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churches, I beg leave to offer your readers a few remarks on that fubject. The church architecture of this kingdom may, I think, be divided into feven clafles, viz. the Saxon, Norman, Florid, Ornamented, Obtule, Gre cian, and Modern.

By the Saxon, I mean that kind of building which was prevalent before the Conquest, the peculiarities of which are circular, maffive columns, with plain femi-circular arches: of this #yle very few fpecimeus are now remaining in England; and the only one } ever faw, which I think wholly genuine, is St. Grymbald's crypt at Oxford. This building is fituated under the chancel of St. Peter's church in that city, and is well worth the attension of all thofe who are curious in architecture and antiquities; it is fupported by very thick circular pillars, on which reft fquare capitals altogether plain, with the exception of (I shink) two, and they are covered with fome rude carvings, which the darknefs of the place prevented me from minutely examining.

The Norman ftyle was moft probably introduced immediately after the Conqueft. It is diftinguithed by circular pillars with ornamented capitals, and femi-circular zig-zag arches, which, though generally called Saxon, are in my opinion much too elegant an ornament to have been invented by that rude and barbarous people. One of the most elegant and perfect fpecimens of this ftyle with which I am acquainted, is Iffley church, near Oxford. Some of the later Norman churches have pointed arches, of which New Shoreham church in Suffex is a beautiful example.

The Florid ftyle was introduced, fays Raftall in his Hiftory of Southwell, in the reign of king John, viz. about the year 1200. In this elegant order of architecture the pillars are clustered, and fupport fharply-pointed arches. Of this tyle, Mr. Urban, I think I cannot refer your readers to a more beautiful fpecimen, than the venerable abbey of St. Peter at Westminster.

The Ornamented order, which prevailed during the reigns of Henry VI. Edward IV. and Henry VII. by the elegance and multiplicity of its ornaments, has been defervedly the admization of all fucceeding ages. Henry

the Seventh's chapel, at Weftminfier, is a fine fpecimen of this ftyle.

By the Obtufe (for I know no other name to call it by), I mean that species of Architecture which took its rife about the reign of Henry VIII. and continued in fashion for near a century afterward. This ftyle is a firange mixture of Gothic and Grecian, though it does not properly belong to either; the arches are obtufely-pointed, the windows are of various forms, and the arches over the doors are fometimes pointed, and at others circular, as may be feen in the South aile of Stoke Newington church in Middletex, where there are two doors made apparently at the fame time (viz. about the time of Elizabeth), over one of which is a femicircular, and over the other a pointed arch.

The Grecian order of architecture had been gradually making its way until the reign of Charles II. when it was finally eftablifhed. As the feveral peculiarities of this are well known, it would appear fuperfluous in me to point them out; and as St. Paul's, and as many of the London churches, are Grecian buildings, it would be alike ufelefs to name any particular fpeci

men.

There now remains only one order to take notice of, which is the Modern, or that ftyle of building which has been almoft univerfally prevalent during thefe laft forty years. This style is frequently called Grecian; but I infift that it is entirely a different thing, as in our modern churches there are neither pillars nor arches, except as fupports to the galleries; and indeed the church-builders of the prefent day feem to confider light and airinefs as very fuperior to ftrength and folidity, and have therefore most cautioully avoided any thing which in the leaft tends to fhut out the rays of the fun, except in one inftance, which is the new church of St. Martin Outwich, where the paucity of the windows, and the loftinefs of the walls, have very much the appearance of a gaol.

And now, Mr. Urban, I fhall only add, that as you have many correspon dents much more learned in matters of architecture and antiquities than myfelf, I fhall be happy to receive. through the medium of your Mifcellany, any additions or corrections to the above sketch. H. S.

Mr.

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SOUTH

Mr. URBAN, Sept. 30. OUTHGATE is a pleafant village, eight miles North of the metropolis, in the county of Middlefex, and parish of Edmonton. The chapel (of the South fide of which I prefent you with a drawing Plate II. fig. 1.) is nearly furrounded by the grounds of her grace the Dutchefs of Chandos. It is a fmall neat building, confifting of a nave, chancel, and North aile. The nave, which is evidently the oldes part of the edifice, is built with red bricks, and contains feveral hatchments and other heraldic infignia, with fome monuments, which, as they are neither remarkable for antiquity nor beauty, I fhall pafs over in filence. The North aile is built of lighter coloured bricks, and is lighted by feveral modern windows; it also contains fome hatchments, and two mural monuments, one to the memory of John Hill Winbolt, gent. and the other to the memory of Mrs. Cooper. Yours, &c.

H. S.

Fig. 2, is the far-fimile from St. Lawrence's church at Ramfgate, promifed in p. 1003.

Mr. URBAN, Deal, Sept. 2. SEND you (fig. 3) the view of part of a place that, in my opinion, juftly claims the tribute of admiration from all who delight in viewing the venerable remains of antient grandeur: probably I may entertain too great a prepofleflion for a place where I firft law Nature's light, and, thus viewing it with an eye of prejudice, deem thofe things grand and fublime, which others would pafs by without even a moment's paufe; nevertheless, if I relate to you its hiftory as far as I am at prefent enabled, I am perfuaded you will think with me that it is not altogether unworthy of notice.

NORTHBORN is fituated about three miles from Deal, and four from Sandwich; and was once the ornament of that part of Kent

The mantion-houfe, gardens, and pleafure grounds, containing about 30 acres, were all encompafled with a wall, which is ftill extant, through which you formerly entered by mafly iron gates. The gardens rofe gradually into divers terraces, which had been laid out with great art and expence for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables, and were watered by founGENT. MAG. December, 1802.

tains and a beautiful fiream or rivulet. running through the lower part of the fame.

