Oxford, pronounces it to belong to "the fresh water shell limestone of the island of Purbeck, from the same quarry as the Purbeck marble, but not marble; once much used for pavements in London."
It will be perceived, that I have not, in the ensuing Notes, confined myself strictly to the immediate object of this compilation, but have without scruple superadded any matter, which appeared to be connected with the antiquities of the several counties. In particular the Notes are somewhat augmented by quoting notices of the more ancient monumental memorials, which I found recorded in the works I have consulted. For the correctness of these notices, it must be remembered, I am not responsible, further than as I have endeavoured to copy them faithfully from the books, whence they are taken. Here also it may be mentioned, that care has been bestowed to present all the direct citations in the precise words and spelling of the authors, from whom they are borrowed; but in some instances, which may easily be distinguished, the substance only of the intelligence, so acquired, is produced. The wish has been throughout not to make use of any published information without acknowledgment, and it is hoped, that this has always been done; so that reference may be made to the original work, if deemed necessary; though unluckily the page has in too many cases been omitted. When statements were derived from private sources, the same proceeding of course has not been followed. The statements, the architectural in particular, which are quoted from other works, are offered only for what they are worth; which may be even nil. At least such has been found to be the fact in several instances, where an opportunity of comparison has occurred. Of the original matter many descriptions of churches are not my own; but I have introduced none, on the accuracy of which I cannot thoroughly depend; indeed the correctness of the description is far more to be relied upon in most of those cases, than if the result merely of my own observations.
If occasionally disappointment should be felt, that new topics of antiquarian interest, which may accidentally arise, are not followed up, it may be recollected, that these investigations, in their existing shape, have already extended far beyond what was originally contemplated; and likewise that, with very limited facilities and means of research, such additional inquiries cannot be very practicable, indeed almost invariably must prove absolutely impracticable.
