130 MEDIAEVAL PAVEMENT AND WALL TILES OF DERBYSHIRE. 



a similar process of analysis we can demonstrate the existence of 

 other series at Morley, representatives of which are not found 

 elsewhere mingled with those of the East Midland series. I 

 allude to Nos. 3, 4, 5, 9, 15, 19, 22, plate D ; i, 2, 3, 5, 10, 12. 

 13, 16, 18, 19, plate E ; and i, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, plate F. I 

 have not identified these patterns with certainty elsewhere, but 

 several of them are remarkably like tiles at Worcester and Oxford ; 

 I think, however, that a careful examination of the actual 

 specimens is sufficient to convince that they belong to more than 

 one series. Similarly, there are a few erratic tiles at Dale — Nos. 

 21, plate D: 15, 17, plated; 14, 16, plate E; and several 

 others not shown — all enamelled, that I have not met with 

 anywhere else ; apart from these, the Dale tiles all belong to the 

 East Midland series. The tiles of Tideswell and Fenny Bentley, 

 are each alone, so far as our county is concerned ; specimens, 

 however, of the former have been found at Croxden Abbey and 

 in Shropshire, and of the latter at Tutbury. 



How are we to explain the wide diffusion of some of these tiles, 

 and their presence in different kilns ? Were the stamps passed 

 from tilery to tilery ? or were casts of them distributed ? or 

 did companies of tile-wrights, carrying about with them their 

 stamps and other tools, temporarily settle at the nearest con- 

 venient points to where their services were required ? The latter, 

 I think, is the most feasible solution. The manufacture must 

 have involved considerable skill and experience, and it is difficult 

 to understand how a small religious house, like that of Dale or 

 Repton, could have required a staff of such artisans. The 

 demand for tiles would be too intermittent — only at such times as 

 alterations or additions were made to the house, or when a 

 chantry was founded at a neighbouring church. The kiln, we 

 can understand. It was there for use when tiles were required and 

 the tile-wrights came to make them ; besides, the convent might 

 now and again let it for a small sum. 



This theory explains why so few of the armorial bearings have 

 any connection with the districts where they occur. This has 

 long been felt to be a difficulty. Mr. Jewitt, it is true, boldly 



