of Cornwall; they may, it is hoped, induce other enquirers to communicate notices of similar traces either in the west, or other remote parts of the British Isles, and especially in Ireland. The zealous efforts of the missionaries of that country, at a period when the light of Christianity was almost extinguished by the barbarous invaders who overran other parts of England, appear to have been instrumental in preserving the more secluded and tranquil regions of the west from paganism and infidelity. This consideration may cause the simple and rude remains, which have been enumerated, to be regarded with interest and veneration.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE CRYPT OF HEXHAM CHURCH, NORTHUMBERLAND.
The ancient crypt on the west side of the abbey church of Hexham, beneath the ground once occupied by the nave, was discovered in the year 1726, in digging the foundation for a buttress to support the west end of the church; and since that period it has been appropriated as a burial-place for the successive Lecturers of Hexham. At the period of its discovery it was examined by Stukely and Gale, who made known two Roman inscriptions contained in it: one built into the wall, and another into the roof of the north passage leading to the body of the crypt. It was, subsequently, explored by Horsley, who detected the fragment of a third inscribed stone in the arch of one of the doorways. These inscriptions are engraved in the "Britannia Romana," plates 35, 36, figs, cviii., cix., cx.
In the year 1775 this crypt was again examined by the eccentric Hutchinson, who gave a meagre description of it in his "View of Northumberland[1];" he recopied the inscriptions, and fancied he had detected some errors in Horsley's transcripts of them; but it is needless to enter into this part of the subject, further than to observe that a recent copy of one of these stones proves that Horsley was correct in his reading.
- ↑ Vol. i. p. 102.
