PEBSIDHNt's jLDDBESS. 137 



THE RE-CUTTING OF FONTS OR OTHER CARVED WORK, 



is also much to be deplored, as the proportions are destroyed, 

 and new work takes the place of that which was old. I also regret 

 the change of the form of the roof. The new one is, no doubt, 

 cheaper, and it may be stronger; but the character of the 

 church is destroyed. Can any one standing at the west end of 

 Fowey church, or St. Austell, and seeing the old and the new 

 work in those churches, doubt this ? In one church, I know of a 

 small carved granite mortar or measure, which has been placed 

 in the old niche for holding holy water. An interesting feature 

 in Cornwall,is the use (in so many churches) of granite, which has 

 caused a deficiency of fine and delicate forms of tracery ; that stone 

 requiring a bold and simple treatment ; and here I would point 

 out that the Normans, and their successors down to the beginning 

 of the 14th century, never used granite. Where Polyphant was 

 accessible, much more elaborate work was possible ; and 

 Catacluse stone, hard to work, also still shows the mark of 

 the tool by which it was cut, its dark colour affording a 

 welcome relief to those structures in which it is used for door- 

 ways or windows. Of recumbent monuments, Cornwall has 

 few of early date ; Landulph can boast of a late brass tablet to 

 a Paleeologus, one of the family of the Byzantine Emperors, 

 The brasses of Cornwall are well described and figured by Dunkin. 

 Frescoes formerly covered the walls of our churches, a favourite 

 subject being St. Christopher, but they were subsequently 

 covered with whitewash. In conclusion, I express a hope that 

 my remarks will lead to the results, desired — further information 

 on the subject of Cornish churches and their distinctive 

 features, and the preservation of all objects of interest. 



Since writing my address, I have become possessed of a set of 

 the Transactions of the Devon Diocesan Architectural Society, 

 and in a paper by Mr. Street, I find a most interesting account 

 of Early-English and Decorated work remaining in Cornwall, 

 Mr. Street points to the beautiful east windows of Southill and 

 St. Ive, as first-rate examples of their date, mentioning also the 

 early work at St. Austell, St. Germans, Sheviock, St. Michael 

 Penkivel, and Gerrans. 



