PROCEEDINGS OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE
OF THE
British Archaeological Association.
The earlier meetings of the Committee having been chiefly occupied with the formation and establishment of the Association, it has not been thought necessary at present to give a regular report of each meeting. The following are the principal matters of Antiquarian interest, which have hitherto been laid before it.
A Letter from the Rev. W. L. Girardot, curate of Godshill, in the Isle of Wight, respecting some paintings recently found on the walls of the church of Godshill.
The subject is that of the Saviour on the cross, which, Mr. Girardot imagines, is placed against a shrub or tree, as bright green colours surround it; the lowerparts being entirely defaced, the stem cannot be traced out. The crown of thorns, and the bloody arms extended, are tolerably clear, as well as some scrolls painted in red colour, one of which is legible, Ora pro nobis Dom.
Mr. Girardot questions the possibility of restoring the paintings, which have been covered with many coatings of whitewash, in attempting to remove which the colours came off with it: any hints are desired as to the best mode of cleansing such paintings from the whitewash.
A Letter from the Rev. W. Dyke, curate of Cradley, Herefordshire, concerning the site of St. Michael's chapel, Great Malvern, which appears marked in the map given by Dr. Thomas in his account of that priory published in 1725, and of which all memory had been lost. Some small remains of this chapel, which was probably the oratory of St. Werstan, who first made the settlement on the Malvern hills, adjoining the position subsequently occupied by the priory, were reported still to exist within a walled garden in the upper part of the village.
A Letter from the Rev. John L. Petit, on some peculiarities of Church Architecture in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
Mr. W. H. Rolfe, of Sandwich, forwarded for inspection some minute pieces of worked gold, found on the sea shore, under the cliff opposite the Infirmary, at Margate.
The fragments exhibited appear to be portions of coins and ornaments. One is evidently part of a half-noble of one of the Edwards or Henrys, another resembles the loops attached to Roman and early French gold coins for the purpose of wearing them as decorations of the person.
Mr. C. Roach Smith informed the Committee that Mr. Joseph Clarke, of Saffron Walden, had recently visited Wootton in Northamptonshire, for the purpose of obtaining authentic information respecting a discovery of coins, reported to have been made at that village about a year since.
Mr. Clarke's visit proved successful, and although many of the coins had been dispersed since the discovery took place, he succeeded in obtaining the remainder, (615) for examination. They were deposited in an urn; the mouth protruded
