38 
REPORT ON THE EXCAVATIONS 
MADE IN THE 
CHANCEL OF S. MARY’S ABBEY CHURCH. 
By W. H. Brierley. 
I T has for some time past been felt that the site of the 
Chancel of the Abbey Church ought to be subjected to 
the same careful examination as that bestowed in 1828, on the 
rest of the Abbey site, and hopes were entertained that the 
original pavement, and perhaps even the high altar, might 
be found in the course of exploration. The Council has 
therefore commenced systematic excavation and longitudinal 
and transverse trenches have been dug in the positions shewn 
on the accompanying plans, (Plates I. and II.) These 
trenches were carefully excavated to an average depth of five 
feet below the present surface where a gravelly clay was 
arrived at which is believed to be in its original position. 
The exploration has so far been disappointing, for no trace of 
the pavement or of its foundation has been discovered, and 
nothing of interest has been found except a few moulded stones 
and one or two fragments of tiles and glass which had been 
thrown in with the soil and debris. 
In continuation of this work the Council have had the 
foundations of the main walls at the east end of the Choir 
opened out. They are found to be of great size and solidity, 
and built of large blocks of stone many of them moulded and 
evidently parts of the earlier church. 
The foundations of the east wall are nine feet wide, and 
where opened out against the north-east pier they are found 