The houfe appears to have been a large ftately building. It was pulled down in 1750, and the materials fold; the walls are all that now remain of it, forming a very picturesque ruin on the declivity of a vale.

To have given you a fketch of the whole, would have made the view indiftinct and confufed; I have therefore only given you a North-eaft view of what little remains of the house and chapel on that fide; which fhall be followed by other detached views illuftrated with what farther account I can gain.

At this place, about the time of the Saxon Heptarchy, Eadbald, king of Kent, had his palace, the remains of which Leland mentions in his Itinerary made in the time of Henry VIII.; and that, not many years before he made his perambulation, a wall was broken down, by which a little cell, or chamber, was difcovered, where were found the fragmentary remains of two children, who had been immured in that gloomy repofitory for many preceding ages. They are faid to have been two of the fifters, or daughters, of Eadbald, and to have been starved to death for fome end now unknown. There are remains of a place at the bottom of the garden, called the Purgatory, where we are informed this horrid deed was perpetrated, and that this place was used folely for a place of penitence and punishment. It is walled round with exceedingly high walls furrounded with water, to prevent its victims from efcaping; but whether we may place this to the credit of truth, faithfully handed down to us by our ancestors to this diftance of time, or to the luxuriant imagination of fome Winter's evening relator of legendary tales, I will not pretend to decide.

Eadbald, in 618, gave it to the abbot and convent of Saint Auguftine, in which monaftery his father Ethelbert lay, and where he ordered himself to be buried; in the convent's hands it continued at the time of the taking the Survey of Domesday in the 15th year of the Conqueror's reign.

Salamon de Ripple, a nonk of this monaftery, about the 10th year of king Edward III. made fome confiderable improvements and additions to this

place,

place, and in particular new-built the chapel from the foundation, of the remains of which you herewith have a

view.

It continued part of the poffeffions of the monastery till its final diffolution in the 30th year of king Henry VIII. when it reverted to the crown, in which it continued but a thort time; for the king in his 31ft year granted it to Archbishop Cranmer in exchange; and it remained part of the poffellions of the fee of Canterbury till Archbithop Parker, in the third year of Queen Elizabeth, re-conveyed it to the Crown in exchange; and the Queen almoft immediately afterwards granted it to Edward Saunders, gentleman, her folter brother, and where he afterwards refided, having married Anne, daughter and coheir of Francis, fon of Milo Pendrath, of Northborn, by Elizabeth, one of the heirs of Thomas Sewin, and nurfe to Queen Elizabeth. On his death, about the middle of that reign, the pofletion of it again reverted to the Crown, where it remained till King James I. foon after his acceflion, granted it in fee to Sir Edwin Sandys, on whom he conferred the honour of knighthood, for his firm attachment to him at that time. He rebuilt this manfion, and kept his fhrievalty at it: he died about 1029, and was buried in a vault he inade for himself and pofte rity in Northborn church, over which is erected a very grand and noble monument; a defcription of which, and of feveral pieces of coin found among the ruins at different times, I will give you in another letter. On Sir Edwin Sandys's death, his eldest fon we find fucceeded to this eftate. On his death foon afterwards, it came to his next brother, Col. Edwin Sandys, the noted rebel colonel under Oliver Cromwell, well known for his facrilegious depredations, and infolent cruelties to the Royalifts; he died at Northborn houfe of the wound he had received in 1651, at the battle of Worcester. Upon his decease the eftate defcended to his grandfon, Sir Richard Sandys, who left four daughters, to whom it was entailed by his will. The whole eftate about eight years ago was offered for fale in different lots; when the fite of the late manfion-house, gardens, and Long-lane farm adjoining, were purchased by Mr. William Wyborn, in whofe poffeffion it till remains, Thus you behold a once fplendid and

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FROM the nature of the outlines,

prefented in a former number of your Magazine, for a proposed hiftory of Yorkshire by Dr. Townfon, I am doubtful whether a ftatifical mode is not gaining ground of the hiftorical, in the very laudable endeavour to collect and arrange the authentic documents of thofe Counties which have not yet been defcribed and elucidated in a topographical way. The Antiquary will be alarmed at the idea of fubstituting, or in any respect enhancing the importance of Natural Hiftory, however defirable, to the injury and prejudice of antiquities and the hitiory of past times. Subjects of mineralogy, natural hiftory, agricultural and other ftatiftical materials of every fpecies, if defective, may be improved and perfected in future; but opportunities of improving the others, when originally omitted by the county hiftorian, may very frequently be loft for ever. The object of refearch will be rendered lefs interesting, in proportion as the more fafcinating parts are displayed.

Pleafing as it is to fee lo many County Hiftories completed, and in progrefs, on an extenfive fcale; the County of WILTS, which affords fuch an ample fcope for the Antiquary's attention, ftill remains without this neceflary elucidation. Whether from the difficulty attending the execution, the magnitude of the undertaking, or any reluctance in its nobility and gentry to afford and contribute the neceffary facilities for its accomplishment, feems to be undetermined; certain it is, that various attempts have been made by individuals, and, after fome progrefs, frequently not inconfiderable, conitantly declined. For the honour of the County, collectively as well as individually, the laft conjecture, it is to be hoped, is without foundation. Attributing it rather to the two former, connected with the unavoidable heavy

expence

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