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jections of head, 1 ft. 8 ins. ; width of shaft at bottom, 1 ft. 6 ins. ; thickness at bottom, 7 ins.; thickness at top, 6 ins.

Sculpture on Front.-On the head a cross of similar design to that on No. 1, but having a flat cable-moulding on the circular ring; on the shaft a single panel containing a plait of eight bands, with a line along the centre of the band, and a double bead-moulding at each side.

Sculpture on Back.-Same as on front.

Sculpture on Right Side.-On the circular part of the head a raised cable-moulding on each side; on the ends of the square projections beyond the arms, six raised pellets; on the shaft a square border (key-pattern) formed of T's.1

Sculpture on Left Side.-Same as on right side.

No. 3.-Height, 1 ft. 9 ins.; width of circular head, 1 ft. 31 ins. ; width across projections, 1 ft. 5 ins.; thickness at bottom, 6 ins. ; thickness at top, 5 ins.

Sculpture on Front.-Cross of same shape as those on Nos. 1 and 2, but with additional projections at points where the shaft joins the head; the circular ring ornamented with a row of pellets, and the central boss also ornamented with pellets; on the shaft the remains of a panel of plaitwork of eight bands.

Sculpture on Back.-Same as on front, except that there is a rosette on the central boss, and rows of pellets on the arms.

Sculpture on Right Side.-On the upper quadrant of the round part of the head a plait of four bands terminating in a Stafford knot; on the ends of the square projections beyond the arms, a a quatrefoil; on the shaft, remains of foliage.

Sculpture on Left Side.-Same as on right side.

In addition to the headstones just described there are several other small fragments with the same style of ornament, amongst which is a small bit of a cross-shaft, measuring 9 ins, high by 10 ins. wide, by 8 ins. thick; having on the front interlaced work, on the back the figure of a man, and on the side two twisted bands combined with double circular rings.

The crypt is a regular museum of architectural details of all periods. Some large vaulting-bosses are especially noticeable. They have carved upon them the Annunciation, Scourging, Betrayal, Christ showing His Wounds, etc. The crypt is so dark that these most interesting relics are completely hidden. It would be very desirable that they should be removed to some place where they could be seen to better advantage.

The west window is an admirable piece of stained glass decoration, embodying the history of the most remarkable events associated with the church. It was designed by Mr. Edward Frampton,

1 The key-patterns on the side of No. 1 are not the same as that on the side of No. 2, for in the former case the cross-strokes of the T's lie in a straight line, whereas in the latter the cross-strokes of every other T lie in two different straight lines.

and presented by the Duke of Westminster on Easter Eve 1890. The following are the subjects:

(1.) The Massacre of the Monks of Bangor Is y Coed, A.D. 613. (2.) Founding of St. John's Church by the Saxon King Ethelred, A.D. 689.

(3.) Edgar "the Peaceful" rowed up the Dee, A.D. 972.

(4.) Peter, the first Norman Bishop, founds the present Church,

A.D. 1075.

(5.) Burial of Bishop Peter, A.D. 1085.

(6.) The founding of St. Werburg by Hugh Earl of Chester, and Anselm, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, A.D. 1093.

(7.) Robert II elected Abbot of St. Werburg, A.D. 1175.

(8.) Prince Edward, afterwards Edward I, the first royal Earl of Chester, enters the City, A.D. 1256.

(9) The Dissolution of the College of St. John by Edward VI's Commissioners. A.D. 1548.

(10.) Queen Elizabeth grants the fabric of the Church to the parishioners, and the advowson of the living, with the tithes, to Sir Christopher Hatton, Knight, A.D. 1581.

(11.) The Siege of Chester and Flight of Charles I, A.D. 1645. (12.) The Restoration of the Episcopacy, A.D. 1660.

The Cathedral.-From St. John's Church the members went on to the Cathedral, where the Rev. Canon Blencowe undertook the office of guide, to the great satisfaction of those who followed him whilst describing the most notable features in the building. The Cathedral is situated within the quarter of the city bounded on two sides by the walls, and on the other two sides by Northgate and Eastgate. It did not become the Cathedral of the see of Chester until the time of Henry VIII, previously to which it was a Benedictine Abbey founded on the site of the ancient Saxon church of St. Werburg. It is amongst the less important of the English cathedrals; and although it will not compare with those of Lincoln, Durham, or York, yet it contains many interesting peculiarities. Like St. John's Church, it is built of red sandstone, unfortunately of a very perishable nature. Twenty years ago decay had made it far more picturesque than at present; but the weathering of the exterior could not be allowed to go further without endangering the whole fabric. Owing to Dean Howson's untiring efforts the building underwent a complete restoration, from the plans of the late Sir Gilbert Scott, in 1870-78, at a cost of £90,000.

