covery, in five MS. volumes by Bryan Faussett. Each party after leaving the museum was conducted to a room set apart for refreshments.
Wednesday Evening, Sept. 11, 1844.
ARCHITECTURAL SECTION.
The meeting of the Architectural Section took place at eight o'clock, Professor Willis in the chair.
The Secretary read a letter from John Adey Repton, Esq., on the subject of the chronological progression of Gothic capitals. Mr. Repton says it is a common observation, that all semicircular arches are Saxon or early Norman, and that the sharp-pointed arch (exceeding the equilateral triangle) is the earliest Gothic. On the contrary, the round-headed arch may occasionally be found as late as the thirteenth, the fourteenth, and even the fifteenth centuries; and the sharp-pointed arch may be seen at a very late period, as in Bell Harry's steeple at Canterbury. We must therefore depend more upon the general forms of the capitals of columns, or the contour of mouldings, to ascertain the dates of buildings. This communication was illustrated by drawings of specimens of capitals, arch-mouldings, string-courses, hood-mouldings, and sections of munnions, chronologically arranged from the Norman period to the year 1500.
The Secretary laid upon the table a drawing of a Norman tomb at Coningsborough, and read a description of it, by Daniel H. Haigh, Esq., of Leeds.
Professor Willis read a translation of Gervase's account of the destruction by fire, in 1174, and the rebuilding of the ancient cathedral of Canterbury in 1175—84, and compared the description of the new work, as described by Gervase, with the present condition of the cathedral, tested by measurement, and illustrated by a plan and section, shewing how exactly they agree. He pointed out the distinct character of the work of Lanfranc, by its ruder masonry, smaller stones, wider joints, and ornaments cut with the hatchet instead of the chisel, and traced the work of each year after the fire, proving by this means the date of the introduction of the Early English style; the work of 1175 being late Norman, while that of each succeeding year shews a progressive change, until in 1184 we have nearly pure Early English work.
A paper was read by Mr. Godwin on certain marks of the masons, which he had observed on the stone-work of various churches abroad and at home, many of which he had also recognised in Canterbury cathedral.
The Rev. C. Hartshorne described the keep at Dover castle, and the block-houses erected on the coast of Kent by Henry VIII., and exhibited plans of the same.
Mr. Abraham Booth read a paper on the preservation of public monuments, as an object worthy the attention of the Association.
During the meeting it was announced that Mr. Beresford Hope had pur-
