Early Gravestones founA at Trovibridge. 219 



The photograph of tlie coped stone, here reproduced, was taken by 

 Mr. "Wilkinson, of Trowbridge, whilst the stone was still in situ in 

 the excavation, before it was moved at all, and the eifect of the fore- 

 shortening is that the size of the footstone is exaggerated, and the 

 tapering and ridge form of the body stone is not well shown. 

 Unfortunately the workmen came first of all on the headstone, and 

 this was considerably damaged by their picks before its character 

 was discovered. Otherwise, except that both slabs are broken across, 

 they are in very fair condition. 



The tiat slab has a rudely formed but effective cross in relief on 

 its surface of unusual shape, with bellied pillaster-like stem and 

 the wedge-shaped limbs which suggest an early date. It measures 

 6ft. lin. in length by 1ft. Sin. at the head and 9^in. at thefoot,and 

 is Tin. thick. 



The other and more remarkable stone is more considerably ridged 

 than the illustration gives the idea of. It measures 5ft. lllin. in 

 length, by 2ft. ll|in. in breadth at the head, and 1ft. Sin. at the foot. 

 The ornament upon it is irregularly cut, and consists of a sort of 

 beaded border on one side, with a border of half lozenges across the 

 head and down the other side. There are three semi-circular arcades 

 in relief on each side of the slab. On one side the only ornaments 

 on these are three recessed mouldings, whilst on the other each 

 arcadeisdifferentlyornamented with hatched lozenges, half lozenges, 

 &c. There is a curious double triangle ornament in relief at the 

 head of one side, the corresponding place on the other side being 

 blank. 



The footstone stands about 7in. above the ridge of the slab and 

 is perfectly plain on both sides. The headstone stands Qiin. above 

 the ridge, and has on the side facing the slab a cross in relief of 

 distinctly early type with wedge-shaped limbs. Unfortunately (as 

 has been stated above) the upper arm of the cross is destroyed. 



I have been quite unable to hear of any other known examples 

 of a grave slab of Norman times, with head and foot stones in situ, 

 having been found in England. Coped Norman gravestones are 

 themselves of great rarity. A good specimen with elaborate 

 sculptures at Conisborough Church (Yorks.), is illustrated in The 



