THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURE IN ESSEX. i8t 



from north to south. The doorway is on the south side, and has on 

 each side a lancet window. There are two other windows on the 

 south side towards the east, but their cills are raised in order to give 

 height for the sediHa and piscina under them. There are four 

 windows on the north side similar to those on the south. The east 

 and west windows are triple lancets under one arch. There are no 

 buttresses. I am glad to .say, through the exertions of my friend, 

 Mr. Beaumont, works necessary to preserve this highly interesting 

 building have been carried out. 



Another very interesting example of Early English work is the 

 Chapel or Chapter House at Becleigh Abbey, near IMaldon. The 

 building is about 40 feet long I)y iS feet wide, with columns in 

 the centre supporting the groined roof. The double doorway, 

 separated by shafts, is a feature of this period, and in the jambs of 

 the doorway is introduced a very elegant example of the dog's tooth 

 or four-leaved ornament. Other portions of the old buildings, 

 notably the old refectory, are of the same period, with inserted 

 windows and chimney piece of later date. 



This Priory of the Order of the Premonstratenses, or White 

 Canons, was founded by Robert de Mantell in 11 80, and dedicated 

 to St. Nicholas ; it was endowed with several lands, and confirmed 

 by the Chaiter of Richard I., in the first year of his reign, about 

 1 190. These buildings were probably erected during the first half 

 of the thirteenth century. 



I look upon the development of Gothic /Architecture in England 

 as one of the most interesting periods of architecture in the world. 

 It seems to me certain that there was during the period extending 

 from the Norman Conquest down to the reign of Henry VH., 

 a kind of intercommunication which ensured the carrying out of the 

 same kind of architecture throughout England at the same period. 

 And it is sur[)rising when one contemplates the peculiarities ot the 

 various divisions into which we have divided Gothic Architecture, 

 that the development should have been exactly similar throughout 

 the whole of England, even to the details of mouldings, about which 

 I have somewhat enlarged — and you will find that the mouldings 

 which were in use in the south of England during the eleventh, 

 twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth centuries were used at 

 the same time in the east, west and north of England. 



• The Decorated period (which succeeded the Early English), 

 extending from 1307 to 1377, was perhaps the purest period of 



