Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/124

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86
PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OF

the family of Echingham, or Etchingham, accompanied by some architectural notes of the church of that name, in Sussex. He exhibited a curious series of sepulchral brasses. This Memoir is reserved for a future occasion.

Lieut. Walker, of Torquay, called the attention of the Society to the state of the ancient castle on St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall. A part of the foundation having been neglected has given way, and the building isconsequently in danger. It is stated that the proprietor (of the St. Aubyn family,) proposes to take down a portion in order to save the rest; it has, however, been affirmed, that this venerable structure might be preserved entire, by aid of buttresses or by underpinning the walls, and the interest attached to the castle appears to entitle it to every care.

The Rev. Dr. Nicholson, Rector of St. Albans, communicated an account of recent works of restoration in the Abbey Church, which have been carried on with the greatest care for the due preservation of that noble fabric. The stone used in the ornamental parts of the church is almost wholly from Totternhoe, where no quarry has been worked for many years. Dr. Nicholson, however, had fortunately purchased a large quantity in blocks, the foundation of an old barn, and probably once part of the conventual buildings. With this material he had completed many string-courses which were broken, hood-mouldings of arches, and other details which could, without risk of deviation from original authority, be replaced. The appearance of many parts had been greatly benefited by the removal of accumulated white-wash and paint. The floor and steps of wood, which disfigured the access from the south aisle into the choir, as also the unsightly wooden floor of the choir itself, have been suitably replaced by stone steps and a chequered floor; and the Saint's Chapel, as also Abbot Wheathampsted's Chantry, have been thrown open to view by the removal of a screen of modern wood-work which concealed them. The ancient decorative tiles have been brought together in the Saint's Chapel. Two of three large arches, filled up with rubble more than 3 ft. thick, and forming the east wall of the parish church on the Dissolution of the monastery, have been disencumbered of this mass, and a 9 in. wall substituted, so as to show their deep recesses. In this operation an altar, surrounded by mural painting, has been discovered, with a figure of an archbishop (S. Willielmus) in good preservation, assigned by Mr. Bloxam to t. Hen. III. This curious relic of art quickly faded on exposure, although Dr. Nicholson, with his customary vigilance, had caused it to be protected by glass. An engraving from this curious subject will shortly be produced. The original will still compensate the antiquary for the trouble of a visit to this interesting fabric, in the conservation of which Dr. Nicholson has shown so much judgment and good taste.

Antiquities and Works of Art exhibited.

By Mr. Charles Long.—Three "arrow-heads" of black silex, from the field of Marathon. They measure about an inch in length, and are now pointless, the edges sharp, one side is formed with two facets, the other is flat, so that the section would be a very obtuse-angled triangle. They were found in tumuli, and have been described by Col. Leake, who states that he found them likewise in other parts of Attica. The specimens exhibited were discovered by Mr. Henry Long, who called attention to the fact that Herodotus states that the points of the arrows, used by Ethiopians, in the armies of