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strong, and incline towards a circular form, where no natural circumstances promised a fortuitous advantage by the use of a different and indeterminate shape. But such circumstances frequently occurred; and a great irregularity of outward lines is observable in many camps ascribed to this people.

An account of a distinguished specimen of earthworks, appertaining to an Anglo-Saxon encampment, may convey a more distinct idea of the general character of such vestiges, than an endeavour to detail their ordinary features by more diffuse remarks, not founded on a particular point of observation. The remains of encampment to which I direct the notice of the reader, are situated at Eaton, in Bedfordshire, and are thus described by the pen of a curious investigator: "The form of the camp, though very irregular, approaches somewhat to that of a semicircle, having the river Ouse for its diameter. It is on all sides, except on this diametrical side next the river, surrounded by two complete ditches: the outermost fosse being more perfect than usual, and the innermost exceeding deep. And there being a pretty broad plain level space between the two; higher than the adjacent country. Whilst, within the innermost fosse, not only the interior vallum, but also the whole space of ground, rises higher still; quite contrary to the appearance of any Roman camps: and, not far from the middle, rather approaching towards the south-east corner, next the river, is a sort of mount, raised considerably above all the rest, which commands the whole adjacent level country. There are not four entrances, as in Roman camps; but one only; and that narrow, and passing straight forward over both ditches on the west side, opposite to the river."*

It will not be supposed that each of these marks of distinction is peculiar to the whole of the vestiges of Saxon encampment remaining in England. Such remains are, indeed, destitute of

any

Munimenta Antiqua, Vol. III. p. 265.-Leland and Camden erroneously term these earthworks the vestiges of a castle.

any unequivocal characteristics, unless [to use the words of the author quoted above] it be "their having only one entrance, and that they are neither so strongly situated, nor so well protected, as the hill fortresses of the Britons; nor so uniform in their figure, or regular in the construction of their works, as those of the Romans." To which it may be added, that double intrenchments frequently occur in encampments attributed to the Anglo-Saxons, with a satisfactory air of probability.

ON THE ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE of the ANGLOSAXONS.*-So indistinct were the perceptions of those writers who first cultivated the science of architectural antiquities in this country, that it was, through several successions of authors, received as a sage and tenable opinion, that the churches of the Anglo-Saxons were low mean buildings, usually composed of timber;

* Investigations concerning the history and characteristies of the different ancient styles of ecclesiastical architecture observable in this island, are frequently much perplexed by a want of definite terms, uniformly received as expressing the respective modes prevailing at distinct eras. The absurd term of Gothic, is by many writers applied to all styles of architecture anciently adopted in Britain, except the Grecian. That term is, however, chiefly used in regard to the pointed style; and will, therefore, meet with a more extended enquiry, and a more decisive mark of reprobation, in a future page.

In respect to the subject of the present section, much confusion has been caused, by a neglect of precision in several writers, who have applied the term "Saxon," to all classes of church-architecture in England and Wales, contradistinguished from the pointed style, by circular-headed windows and doorways. With such writers, the buildings of the Anglo-Normans are

Saxon," because they partake of the leading characteristics of that style which prevailed in England for many ages antecedent to the Norman Conquest. The attainment of knowledge is greatly retarded by this neglect of classification. In the present work, the term of Anglo-Saxon applies, exclusively, to buildings erected in this island, by the Saxons, whilst possessed of sovereign power. It, therefore, comprehends all edifices constructed between the conversion of the Saxons, A. D. 597, and the Norman conquest, A. D. 1066; with an exception of the short intervening reigns of the three AngloDanish Kings.

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timber; and that, if, in rare instances, they were formed of stone, they, still, were destitute of columns and arches: the stone-work consisting merely of upright walls.

Such an opinion has been long discarded; but, as it stands copied in many writers of a high name [and of deserved repute, in regard to the discussion of other subjects] the origin of this mistaken view of Anglo-Saxon architecture, and the decisive arguments of those by whom it was corrected, demand an analysis in the present pages.

These erroneous notions appear to have originated with Mr. Somner, who, in his work on the Antiquities of Canterbury,* presumes that, "before the Norman advent, most of our monasteries and church-buildings were of wood." of wood." The authorities which he gives for such a presumption, are, a certain charter of King Edgar, granted about the year 974; and the writings of the well-meaning, but comparatively modern historian, Stow.

