ANGLO-SAXON AND NORMAN ARCHITECTURE. 19: 
architecture which prevailed among the Anglo-Saxons, was 
a variety of Romanesque, probably a rude imitation of 
Lombardie, with some intermixture of Byzantine details, 
bearing no greater resemblance to the Norman, than was 
necessarily the consequence of their common origin from 
the classical Roman. 
The interest attaching to this point, I think, will at 
once be admitted by every antiquary who remembers 
that from the time that Benedict Biscop began to build 
churches “more Romano” in the seventh to the close of 
the twelfth century—a period considerably longer than 
that occupied by the three pointed styles. Romanesque, 
in some shape or other, was the style of ecelesiastical 
architecture which prevailed in this island ; and that the 
Norman does not occupy above 150 years of that period ; 
that during a considerable part of that time the Anglo- 
Saxons were neither an uncivilized nor an unlearned people, 
but one which gave birth to such men as Benedict 
Biscop, Wilfred, the Venerable Bede, Ethelward, Ald-. 
helm, and the immortal Alfred— which entered into treaties 
with Charlemagne, and held no obscure position in the 
political system of Europe ; nor is the field by any means 
a narrow one. There is probably far more Saxon work in 
existence than is generally supposed, particularly in the 
eastern and northern counties. In Somerset the West 
Saxon Kings had more than one residence ; and I doubkt 
not the traces of their work may be found in many places, 
if carefully searched for. It has been supposed that it is 
useless to look for Saxon work in any church that is not 
mentioned in Doomsday-book. But this is not necessarily 
the case, for, though a wonderful production, Doomsday- 
book is by no means a perfect survey; and not being un- 
dertaken for ecclesiastical purposes, does not mention more 
B. 3 
