VOL. XX. (i) 
ANNUAL MEETING 
5 
fragments of pictorial work (apart from floral and heraldic designs) that 
have survived are few in number. None the less, if we consider the 
number of tiles that have been taken in former times from Hayles (in 1853 
by Lord Ellenborough) to adorn Southam-Delabere, as well 
as those now carefully laid down in Hayles Parish Church, it will be 
evident that the Abbey must have been very richly paved. The tiles 
include, besides those found on the spot, many collected from old cottages 
in the neighbourhood. 
“ Many of the Heraldic single tiles likewise date to the latter half of 
the thirteenth century (c. 1270), although examples occur which can be 
dated as late as to 1507. Hence we have some of the earliest heraldic 
tiles in Europe : those of men who fought at Evesham (1267), possibly 
of men wounded there and buried at Hayles. 
“Among the tiles are those of Richard, Earl of Cornwall (founder), 
his son Henry of Almaine, his wife Sanchia of Provence, Warren, Clare, 
Ferrers, Mortimer, Beaufort, Beauchamp, Berkeley, Corbet, the Bishops 
of Lichfield, and of Worcester. 
“ The second category includes the so-called ‘ Chertsey ' Tiles — the 
justly famous work of an unknown master, and possessing very singular 
beauty and originality. Examples of these were first found among the 
remains of the Benedictine Abbey at Chertsey. The red clay tile, while 
still wet, was impressed by means of a mould with a design forming 
patterns and canals which, when dry, were presently filled in with fine 
white clay or cement. Over this, when set, was painted a coat of thin 
lead glaze. In other examples the design was simply painted on in white, 
and coated with glaze. (Cf. The Chertsey Tiles, by Dr. Mainwaring 
Shurlock, F.S.A., 1880 ; J. R. Holliday on Hales Owen in Transactions of 
the Birmingham and Midland Institute, 1871. See also British Museum 
Catalogue of Pottery.) At Hayles these were probably laid down at 
various dates between 1251 and 1300. None represented religious 
subjects. Among these are large - tile-panels with foliated designs. 
“ The third category is represented by panels and the single tiles of 
Abbot Anthony Melton (1509-1527) and of Abbot Thomas Stafford 
(1483-1503), and the fourth category consists of large red clay unglazed 
tiles bearing a large fleur-de-lis between four sex-foils all in high relief. 
These were presumably used for wall-decoration.” 
The President also showed a slide of a mediaeval candlestick (c. 1480), 
perfect in design, which was found at Hayles, and a good example of a spindle 
whorl of the Stone Age credited to Rodmarton Long Barrow. 
Mr. J. W. Haines exhibited some “ Dog’s Mercury ” found by him in bloom 
that morning at Newnham, remarkable in such severe weather. 