The charter of King Edgar relates to the abbey of Malmsbury; and, in that instrument, the King uses words which may be thus translated : "The sacred monasteries of my realm, to the sight are nothing but worm-eaten, and rotten, timber and boards."

The intelligence which Stow afforded to Mr. Somner, chiefly regards the rebuilding of the cathedral church of St. Paul, after the fire of 1087. According to Stow, "Mauritius, then bishop, began, therefore, the new foundation of a new church of St. Paul; a work that men of that time judged would never have been finished, it was to them so wonderful for length and breadth; as, also, the same was builded upon arches (or vaults) of stone, for defence of fire; which was a manner of work before that time unknown to the people of this nation, and then brought from the French; and the stone was fetched from Caen, in Normandy." Stow, also, instances the church of St. Mary Bow, in London, "built much about the same time and manner; that is, on arches of stone; and was, therefore, called New Mary church,

ог

Antiquities of Canterbury, p. 86,

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or St. Mary-le-Bow; as Stratford Bridge being the first built with arches of stone, was therefore called Stratford-le-Bow.”

Mr. Somner, contented with the authority of this recent chronicler, asserts, that "this, doubtless, is that new kind of architecture which the continuer of Bede (whose words Malmesbury hath taken up) intends, where, speaking of the Normans' income, he saith, "You may, observe every where, in villages churches, and in cities and villages, monasteries, erected with a new kind of architecture."

The same writer ou antiquities presents a confirmation of his opinion, when treating of the age of the eastern part of the choir of Canterbury cathedral, by saying, “ that he dares constantly, and confidently, deny it to be elder than the Norman conquest; because of the building it upon arches, a form of architecture, though in use with, and among, the Romans long before, yet, after their departure, not used here in England till the Normans brought it over with them from France.”

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Such are the passages which appear to have influenced Mr. Staveley, Mr. T. Warton,t and the author of "Ornaments of Churches considered;" together with several writers of less popularity and importance.

The merit of first correcting so great an error in the history of architecture, belongs to the Rev. J. Bentham, who very ably discusses this subject, in the celebrated fifth section of his History of the Cathedral Church of Ely. The following observations comprise the point of his arguments, together with some corroborative remarks by more recent authors.

The disputable passage, noticed above, as occurring in one of the charters of King Edgar, is supposed by Mr. Bentham "to mean no more than that the churches, and monasteries, were, in general, so much decayed, that the roofs were uncovered, or bare, to the timber; and the beams rotted by neglect

and

Staveley's History of Churches in England. + Observations on the Fairy Queen of Spenser.

and grown over with moss; and not that they were made wholly of wood."*

It is, however, clear, from the writings of Venerable Bede, and is not denied by any modern author, that many churches were constructed by the Anglo-Saxons, of oaken planks, or even of wattles, thatched with reeds. Such buildings were sometimes raised in haste, and were afterwards taken down to give place to more substantial edifices, or were included in those more permanent structures; as in the instance of a chapel, on the site of the present church of St. Peter, at York; which chapel, or oratory, was hastily built of wood, for the purpose of baptizing Edwin, King of Northumberland, in the year 627. But it may be readily apprehended that, in every early age, when society was thinly-spread, and the resources upon which ecclesiastical architecture depended, proceeded chiefly from the bounty of individuals, many churches, not designed for a temporary purpose, would be composed of materials so ordinary and cheap. Several such are noticed by ancient writers; and it may be observed that a church, thus rudely formed, although the date of its erection be unknown, is still remaining at Greensted, near Ongar, in Essex.+

But that churches built of stone were contemporary with fabrics so rude and slight, is sufficiently evinced by authentic history. In regard to the opportunities which the AngloSaxons possessed of acquiring some knowledge in the art of architecture, even in the earliest stage of their supremacy in this island, it is remarked by Mr. Bentham, "that, at the time the Saxons were converted, the art of constructing arches and vaultings, and of supporting stone edifices by columns, was well known among them; they had many instances of such kind of buildings before them, in the churches and other public edifices erected in the times of the Romans. For, notwithstanding the havoc

History of the Cathedral Church of Ely, p. 16.

+ See Beauties for Essex, p. 425. A view of this building is presented in Vetusta Monumenta, Vol. II. plate '7.

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