lyo THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURE IN ESSEX. 



The former is mainly built with Roman bricks and other 

 materials. The west doorway has a triangular arch, a peculiar 

 feature of Saxon work, and the windows have plain semicircular 

 arches which, together with the jambs, are formed of Roman bricks, 

 as are also the quoins of the tower itself. 



The latter is a unique specimen of work. It is constructed of 

 oak trees about 12 inches in diameter, cut down the centre, 

 placed side by side and morticed into a cill and top plate, and form- 

 ing in fact an oak wall, the flat side being placed inside and the 

 round side outside. Those at the west end were probably removed 

 when the tower was erected. Some forty or fifty years ago a new 

 cill was inserted, the old one having decayed, and it is believed it is 

 placed at a higher level than the old one, the tenons of the trees 

 having no doubt become decayed. 



In lists of Saxon buildings we find Boreham and Felstead 

 Churches described as of that period. I presume the towers are 

 alluded to, but a close examination has satisfied me that both these 

 structures are Norman. 



The peculiarities of Saxon work are : 



1. Long and short masonry. 



2. Plain semicircular and triangular arches. 



3. Rude balusters when windows have two openings. 



4. Absence of buttresses. 



The absence of remains of Saxon buildings in Essex probably 

 arises from the fact that they were no doubt constructed with 

 timber ; stone, except that arising from older buildings, being very 

 diflficult to obtain, the county itself being absolutely devoid of any 

 stone whatever. 



We now come to the most interesting period of English archi- 

 tecture, the third division of my subject, namely, the Norman and 

 Gothic period, extending from the landing of William the ist, in 

 1066, to the death of Elizabeth, 1602. During this period, the 

 architectuie of England developed so rapidly and assumed such 

 distinct characteristics, that architects have adopted the divisions 

 set out originally by Rickman, namely— 



A. The Norman period, from William I., 1066, to the death of 

 Henry II., 1189. 



B. The Early EngHsh, from Richard I., 11 89, to the death of 

 Edward I., in 1307. 



C. The Decorated, from Edward II., 1307, to the death of 

 Edward III., in 1377. 



