A large and beautifully executed model, in colours, of Old Sarum, by W. H. Hatcher, Esq., of Salisbury, was exhibited, accompanied by a descriptive note, read by J. R. Planché, Esq., Secretary.
The Rev. Dr. Spry read a paper which had been entrusted to his care by a private friend, on a fresco-painting on the wall of Lenham church. It was accompanied by a drawing in pencil. A coloured drawing of the same subject had also been forwarded by Mr. E. Pretty of Northampton. Mr. G. Godwin, jun., enquired whether the painting in question was really a fresco? Was it not probably a distemper colouring? There was a great difference between the two.
The Rev. Dr. Spry said he was not of his own knowledge aware of its decided character. It might be a distemper colouring. He knew that in Canterbury cathedral there was a large painting of a similar kind in appearance, and he believed more trouble had been taken to destroy that painting than ever was employed to restore any work of ancient art. It was in fact nearly indelible; for as fast as it was apparently washed out, so fast it appeared again, and now it was fresh, and would, in his opinion, last while the stone itself endured.
Mr. Planché exhibited to the meeting, at the request of W. H. Blaauw, Esq., of Beechland, Uckfield, a curious relic of brass, discovered in 1835, together with some human bones, near the entrance gateway of the castle of Lewes, about a foot under the surface. In a letter to Mr. Planché, it was suggested by Mr. Blaauw that the object exhibited had been the pommel of a sword, and that the heater-shaped shields engraved upon it bore the arms of Richard, king of the Romans, who was taken prisoner at the battle of Lewes, May 14th, 1284. Mr. Planché admitted the interest of the relic, which he considered to be of the thirteenth century, but stated it to be his opinion that it was not the pommel of a sword, but a portion of a steel-yard weight of that period[1].
The Rev. C. H. Hartshorne read a paper on embroidery for ecclesiastical purposes. It was illustrated by several coloured drawings; and a beautiful specimen was exhibited of embroidery on yellow silk with gold thread, executed in the reign of Edward III. The figures represented the Crucifixion, and the martyrdoms of St. Stephen and of several other saints.
Mr. George Wollaston read a paper on the frescoes upon the walls of east Wickham church, and exhibited drawings in illustration. Mr. Wollaston stated that these frescoes were about to be destroyed in consequence of the
- ↑ We have since been referred by Mr. Planché to the 64th plate of the 25th vol. of the Archæologia, in which will be found the engravings of two ancient steel-yard weights of precisely the same form and material (but possessing the upper portions by which they were hooked to the beam), and engraved with nearly the same arms, which were exhibited to the Society of Antiquaries of London, February 2nd, 1832, by Mr. Samuel Woodward, of Norwich. They are also of the thirteenth century, and the armorial bearings presumed to be those of the same Richard, king of the Romans.
