ENGLISH ARCHITECTURE. 281 about the date at which stone churches were first built, and in some of these it has been suggested that the timber forms of the earlier ones were executed in stone (No, 134). A.D. 603. See of London revived. A.D. 604. See of Rochester founded. A.D. 656. Monastery of Peterborough founded. A.D. 681. Benedict Biscop flourished as a church-builder. A.D. 871-goi. King Alfred erected, or rebuilt, many of the ruined cities or monasteries, but most of these appear to have been built of wood, and covered with thatch, A.D. loi 7-1035. King Cnut founded Bury St. Edmunds mon- astery. A.D. 1061. Harold's Collegiate Church at Waltham conse- crated. A.D. 1042-1066, Edward the Confessor's religious enthusiasm, and his work at Westminster Abbey (consecrated 1065), A,D, 1066. The conquest of England by the Normans, and the building operations of Bishop Gundulf, at Rochester Castle, the Tower of London, and elsewhere, influenced the construction of strongholds, by which the invaders secured their position in the newly-conquered country, A.D. 1 174. William of Sens built the choir of Canterbury Cathedral. The boroughs led the way in self-government, free speech, and justice ; and the formation of towns, around the abbeys or castles, took place, though the process was slow and difficult. A.D. 1154-1216. During this period the fusion of the native English and Norman settlers was effected, in order to withstand the strangers whom the Angevin kings were constantly bringing into England. The Association of Freemasons, founded early in the thirteenth century, assisted materially in forwarding the technical progress of the new buildings. A.D. 1 2 15. The Magna Charta freed the Church, and remedied abuses. A.D. 1265. Leicester's Parliament, to which burgesses were first summoned from cities and boroughs, was called, A.D. 1265-1284. The conquest of Wales led to further develop- ment in the planning and design of castles. A.D. 1 272-1 307. Edward I. abandoned his foreign dominions, and attempted to consolidate Great Britain. The framework of modern political institutions began to develop, and peace and prosperity in commerce gave importance to a middle class. A,D, 1362. The English language was ordered to be used in the law courts, A.D, 1 349-1 38 1. The rise of the farmer class and free labourer,
