Chap. IV. OF ANCIENT BUILDINGS. 193 



could not account for this sinking, until he 

 observed that castings of black mould were 

 frequently ejected along the lines of junction 

 between the slabs ; and these castings were 

 regularly swept away. The several lines of 

 junction, including those with the lateral 

 walls, were altogether 39 feet 2 inches in 

 length. The pavement did not present the 

 appearance of ever having been renewed, 

 and the house was believed to have been 

 built about eighty-seven years ago. Con- 

 sidering all these circumstances, Mr. Ramsay 

 does not doubt that the earth brought up by 

 the worms since the pavement was first laid 

 down, or rather since the decay of the mortar 

 allowed the worms to burrow through it, and 

 therefore within a much shorter time than 

 the eighty-seven years, has sufficed to cause the 

 sinking of the pavement to the above amount, 

 except close to the house, where the ground 

 beneath would have been kept nearly dry. 



Beaulieu Abbey, Hampshire. This abbey 

 was destroyed by Henry VIII., and there 

 now remains only a portion of the southern 

 aisle-wall. It is believed that the king had 

 mobt of the stones carried away for building 



