122 MEDIEVAL PAVEMENT AND WALL TILES OF DERRYSHIRE. 



during some excavations on the occasion of the visit of the 

 British Archaeological Association in 1851. These Mr. Jewitt 

 described and engraved in the journal of that association. More 

 recently (1885), a large number^ were unearthed during the 

 excavation of the site of the priory church, preparatory to the 

 erection of the Pears Memorial Hall ; these, with the numerous 

 carved stones then found, were inserted in a wall upon the site 

 of the north aisle wall, but unfortunately many of them are 

 suffering from the effects of exposure. 



At Newton Solney Cliurch the tower area is paved with an 

 interesting series of old tiles. Many of these were found, during 

 the restoration of 1884, to have been used as rubble in the 

 masonry with which the chancel south doorway was built up. 

 The rest, which exactly accorded with these, had long formed the 

 pavement of a summer arbour on Mr. Ratcliffe's grounds ; but 

 this gentleman, concluding that they were originally brought 

 from the church, had them removed to their present position. 



There are a number of fragments, with a few whole specimens, 

 kept in an aumbry in the "Monumental Chapel" in Ashbourne 

 Church. These have been found from time to time, both inside 

 and outside the church, and although at first sight they look 

 rather worthless, they contain no less than twenty-nine different 

 patterns. The light they help to throw upon our subject is proof 

 sufficient that the vicar's care in preserving these fragments might 

 be widely imitated. A former rector of Fenny Bentley, near 

 Ashbourne, took an opposite course. When the church of this 

 place was restored in 1850, many tiles were found in the rubble of 

 a wall and elsewhere ; these were laid in the Beresford Chantry 

 Chapel. A few years ago the screen of this chapel was removed, 

 and the pavement broken up. Many of the tiles were smashed up 

 for concrete, but fortunately some were rescued and removed to 

 Bentley Hall, and are now in the hands of the present rector. 



During the disastrous alterations of Wirksworth Church in 

 1820, many tiles were found, but were soon dispersed, some 

 going to the collection of the late Mr. Bateman at Lomberdale. 

 More were found in 1876, all of which, I believe, went to Mr. 



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