76 ARCH^OLOGICAL DISCOVERY AT OLD JEDWARD 



on the line of the wall. The form and dimensions of the 

 chapel cannot now be ascertained. The traces of small 

 buildings are still to be seen on the South side of the chapel; 

 and about fifty yards from it, in the same direction, a large 

 solitary ash tree stands as a sad memorial of the houses 

 which once existed near it. It is probable that this tree 

 marks the limit of the chapel-buildings on the South. It 

 is about eight feet in circumference. The little graveyard 

 on the North can be distinctly traced by a line of ash trees. 

 There are no tombstones to tell the names of those who sleep 

 in this holy place, but certain it is that within the line of 

 ash trees repose the ashes of many gallant men who made 

 their way resistless among a thousand foes. No doubt the 

 tombstones have met the same fate that befell the stones of 

 the chapel." 



I have given these quotations to show the historical and 

 antiquarian importance of the place, and that no mention 

 has been made of any sculptured 'stones having been found 

 there previously, or any attempt to describe the style of the 

 architecture of the church. On this account the recent 

 discovery seems to me all the more interesting and valuable. 

 Mr Hall mentioned to me that he remembered a portion 

 of the wall of the church on the South-east which has 

 crumbled down within a few years. Jeffrey, it will be 

 observed, mentions a large solitary ash tree on the South 

 side of the chapel, and says it was about eight feet in 

 circumference. I find it measures now eleven feet in cir- 

 cumference at the height of three feet from the ground, and 

 thirteen feet six inches one foot from the ground, while 

 trees on the line of the walls of the old churchyard measure 

 respectively 1 1 feet, 9 feet 9 inches, and 9 feet 4 inches 

 in circumference. 



