MADLEY CHURCH,

HEREFORDSHIRE.

MADLEY is a small village near the banks of the river Wye. In former times a castle existed here, of which the only memorial is the name of Castle Farm. Near the centre of the village is a small cross, consisting of a square pedestal and shaft, with a transverse top. In the churchyard are remains of another of these ancient mo

numents.

The Church is a large handsome structure, with a low tower, embattled; the chancel end is formed by angles, which give it an almost circular appearance: it is strengthened by butments, terminating in plain pinnacles. Under the chancel is a crypt, or charnel-house, composed of eight sides: the roof is groined, with a plain, circular moulding, which is inserted upon a large angular column, in the centre. A View of this crypt forms the title to the present Volume.

The windows of this Church originally contained considerable specimens of curious painting. In one, on the north side, was the figure of St. Ethelbert, holding a church in his hand, and the queen standing by him, with the arms of England. In another, was a cross, and the figure of a woman, subscribed-Sancta Mil

MADLEY CHURCH.

burga priez puret pur les alms de toutz Chres tiens."

About three miles north from Madley, on the opposite side of the Wye, is the ancient Roman town of Kinchester, of which Leland says "This towne is far more auncient than Hereford, and was celebrated in the Romans time, as apperith by many thinges, and especially by antique money of the Cæsars, very often found within the towne, and in ploughing aboute, the which the people there call duarfes money. The cumpace of Kenchester hath been, by estimacion, as much as Hereford, excepting the castle, the which, at Hereford, is very spacious. Pieces of the walls and turrets yet appear prope fundamenta, and more should have appearid if the people of Herford town, and other thereabout, had not, in tyme past, pulled down much and picked out of the best for their buildings."