Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/477

THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. 413 Northumberland. Mr, Williamson states that the early Irish oratories generally measure about 20 or .30 ft, by 14 to 16 ft. wide, and that most of them had either a chancel, or west end, added to the original structure. ^ The Rev. Walter Blcnt sent a notice of the Norman font in Lilleshall Church, Shropshire, accompanied by sketches of the singular ornaments sculptured upon it. The form is cylindrical, an arcade of round arches supported by very short columns runs partly round, being partly interrujjted by interlaced work of rude design. Under the arches are foliated and other ornaments, the intention of which is very obscure : in one of these compartments appear three cubes, like dice, in another six. Under the arcade is a band of ornament, which seems to be a variety of the Chinese- like Z ornamentation, the full development of which is shown from Irish MSS. by Mr. Westwood, in his valuable memoir in this Journal.* The south door of Lilleshall Church displays the Norman chcvrony moulding, but with that exception the fabric possesses little interest. Mr. Blunt communicated also an account of a singular object, probabl}' a sun-dial, at Madcley Court, an ancient mansion of the Brooke family, in the same county, now undermined by collieries. It is a cubic block of stone raised on a platform in the outer court, each side measuring about 4 feet square ; the side towards the north is plain, on each of the other sides is a deep bason-shaped cavity, surrounded by four smaller cavities at the angles, and escutcheons. In the centre of each of the cavities there is a hole, probably to receive the gnomon. The cube is surmounted by a dome, and the whole measures about 6 ft. in height. Lieut. Col. Grant communicated a short account of the site of a round church which he had laid open on the Western Heights at Dovor, doubtless connected with the House of the Templars mentioned by Leland and other writers. A ground-plan of these remains will be given hereafter. Antiquities anlf ©aorftS of Art C5j:!)iljitclf. By the Rev. Thomas Hugo. — A stone celt of unusually large dimensions, found in the Thames in September last. By Capt. Henry Bell, through Mr. Allies. — The remarkable bronze relique, found in 1844, on Leckhampton Hill, near Cheltenham, and supposed to have been the frame of an Anglo-Saxon headpiece or cap. (See notices in this Journal, vols. i. p. 386, iii. p. 352). A detailed account of this singular object will be given hereafter. Also a bronze spear-head, described as found on Leckhampton Hill, length 7;| in. ; it has rivet-holes at the side of the socket, and is encrusted with a fine light green-coloured patina. By Mr. W. HoLDEN. — A small bowl of thin bronze plate, found near Cahir, in Munster. Diameter 44 in. It is perforated in four places immediately under the rim, which is slightly recurved, and there was possibly some adjustment for suspension by four cords or chains. Another Irish object of this description, and nearly similar in size, but the lip without any perforation, is represented in Lord Talbot's Memoir on Anti- quities found at Lagore, co. Meath. (Arch. Journal, vol. vi. p. 104.) ^ Pi'actical Geology and Ancient Archi- Towers, p. 159. In tlie earliest aiTange- toetiu-e of Ireland, by G. Williamson. uient the door was at the west end. 1845, p. loo. See also Petrie's iiouiid • Vol. x. ji. 288.