196 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB 



merged into the possession of the Crown. After the 

 Conquest of South Wales by Edward I., the trilateral 

 ceased to be of importance for defensive purposes, and 

 though Grosmont appears to have been a favourite resi- 

 dence of the Dukes of Lancaster, Skenfrith was allowed 

 to gradually fall into ruin, and in the reign of James I. 

 it was presented by a local jury as " ruinous and decayed 

 time out of mind." There are no mural chambers, and 

 no garde-roles in the Castle, but it was evidently built 

 only to contain a small garrison, and not as a private 

 residence. 



The Church at Skenfrith has one striking and valuable 

 feature in its freedom from modern restoration, for it does 

 not seem to have been touched by the restorer since 

 166 1, and Mr Waller congratulated the parishioners on 

 their possession of a Church which had hitherto been 

 unmolested by any modern architect. It was probably 

 erected in the 13th Century, and the arcading between 

 the North Aisle and Nave may be of this date. The 

 tower is extremely interesting and picturesque, and is 

 surmounted by an open lantern of timber, locally called a 

 " Pigeon House Tower." The Church still possesses 

 a Pre-Reformation Cope, a very good example of the 

 embroiderv of the i6th Century. It seems to have been 

 used in the Church for many years as a pulpit cover, and 

 its value was only detected some 40 years ago. The 

 intrinsic evidence is sufficient to prove that we have here 

 a genuine Pre-Reformation Cope ; one of the chief sub- 

 jects embroidered being the Assumption of the Virgin. 

 On the collar the principal subject is the Virgin with the 

 Holv Child. The costumes of many of the saints are 

 fairly well preserved, and striking and distinct in every 

 feature are the Cherubim and double-headed Eagles. One 

 tradition is to the effect that the garment was worked by 

 Queen Eleanour ; another gives it a connection with 

 King John. 



