Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/570

400 PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OF The Eev. Edwin Jarvis communicated a note of the discovery at Hackthorn, of a sepidchral slab, sculptured in low relief, the design of very unusual character ; the ornaments are of interlaced bands, resembling those which occur on early scidptured crosses in the Northern counties, and some other parts of England. The slab is narrower at the foot ; the principal feature of the design is a cross, above the limbs of which are two singular ornaments, bearing some resemblance to eagles displayed. This curious slab, which was broken into two pieces, appears to be of earlier^ date than Norman times; it was found in the walls of Hackthorn Church, in 1844, when that building, erected only forty years since, was pulled down. Tlie only remains of early architectural detail were two good Norman doorways, which have been preserved in the new church. Mr. Jarvis kindly sent a drawing, carefuUy executed by Mj'. Willson, jun. which gives a perfect notion of the details of this singular sculpture, (See the accompanying Illustration.) Mr. Jarvis stated, that in the neighbourhood of Hackthorn, there is the site of an ancient town, still known by the name of West Firsby. The foundations are spread over 60 acres, and a profusion of fragments of jiottcry, some resembling Roman wares, others of green-glazed ware, &c. are found over the whole tract of land. Of the church (mentioned in Domesday,) not one stone remains on another ; part of the font, or possibly the foot of a cross, may be seen, and here and there fragments of tomb-stones ; on one were noticed the letters E. W. A certain part of the site seems to be enclosed by a square agger. About a quarter of a mile from the spot, a cist was found, in which was a small Roman urn, with a coin of Claudius Gothicus, now in the coUeclion of Mr. Jarvis. He has also a small pair of shears, found at West Eii'sby, resembling those which are represented on early incised cross-slabs. Mr. Tucker read a communication from Mr. Charles H. Cooke, stating, " that on taking down the north wall of the nave of the parish Church of Kew Stoke, near Weston Super-Mare, Somerset, it became necessary to remove a block of stone, sculptured with a demi-figure, placed in a niche, which was built into the wall below the sill of a window, on the inside of the church ; it was discovered, that in the back of this block, was hollowed out a small arched chamber, within which, was deposited an oaken vessel, or cup, partially decayed, and a little split open ; in the bottom was a dry black incrustation, of what appeared to have been coagulated blood. The cup has a rim at the top, as if to receive a cover ; the cavity in the stone was firmly closed with a small oak panel, which fitted to a rebate." The figure seems to have held a shield, (see cut,) but the bauds are lost, and the surface of the shield is much defaced; — probably, on this shield, was a representation of the contents of the chamber, or at least, a description of what it contained. Judging from analogous cases, the cup must have been the depository of some precious relic, and the circumstances of the foundation of the neighbouring priory of Woodspring, seem to point it out as having contained a portion of the blood or relics of St. Thomas. The Augustinian priory of Wospring, Worspring, or Woodspring, was situate at the northern extremity of Kew Stoke jinrish, on the shore of the liristol channel, and was