Amongst other things of interest which attracted the attention of the party were the beautiful mosaic wall-decoration of the north aisle of the nave, recently completed; the fragments of St. Werburg's Shrine in the south aisle of the choir; the beautiful chapterhouse; and the lector's pulpit and staircase leading up to it in the refectory. The stall bearing an inscription showing that it was the gift of the Cambrian Archæological Association in 1874 had a personal interest for many of those present. The font also could not be passed by hurriedly by those interested in early

Christian art. It is of Byzantine workmanship, having been brought from Italy, and presented to the Cathedral, by Lord Egerton. It is of rectangular form, with pairs of beasts, two peacocks, the ChiRho monogram combined with the Alpha and Omega, and other ornament. The four modern pillars on which it is supported are very feeble in design. The mosaic pavement of the baptistery is appropriately decorated with a net and fish.

For description of the history and architecture of Chester Cathedral, see Murray's Cathedrals.

Reception by the Mayor.-At 1.30 the party were received at the Town Hall by the Mayor of Chester, Mr. J. Salmon, and the Mayoress, and entertained to luncheon, at the conclusion of which Lord Mostyn proposed the health of the Mayor.

He begged, on behalf of the Association, to thauk his Worship for the very kind way in which he had received them, feeling sure that each and all would enjoy their visit to Chester very much, which included the old Roman remains, the Museum, the Cathedral, and the wonderful old fifteenth and sixteenth centuries half-timbered houses. They ought to congratulate themselves on having such a fine day for their visit to Chester, and if they only had a fine day on the morrow, they would have had one of the most interesting and successful Meetings the Cambrian Archæological Society ever had. He begged to give, in all sincerity, the health of the Mayor and Mayoress of Chester.

The toast having been heartily drunk, his Worship, in briefly acknowledging the compliment, welcomed the Association to Chester. They were (he said) enjoined in the "Old Book" to extend hospitality to strangers, and he was sure that in his position, and in conjunction with his friend Mr. H. Taylor, their Local Honorary Secretary, he had great pleasure in receiving them in the name and on behalf of the ancient city of Chester, at the same time hoping the Association would receive enjoyment as well as instruction from their visit. Replying on behalf of the Mayoress, his Worship said one valuable lesson he always learnt from her was to do whatever he took in hand well, and he hoped he had succeeded on the present occasion.

The Ven. Archdeacon Thomas, in proposing the next toast, pleasantly adverted to an incident in Welsh history, observing that they had lately visited a house in the adjoining county of Flint, which was pointed out as one in which a former Mayor of Chester was taken and afterwards hanged. But they did not do such things now, or burn one another's houses down. They came to Chester to see the wonderful remains in that most interesting city. Some good things they had seen, and some they had yet to see; but on occasions like that, when coming, as they did, from different parts of the country, their enjoyment and instruction were immensely added to by those who were acquainted with the memorable places they visited. It was well that the cordial thanks of the Association should be accorded to those gentlemen who had been kind

enough to act as their guides. He begged, therefore, to propose the health of the Rev. Canon Blencowe, who had conducted them through the Cathedral, and had explained to them as much as was possible within the time at disposal; to Mr. Henry Taylor, who had not only instructed them at the Church of St. John, but also at Holywell, and that morning, at Flint, had led them over the Castle; and to Mr. Alderman C. Brown, to whom they were to be indebted for much guidance and instruction. He begged, in the name of the Cambrian Association, to offer these gentlemen their cordial thanks for the very kind and instructive way in which they had guided them in their wanderings that morning.

The Rev. Walter Evans, Rector of Halkyn, also joined in the expression of thanks for the way in which the Association had been welcomed.

The toast was heartily drunk, and responded to by the Rev. Canon Blencowe, Mr. Henry Taylor, and Alderman C. Brown, the latter of whom mentioned as a curious coincidence that only so late as the Saturday previous an inscribed stone, dated 1674, had been pointed out to him in the City Wall, near the Nuns' Garden, mentioning the name of a gentleman as a " Muringer"; showing that Chester at the present time was in the possession of a fund of information, although it was yet to be discovered.

After luncheon the party inspected, with very evident pleasure, the ancient charters and regalia of the city, exhibited at the Town Hall under the superintendence of Mr. S. P. Davies of the Public Office.

The Walls, Roman Remains, and Mediaval Houses.-At 3 o'clock the party left the Mayor's hospitable roof; some to make a perambulation of the City Walls, under the guidance of Alderman C. Brown, and others, accompanied by Mr. H. Taylor, to see the specimens of ancient domestic architecture with which Chester abounds.

The portion of the city enclosed within the Walls is approximately a rectangle measuring three-quarters of a mile from east to west, and one mile from north to south. The river Dee comes close up to the Walls on the south side, and then taking a bend outwards encloses the Roodee between it and the western Wall. The Shropshire Union Canal runs along the north Wall, and joins the Dee near the north-west angle. The four principal streets are parallel to the Walls, and intersect at right angles at a point a little to the east of the centre of the city. The streets take their names from the gates in the Walls to which each of them leads,-North Gate on the north, East Gate on the east, Bridge Gate on the south, and Water Gate on the west.

In the middle ages the duty of defending three of the Gates against the attacks of the "wild Welsh" was entrusted to the Stanleys, the Hungerfords, and the Talbots, while the citizens kept watch over the North Gate.

The upper part of the Walls is of the medieval period, resting on Roman foundations. It varies in height from 12 to 40 ft., and

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