property"? It would certainly not be confiscation, for the valuable antiquity would exist, and be handed down as an heirloom to posterity. All the State would say is: "Keep your antiquity, use it, make money by exhibiting it (if you wish); only do not, for the sake of the nation and civilisation, destroy it".

I am prepared for the objection that sometimes ancient edifices are expensive to repair. Then let the owner sell them to the State, or the county, for the value of the materials. I despair, however, to see England follow the liberal example of the French Government, and buy up the national antiquities. This might be a last resort, but should not be exercised at once.

The plan I propose would secure to posterity all the ancient churches, even the eight parish churches of London spared by the Fire. Their parochial custodians could not demolish them without a license, difficult to obtain. So with our country churches, old manor-houses, and castles and halls. They would be all safe-at least unless a really strong case were made for their demolition.

As for the utilization of domestic mediæval edifices, I think they often might be purchased by corporations, as museums and offices; e.g., "The Essex Field Club" has secured Queen Elizabeth's lodge at Chingford for its forest-museum. I should think the rich corporation of London might afford to buy up some of the few specimens of domestic architecture in the City, and use them for museum purposes, or meetings of learned societies.

In any case-used or not used-I contend we ought as a nation to hand down to posterity the ancient edifices of the Merrie England of the past. Our descendants have a right to them; and perhaps in the next century, when education is diffused, they will be more valued than now.

THE CHURCH AND WELL

OF

ST. DOULOUGH, COUNTY DUBLIN.

quite gone.

BY G. G. IRVINE, ESQ., A.R.I.B.A.

(Read April 20th, 1898.)

HE church of St. Doulough is situated about seven or eight miles north-east of Dublin, not far from the battle-field of Clontarf; it seems once to have been surrounded by a considerable village, as there are many ruined cottages remaining, but the village has

now

There is still remaining a very good plain granite cross of early type, in the centre of the cross-road leading to the church.

The old church, which is shown black on the plan of the site, has a modern church built on its north side, and to the north-east of it is the well.

The ground-plan of the church is divided into two compartments, or chapels, the easternmost one being much the larger. It is entered from the present modern church on the north side, but there was probably an external door here originally, as otherwise the only entrance would be through the narrow passage in the corner, 1 ft. 5 ins. wide, unless the arch at the west end went down to the floor, of which I saw no sign. It has an altar-pace at the east end, and in the south wall a recess probably intended for a monument, and two blocked-up slits at a low level; it is lighted by three large windows, one at the east end and two in the south wall, which I believe are insertions, and a smaller window to the north. In the recess formed by one of the windows in the south wall is a very curious staircase, which goes up to the long room on first floor, which has an unusual arrangement of steps. This eastern chapel is covered by a barrel vault, which is groined, but without ribs, at the west end; it is 14 ft. 5 ins. from floor to crown of vault.

The smaller division has two doors, both on the south,

one of which opens directly into it, the other opening in a small lobby at the foot of a stair. It is divided from the larger chapel by a wall pierced by a semicircular opening 3 ft. 8 ins. wide, the sill of which is 4 ft. 6 ins. from the floor; under which, standing in a recess, is an altar or altar-tomb, a square solid block of masonry with splayed slab on the top. It has three windows in the west wall, all on different planes; the lowest one close to the floor and on the inside of the wall, with a long splay to the outside and a small circular-headed

opening. The next, which is a two-light window, is about the middle of the wall; it is trefoil-headed, and both lights are under a flat arch on the outside. The

Fig. 2.-Ground Plan.

top window is right up in the vault, is on the outside of the wall, and is also trefoiled. This chamber is covered by a rather irregularly-groined vault. These

two chapels are connected by the narrow passage, 1 ft. 5 ins. wide, in the south wall.

The staircase in the corner, which could be shut off by a door, and has a little arched opening through the side wall, leads to a little room over this, which is lighted by one window in the west wall which has a stone seat formed in its sill. It has also two openings, both now