192 A Description of the Saxon Work in the 



and, as the restoration of this part was completed before the com- 

 mencement of these discoveries, I had no opportunity of searching 

 for the foundations. 



The system of fenestration adopted here is, I believe, very ex- 

 ceptional in buildings of this early period : a somewhat similar 

 arrangement may, however, be seen in the upper stage of the Saxon 

 tower of S. Benet^s, Cambridge. But it is to the peculiar con- 

 struction of the inner splays of the circular upper windows that I 

 would specially call attention. 



The single stone forming the outer portion of each window had a 

 double splay (the lesser being on the exterior) and the circle of 

 radiating holes before mentioned : the use of these holes was in- 

 dicated on clearing out the filling of the window found in situ, 

 when it was seen that a " centre " or cage of the kind of work known 

 locally as " wattle-and-daub,'' aiound which to construct the splay, 

 was formed by inserting in the holes round sticks (apparently of 

 willow — those found had the bark still upon them), reaching to the 

 inner face of the wall (see Fig. 4 and dotted lines in sketch, Fig. 5) 

 and interlacing with them, in a transverse direction, smaller split 

 sticks, making a kind of basket or hurdle work, which was then 

 plastered on both sides. The " wattle " work was in a crumbling 

 state, but a small portion, with the plastering attached, is retained, 

 and may still be seen. 



The two of these unique circular lights which remained have, of 

 course, been restored to their original position on the north side, 

 although not without some unavoidable injury to the appearance of 

 the 1881 windows, which I was instructed to retain. The splays 

 have been made to the ancient form, but without the sticks, the 

 holes in which the latter wc'-e inserted being exposed to view. The 

 easternmost of these windows, as stated, does not exist, but its 

 position is indicated by dotted lines. 



The joints of the lower windows and of the long-and-short quoin, 

 are thin and close, which would indicate the date of the work to be, 

 at any rate, anterior to the eleventh century, and it is probably much 

 earlier than that period. 



The Saxon walls are 2ft. 7in. thick, constructed of rubble masonry. 



I 



