181 



contrasting strongly with the timidly executed featherings of the Gothic 

 arch, and blank spandrils, while the butments and facing of the woik are 

 of Doric simplicity. And may not this discrepancy even point to dififerent 

 architects ; — Aylburton representing that mixed style, the product possibly 

 of an Italian artist, who, familiar enough with the classic forms of his 

 own country, was not so confident in his knowledge of Gothic lines as 

 to permit him to do more than make an effort to imitate in the arch the 

 leading features of its construction ; and Clearwell illustrating the work 

 of a more accomplished hand, one acquainted with the theory and 

 practical development of early Gothic ; for be it remembered, at 

 this period, and long before, it was the custom to bring over foreign 

 architects, or master masons, as they were termed, as well as workmen, 

 and these people were much employed in the service of the church. 



These Crosses are all built of the same grey forest stone, and consist 

 of a sort of square shrine, having a niche, once probably containing 

 sculptured figures, uncanopied, in each of its four sides. This building 

 forms the pedestal to the Cross, and is placed on the summit of a flight of 

 steps, called, in the language of ecclesiastical analogy, the Calvary. Of 

 these steps and pedestals the following are the comparative dimensions : — 



On the top of Cleai-well pedestal is a block of squared masonry, in 

 which is inserted what remains of the shaft. The baldness of this block 

 mars the outline of the whole, and conveys the impression that the 

 original, which was doubtless designed in accordance with the same 

 style of architecture as the pedestal, has been broken down, and this 

 put up as a substitute. Since the photograph was taken from which 

 the plate is engi-aved, a supplementaiy piece of stone has been clumsily 

 grafted on the stump of the original shaft, and this again surmounted 

 by a cock, with bright red comb and wattles, "which," as Mr. Niblett 

 observes, " does not turn with the wind, as a right-minded cock shoiild 

 do ; but, pugnacious as a Celt, bristling like the Forest-gro^vn holly, 

 ready to do battle with intruders, stands obstinately fixed with his 

 beak pointing to a certain mansion haid by." 



* To the latter of these, however, must be added 3ft. 7in. of the original 

 shaft still in existence, which gives an amended total of 18ft. lOin. 



