By the Rev. J. E. Jackson, F.S.A. 281 



arctitectural style would probably be partly Norman, partly Early 

 English; and with this transitional character the few fragments 

 that have been found perfectly correspond. In a small building at 

 the back of the house (now used as a carpenter's workshop), are 

 two very good lancet windows, with bold mouldings. The cellars 

 under the house are believed to have been part of the original 

 Priory, but the house itself has undergone so many changes, that 

 it is difficult to recognize anything thoroughly ecclesiastical. 



There is no account of what took place when the Clugniac monks 

 vrere finally dismissed. The church fell, or was taken do^vn. The 

 ground on which it stood (now forming the bank on the north side 

 of the lawn), being covered with heaps of rubbish, and overgrown 

 with grass, became a rabbit warren ; and some curiosity was excited 

 by the partial disinterment of its foundations and floor in the year 

 1744. A description of this discovery, but containing some errors, 

 was printed in the Gentleman's j\Iagazine of that year, on which 

 Dr. Ducarel (of the London Society of Antiquaries), requested a 

 friend. Dr. Wm. Evetts (a physician then living at Chippenham), 

 to visit Monkton Farley, and send him a correct account. Dr. 

 Evetts's letters are printed in Nichols's Literary History.^ From 

 these it appears that some of Mr. Webb Seymour's labourers being 

 employed in levelling the rabbit warren, came first upon the pillar 

 of a church, and about four feet under the rubbish, to the floor of 

 the chancel, of chequered tiles, chiefly red, some with "flying grif- 

 fins," and other emblems. Four gravestones were found, one 

 having the figure of a monk kneeling, the name "Lawrence," and 

 a legend, in old French, "Ici gist, &c.," "Whoever shall pray for 

 him shall have so many days of pardon." This was a common one 

 about 1360; and as a Prior Lawrence Archenbaud was here about 

 that period, it was probably his monument. On the other three 

 stones, which were grooved round the edges, the inscription was 

 obliterated. The grooves being an inch or more in breadth, had 

 probably been the sockets of strips of brass, on which the inscrip- 

 tion liad been written. 



' iii., r,m. 



V 



