8 
REPORT OF THE 
what the original plans of the old choirs had been. The Com¬ 
mittee has experienced much difficulty in dealing with this 
matter and has spent much time in considering it. They 
sought the advice of Mr. St. John Hope (Secretary of the 
Society of Antiquaries), and Mr. Micklethwaite, the restorers 
of Fountains and Ivirkstall Abbeys respectively, and have 
acted on their opinion, leaving the execution in the skilled hands 
of Mr. Brierley. The outline has been restored in brick ; this 
was used in preference to stone that there might be no con¬ 
fusion between the original work and the additions now made, 
and in order that the eleventh century work could be at once 
distinguished from that of the thirteenth century, different 
coloured bricks were used in the two, blue has been used 
for eleventh century work and red for all that of a subsequent 
date. The whole will be protected by flag-stone and rock 
asphalt. The work has been criticized on the ground of its 
unsightliness, but such criticism is like condemning an archi¬ 
tect’s plan for hardness of outline and crudeness of colouring. 
The work of the Committee is nothing more nor less than an 
architect’s plan in brick and stone, and when complete a 
coloured plan will be framed and placed near for the guidance 
of visitors. We feel sure that members would not have us 
sacrifice historical accuracy to picturesque effect, and we should 
always bear in mind the purpose and history of this Societ} T . 
We have the custody and use of a valuable piece of ground 
at a nominal rent. This was accorded us by the Crown, not 
as a special privilege, but as a trust. The condition of this 
trust is the preservation of the monuments of antiquity on our 
premises ; we should break the spirit of our convention, and 
ill-deserve the title “philosophical,” if we sacrificed antiquarian 
considerations to those of mere effect. We may mention too, 
that the work has met the approval of the Royal Society of 
Antiquaries and of the Yorkshire Archaeological Society, 
both of which have made money grants towards defraying the 
expenses. 
An inspection of the subjoined list of papers and lectures 
will shew that the Society maintains its activity, especially 
when it is added that the average attendance has been larger 
than ever. 
