and superseded one already existing-was from the first a large cruciform building with aisles; and some at least of the secular cathedrals adopted this type. But where the canons were collegiate and their church therefore not cathedral, we always have one of two alternatives-either the college was founded in connection with a previously existing parish church, or the new church was built for parish and canons to share.

Now our early parish churches have no aisles and no western towers. They were sometimes cruciform and sometimes not (the symbolism in the latter case being preserved in the threefold division into nave, chancel, and sanctuary); sometimes, too, there was a tower, but if so it was always central.

And with the cruciform variety of this type the original work in all canons' churches will be found. to conform. As time went on and ritual developed, the canons became almost everywhere enamoured of aisles, but meanwhile they had built their cloisters against their naves-here and there, as at Eggleston, on the north, but more frequently on the south. How was it possible under these circumstances to add aisles? The ground-plan of Bolton shows to what extent and how this difficulty was overcome. The canons built north aisles because on that side

their space was free, and they sometimes comforted themselves for the defect on the south side by enlarging and beautifying the windows of the nave. This is precisely what has been done at Bolton. Here, as elsewhere, the building began with the choir, in the lower part of which is still to be found the oldest work in the church. On and beyond this old work, a practically new choir was afterwards erected; but even this preserved the original aisleless type. Proceeding in order to the north and west of the nave, the canons concluded with the south and the cloister, where pointed arches and transition work are visible. Hardly were these finished when the fashion for aisles set in, and the north wall had to be disturbed. At Ripon, where there was no cloister, a south aisle, as well as a north, was added. Bayham, which is rightly referred to as a noticeable instance of the survival of the aisleless type, has an arrangement of passages, which, though not adapted for processions, must have considerably modified the external effect of the unbroken length of nave.

It is remarkable that the choirs of Kirkham and Guisborough, as well as of Bolton, show a very high order of architectural beauty. The east end of Guisborough, in fact, is as fine as anything of the

kind in England. Though the tracery of the great centre window is gone, its majestic proportions and much of its rich moulding remain to appeal to the unlearned, while the trained eye and educated imagination of the architect can restore, almost at a glance, the vast web of Early Decorated work which once made it a chief glory of its date. The return walls, alas! are gone, and the only remnant of the church now visible above ground is the bare and unsupported curtain of this glorious façade. In its width of 70 feet were included two aisles, each with a window of three lights. The mouldings of these windows, as of the centre, are very rich-oakleaves predominating in the former and vines in the latter. The whole is supported by four deep and massive buttresses, of which the corner ones are grouped each with two others in a cluster of three. All the buttresses have crockets and finials; but whereas the one at the north is plain, that at the south is elaborate with trefoil and quatrefoil panelling. Each of the intermediate buttresses has a now tenantless niche with crocketed canopy, the bases being level with that of the great window. Above each buttress there rises from the main wall a crocketed octagonal spire. Over the centre window, and also above the indications of the vaulting, is

another window of five lights, viz. one quatrefoil headed with two trefoil on either side of it.

The west end of the church has been revealed by digging, and in the well-kept garden there still remains a bit of the cellar under the "frater." This, however, probably did not, as was supposed, communicate with the cloister. There is every indication. that the arch in that direction was merely a cupboard, and a groove for a shelf is very apparent. Opposite is a square-headed opening which has been blocked up in later times. But neither was this a doorway, as a careful observation of the chamfer will show.

There is little doubt that it was in reality a frater-hole," or hatch, for service of provisions, and a corresponding one is visible among the ivy at a higher elevation, and related to it much as the corresponding apertures are related at St. Agatha's. The gateway and part of the gate-house remain— they are transition Norman. Parts of the Brus tomb, now exhibited in slices in the porch of the parish church, are interesting relics of the founder's family.

Though the town of Guisborough has of late relinquished its claim to be considered beautiful, and the high-flown compliment which Camden paid it would, but for Murray's Guide, be as clean for