IX. — Notice of a Mural Gh^ave, Stone Coffin, and Two Effigies of the 

 Family of Carminoiv, of Carminow, in Maiugan Church, near 

 Helston. — By John Jope Eogers, Penrose. 



EARLY in 1865, the south wall of the south transept of the 

 Church of Mawgan in Meneage became dilapidated, and it 

 has since been rebuilt from the foundation. This transept has 

 always been called "the Carminow aisle," and was probably 

 erected, as the window tracery seems to indicate, about the end of 

 the 14tli or early in the 15th century. The south wall contained 

 a low arched recess, which had long sheltered a cross-legged effigy 

 of a Knight, in freestone, much defaced by time, but bearing on 

 the shield distinct traces of the simple armorial bearing of the 

 Carminows : Azure, a bend or. A female effigy, in the same 

 material, and rather more mutilated, and reported to represent 

 the Knight's lady, lay on a ledge of the wall, near his. The 

 recess was much too shallow to admit both effigies ; indeed it had 

 scanty room for one. ^ 



During the removal of the old walls in June, 1865, it was 

 discovered that a carefully built grave, four feet deep, and of the 

 usual form of a brick grave [see Plate), formed part of the south 

 wall of the transept, and was carried down to the foundation, 

 from the floor line. The grave contained a perfect skeleton, laid 

 out as if in burial, with tlie arms extended on either side of the 

 body, but without any remains of a coffin, except a few small 

 fragments of metal, ornamented. The wood, if there had been 

 any, had crumbled to dust. 



This grave was covered by a stone coffin, which was built into 

 the wall, having its base line level with the transept floor ; but 

 there was no evidence, externally, of the presence either of grave 

 or coffin, until the removal of the Avail ; nor does it appear that 

 their existence was known to any one in the parish. The stone 

 coffin was of the form in use until the 13th century [See Plate). 

 It had been split across, and repaired. Parts of what appeared 

 to have been the original stone cover were used to support the 

 effigy, by being placed transversely under it at each end, and over 



