferior , probably clue to repairs , and restorations . It consists of a nave and chancel ( 24 feet wide , ancl about 136 feet , or , including tho toiver , 160 feet long ); north and south aisles ; transepts , with largo chapels , north ancl south porches , and solar or library over one . The

tower is Norman in the lower part , but seems to have been considerably altered or repaired internally . Thc nave has probably been reworked after the piers and arches were built , or it was the earliest indication of the pointed arch , scarcel y differing from the circular . The piers were of clustered shafts of early English spirit , ancl perhaps the earliest indication . The clerestory is early Tudor . The

chapels are very lofty , but much altered from the original character . In the arch between thc south chapel and the nave is a table-tomb with an effigy of a cross-legged knight of the fourteenth century , very similar to the one in the abbey . The tomb is beautifully arcaded in the canopy-work of that period . At the evening meeting , ivhich , notwithstanding thc rain , was attended by nearly a hundred members , Mr . Botfiekl

presided . Mr . Blanche read a paper on the Earls of Shrewsbury . He said that Owen and Blakeway confounded Roger clo Montgomery , the first earl , with his brothers and uncles , and ho cleared up the genealogical difficulties . Robert do Bclesme was the last earl , ancl it might be this one whom the cross-legged effigy in the abbey represented .

Mr . Gordon Hills road a paper on " Bniklwas Abbey , " g iving a full description of the remains of that once important edifice , with conjectures of what it was in its original state . On Tuesday tho first excursion took place , thc archaiologists visiting first Buildivas Abbey , aucl afterwards proceeding to some encaustic tile-works , belonging to Messrs .

Maw , which have earned some celebrity , ancl where a paper ivas read by Mr . Man * on encaustic tiles . Thc party then proceeded to Bcntiiall Hall , where luncheon was provided by Messrs . Maw . Wenlock Abbey and Priory were next visited , Mr . E . Roberts reading a paper on the Abbey . Ho stated that all authorities seem to agree in accepting tlio account of tlio original foundation of this abbey given by William of Mahnesbury , and in fixing the date of it as 680 . It is needless to say , that nothing whatever of that

buildingis iu existence . Probably it was of timber , as were almost all buildings prior to tin ' s time , and by no means unusual both hero and on tho Continent , for centuries after ; and it is not surprising that they have in consequence been frequently destroyed . This abbey , then , was founded by Milburga , daughter of Mcrowold , Prince of Mercia , and niece to AVulphere , the King of Mercia . Milburga ' s

sister dedicated herself to celibacy , as ive gather , on account of thc death of hor brothers , who were murdered by , or at least the murder was permitted by her uncle . Her mother founded a monastery at Minster , in Kent , on Land given as compensation for those murders ; and it is possible that the immediate cause of this foundation of Wenlock was the same tragic event . Milburga became abbess , and in process

of time a saint , and on her death was buried near the altar . The abbey does not seem to have escaped from repeated calamities , although they mostly arose from warfare , of which , from its great richness of soil and general wealth , as well as its population , this part of England was the constant theatre . It was twice destroyed by the Danes , and after the second destruction was deserted . Some accounts

state that it became decayed , ancl ivas deserted m consequence . It was not , hoivever , until twelve years after the Conquest , that it began to appear in somewhat of the form in which we now see it . Mr . Eyton says it is tho oldest , and was tho most jiriviliged , and perhaps thc wealthiest and most magnificent of tho religious houses of Shropshire . The three abbeys which I havo undertaken to

describe to you all partake largely of the Norman and immediately subsequent eras . After the loss of thc arts by the oTorniniiig of the Roman provinces by tho Goths , thero arose , in-the course of time , an . architecture more or less beautiful , according to tho greater or less rudeness of tho country , and which may be considered as one great school which prevailed for six or seven centuries , the longest

period of existence in any style without material alteration in so many countries not under the same rule . Originating either in the indiscriminate application of materials taken from Roman temples and houses , or in a rude imitation of them , wo obtain various specimens of one universal typo . Familiar as the English must have liccn with pure Roman works , and a high state of civilisation in common with all

countries where Romans went , it is remarkable that , so far as we are able to judge from Saxon remains , the worst type appeared here , —not very different from tho Norman in its elements , but differing most materially in thc magnitude and the taste of the works . There was besides , on the part of the Normans , an unaccountable jealousy of or dislike toivards the Saxon buildings ; and , although ive can point to a score or two of works cither in part or wholly

ante-Norman , yet there are very lew as compared with the vast number of remains comparatively perfect to this day of what was confessedly only a century or so of later date . Excepting tho sacred edifices of the thirteenth or fourteenth centuries , thc majority arc of Saxon origin . This wo have seen was tlio case with Wenlock Priory-Its re-founding was by Lcofric , Earl of Mercia , and

Godiva , his wife , shortly after 1017 , but it was soon again deserted , and eventually forfeited by thc grandson in 1071 . There arc several slightly varying accounts of its subsequent rebuilding ; but judging from the remains , there is nothing which indicates the truth of either one of them beyond the fact of thc buildings being of different dates . The oldest portions arc of thc date of tao Norman

period . Domesday Book states that Earl Roger had mado the ehnreh of St . Milburg an abbey , and I consider that little besides tho guest-hall ( near thc present gate ) remains of that building , if it ever was completed . William of Mahnesbury , writing about A . D . 11 'jO , says that "I . itcly . hoivever , a convent of Clugiiiac monks was established there while a new church was erecting . " Of course , St .

Millmrg ' s body ivas miraculously discovered , and was not only found not corrupt , but emitted the sweetest odours . Of the period referred to , the chapter-house is part . All the church is oftlie massive Earl } " English ofthe thirteenth century . It was an alien prior }* , and in common with others of that class was treated with much severity , and suffered , exactions ancl confiscations repeatedly , until it was naturalised in the time of Richard IL Thc church is cruciform ,