\ 
376 
tmued with little variation till the time of 
Edward MII. when a considerable alteration 
took place in the construction of the pillars 
and roofs. The latter began to be divided 
into several compartments, by kinds of ribs 
meeting in the center of the arch, and form- 
ing triangular spaces-on each side. These 
ribs, and the junctions of them, were more 
or less ornamented, according to the affluence 
of the builder, the skill of the architect, the 
Vicinity of the place to the seats of fashion 
and improvement, either metropolis of the 
kingdom, (London or York) and to the pur- 
poses of the building. The columns now be- 
gan to take the form of a cluster of small pil- 
lars, closely united, and forming one compact 
and solid, but siender and elegant support. 
«© About this period, and before any great 
alteration began to prevail in the mode of con- 
structing the windows, we might, from the 
general style of this fabric, if wewanted other 
evidence, pronounce the choir of Southwell 
church to have been erected ; but this matter 
is placed beyond a doubt, by the licence of 
the King, (Edward III. printed in the Ap- 
aiid (geld: 1,) in the eleventh year of his 
reign, to the chapter, for the getting of stones 
from a quarry in his forest of Shirewood, for 
the building of their church. 
*¢ The heads of Edward III. and his queen, 
as also that of the Black Prince, support the 
ribs or springs of several arches in the choir. 
The prince’s head, crowned with his three 
feathers, is particularly conspicuous on the 
north side; and over the center arch, on the 
south side, are the feathers only, neatly cut 
in the stone. By these numerous compli- 
ménts to the prince, we may presume,-this 
part was erected just at that point of time 
when, by his conquest in France, he was in 
the zenith of his popularity. In conformity 
with the general taste of that age, the win- 
dows are narrow pointed, unornamented, 
and without any division by stone guds or 
mullions.” 
We have given this specimen, by way 
of pointing out to the numerous authors, 
whose conjectures upon periods and styles 
of building satiate the public, that they 
may, in Many cases, convert them. into 
certainty by a little trouble and research, | 
as in this instance. Mr. Dickinson’s 
observations upon the mode o/ building 
used in the reign of Edward ILI. are 
read with interest, because we know that 
they are founded upon undoubted facts; 
and we further recommend to them al- 
ways to keep such facts in their recollec- 
tion. 
We are sorry to observe our author 
has invented a new term for mullions, 
which he calls guts. Exclusive of the 
filthy ideas conveyed by this werd, we 
Y 
* 
* On the Willoughby side of the road is a tumulus, called Cross Hill ; andon the opposite 
BRITISH TOPOGRAPHY AND ANTIQUITIES. 
cannot conceive the most distant resets 
blance between the intestines of either 
man or beast, and the beautiful pillars 
and ramifications of antient architec- 
ture. 
Mr. Dickinson dwells with much plea- 
sure upon the beautiful arch which forms 
the entrance to the chapter-house; it is 
certainly rich in ornaments, and he sup- 
poses it was erected in the reign of Ri- 
chard II. But it will be impossible to 
disentangle the endless web of eonjec- 
ture, (by an analysis of moderate length) 
which composes all the remainder of the 
second chapter. The reader, who de- 
lights in argument ingeniously support- 
ed, and who can bear a repetition of those 
arguments which form the subject of the 
introduction and chapter first, will rea¢ 
it with avidity. 
The tuird chapter commences wi 
the town of Southwell, which furnishes 
another field for doubt and conjecture. 
«© At what period this place obtained its 
present appellation,” says Mr. Dickin- 
son, “it will be almost impossible to 
ascertain. That it has formerly flourish- 
ed under other names, even at so remote 
an era as that of the Roman government 
in Britain, there is strong reason for sup- 
posing ; that it was a place of some note 
among the Saxons, we have authentic 
testimony for believing.” 
Speaking of the Roman roads and 
stations, “* the principal route which | 
am now to investigate is, that from Lon- 
don to’ Lincoln; from which, as has 
lately been observed by a very learned 
antiquary, ‘there seem to have been 
others of inferior note (passing through 
Southwell) to Nottmgham and Mans- 
field.” He then quotes the table of ~ 
placesand distances from the Jtincrarium 
Antonini; 2l1 of which are appropriated — 
but Verometum, Margidunum, Ad Pon- 
tem, and Crococolana. 
«¢ The first station then, after Rate or 
Leicester, which demands enquiry, is Verome- 
tam. Pursuing the Roman road, or foss, as it 
is still called, on the confines of Nottingham- 
shire, we come toa field at the brow of the 
hill, overlooking Willoughby brook ; where, — 
as Dr. Stukely, the industrious antiquary — 
says, ‘many coins and mosaic! pavements 
have frequently been dug up, and leave no ~ 
room to doubt its having been a Roman sta- 
tion.’ The distance from Leicester answers. 
very exactly to the Roman estimate; and— 
fixes, with considerable precision, the antient 
Verometum at this place*. Margidunum, 
