lyS thp: development of architecture in essex. 



west door is undoubtedly a relic of the original edifice, which was 

 then the Priory Church, now the Parish Church. 



At Blackmore there is still left a portion of the west end of the 

 original Norman nave of the Priory Church, now the Parish 

 Church. 



At Little Dunmovv the north arcade of the south aisle of the 

 Priory Church, as erected by luga, sister of Ralph Baynard, about 

 II oo, still remains, although now built up, so that this fragment of 

 a glorious old Priory Church now forms the north wall of the Parish 

 Church. 



I am not aware whether there are any remains of this period 

 at St. Osyth's Priory ; it was probably the oldest monastery in the 

 county, having been founded by St. Osyth in the seventh century. 

 It was, however, destroyed by the Danes in one of their harrying 

 expeditions, and was not apparently rebuilt until the time of 

 Henry I., about 1118. 



Waltham Abbey contains by far the most important remains 

 of this period of any of our old monasteries. The nave and aisles 

 of the Old Abbey Church, although they have been at the west end 

 subsequently altered, are most interesting. 



St. Botolph's Priory, Colchester, is a very interesting building of 

 the Norman period, and is remarkable for the interlacing arches 

 which decorate the front; the pointed arch formed by the interlacing 

 of semicircular arches is said to have led up to the next period, of 

 Gothic architecture. 



Of castellated buildings of this period the most important is 

 Hedingham Castle. Here we have the remains of the ancient keep 

 or tower of the castle, erected by the second Aubrey de Vere, and 

 as his father died in 1088 and he himself in 11 40, it follows that 

 this work must be considered as belonging to the early part of the 

 twelfth century. It is indeed a magnificent piece of work, entirely 

 faced with Barnack stone, which shows but little depreciation from 

 the storms and winters of seven centuries, with walls upwards of ten 

 feet thick as solid as they were when first built. As the architecture 

 is all of the same period it must have been rapidly constructed, and 

 no doubt the De Vere of that period was anxious to consolidate his 

 power as quickly as possible. The exterior is entirely faced with 

 regular blocks of stone about 24 inches long by 12 inches high. 

 The original doors, windows, and fireplaces are all there, and, with 



