Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/253

THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. 175 A memoir was read, contributed by the Rev. E. L. Cutis, descrlbino- the interesting architectural details of Ilever Castle, in Kent, the birthplace of Anne Boleyn, and the retreat of the ill-fated Ann of Cleves. A plan, with numerous views, elevations, &c. was exhibited ; and the communication is reserved for publication on a future occasion. A further and more fully detailed account of the remains of medieval domestic architecture at Mere, Somerset, consisting of the manorial residence of the Abbots of Glastonbury, (noticed at a previous meeting,) was given by Mr. Alexander Nesbitt, illustrated by plans and drawings ; of which publication is for the present deferred. Mr. Way read the following interesting observations, communicated by Frederick C. Lukis, Esq., of Guernsey, in reference to the curious relics, locally termed " hand-bricks," found near Ingoldmells, and exhibited at a previous meeting.'* " The discovery of the clay clumps in Lincolnshire is peculiarly interesting; this circumstance, with the previous discovery of them at Dymchurch, in Roraney IMarsh, renders the explanation of their origin and usage more attainable. As the manner of my becoming acquainted with these ' hand-bricks ' may be useful in the way of com- parison of facts, I shall simply relate, that about 1839 or 1840, when 1 was busily engaged in exploring the older remains of the Channel I.■^lands, I remarked a line of red pottery, traceable about three feet beneath the sod of a bank, at the foot of which the sea beat occasionally ; this line was visible at a distance of several hundred yards. Nothing of a definite character could be made out of it, and I was disposed to place it on the level of the medieval period. The bank, however, passed beneath a conical hill, entirely composed of, and strewed over with, granite blocks, on the summit of which still exist a cromlech and circle of the same material. Here it had become worn down by the rains, and a considerable quantity of pottery had been exposed to view. The hand-bricks were in great numbers, accompanied by rudely formed vessels of red clay, possessing little elegance or diversity of form, and very inferior in substance and shape to the ' Samian ' and Roman wares. The specimen exhibited by Mr. Franks was found at this spot (see p. 70, ante). No ornamental borders or relievos were found on the pottery, and, excepting the evidence of a small fragment of plain red ' Samian,' found at a short distance from the place, we were left wholly to conjecture as to the probable date of the discovery. " Some time after, in exploring an adjacent island, another bank near tlie sea exposed to view a similar line of red pot- tery, in which were found a large number of ' hand- bricks ' of a coarser ma- terial, with many irre- gularly formed bricks, fourteen to sixteen inches in length, the sides of unequal breadth, varying from one inch to three inches in breadth.' Thoy did not appear to have been moulded in a form ; at one end they were cut diagonally, the other being abrupt and ill-shaped, with a small iiole in all cases, impressed by the finger. The clay had been mixed with sand, and ■* See l>age 70 in this voluiue. s These singular i-elics, acconhng to the sketch kindly sent hy Mr. Lukis, apiuMr somewhat similar in form to Roman pigs of lead. — Ed. VOL. VII. A A