162 YEAVERING BELL AND HAREHOPE PORT 



The building at Old Yeavering, usually described as the 

 palace of the Saxon king, Edwin, does not in any part seem 

 to be of a very great antiquity, nor do the remaining walls 

 appear to belong to one particular age. A portion of them 

 measures 4 feet in thickness ; but the large window-opening 

 in it does not indicate its being built at a period when 

 safety was the primary object. 



Itinerary of the Club's Route from Kirknewton and 

 Yeavering Bell, 26th May 190 Jf. 



Leaving the Railway Station, the members were met by 

 the Rector of Kirknewton, who conducted them to the 

 church and churchyard, pointing out that the healthful 

 character of the district was borne out by several of the 

 stones recording ages of over one hundred years. The 

 church itself is rather a plain building, which has been 

 altered and rebuilt at various times. Claims have been made 

 that a Saxon church stood on the site, but this cannot well 

 be established from anything that remains. The exceeding 

 lowness of the chancel arch, however, suggests great 

 antiquity, and has led some authorities to pronounce it of 

 Saxon origin; but the arch itself has about it a suggestion 

 of the Intermediate period, and examination of the founda- 

 tions, in 1860, proved it to be resting on Norman foundations, 

 which were part of a Norman chancel somewhat larger, and 

 extending several feet Eastward beyond the present building. 

 The sculpture representing the Adoration of the Magi, which 

 is now built into the wall of the church behind the reading 

 desk, is exceedingly curious, and has been set down as 

 Saxon. There is a vigorous rudeness about the conception 

 and its execution that at once stamps it as belonging to an 

 eai'ly period. This sculpture is reported to have been found 

 during alterations made on the church, built into the interior 

 of the wall out of sight, and to have been placed in its 

 present position for preservation. 



