ENGLISH GOTHIC. 325 roadways and three waterways. The Bridge at Warkworth, Northumberland, is in good preservation. HOSPITALS, ALMSHOUSES AND BEDE HOUSES. Many of these, principally dating from the fifteenth century, were founded by charitable people, and form interesting examples of semi-domestic character. S. Mary's Hospital, Chichester, (No. 132 L, M, n) is mainly of the fourteenth century, although belonging to a very early foundation, and has bedrooms and sitting-rooms for the inmates opening on to the central hall, at the end of which is the chapel. Other examples are S. Cross, Winchester; Ford's Hospital, Coventry; S. John's Hospital, Northampton ; the Bede House, Stamford, and almshouses at Cobham, Kent, and elsewhere. ANCIENT TIMBER HOUSES. These are still numerous, and the example from Chiddingstone (No. 132 j), dating about 1637, will give an idea of the appearance of these old timber houses, of which many towns, such as Chester, and numerous villages throughout the country, can still boast a number. MINOR MONUMENTS. In the cathedrals and churches, the choir screens, tond")S, wall tablets, and chantries are specially notable. Many of these are worthy of careful study. 4. COMPARATIVE. PREFATORY NOTE. The architecture of England during the Middle Ages can be divided into centuries corresponding to the principal developments, which have their specially defined characteristics, and each period is now treated in a comparative way in a somewhat different manner to the method adopted in other styles, the architectural character and examples in each period being given. There have been various systems of classification adopted by different writers, but those by Rickman and Sharpe are the best known. Rickman's divisions are made to include periods corre- sponding to the reigns of English sovereigns, which are given under each style later, whereas Sharpe's divisions are governed by the character of the window tracery m each period.
