altogether without success, should such demolition be really intended. His Lordship's answer is most satisfactory. The Bishop says:—'Mr. Minty's information is partly correct and partly not so. In April last it was proposed to remodel and improve the Catholic property in Norwich. In my instructions and directions to the architect, I specially stipulated that the old hall, with its valuable specimens of architecture, should be retained, and made very available, without any dilapidation. Since then other plans have been proposed, viz., to build on a new site. At all events these interesting architectural remains, with which I am well acquainted, shall not be destroyed with my consent.' I should suppose this answer will be interesting to Mr. Minty and to the Committee, and perhaps you will have the goodness to let them know that the building is safe, and will, probably, be well and judiciously restored, if the design of attaching it to the proposed convent be acted upon."
St. George, Ruardean.
Mr. Way laid before the Committee a sketch of the sculptured tympanum of the south door of Ruardean church, Gloucestershire, to which his attention had been called by Sir Samuel Meyrick, on account of the curious features of costume which it presents. It appears to have been sculptured in the earlier part of the twelfth century, and is very similar to the contemporary work, of which a representation, communicated by the Rev. R. Freer, had been given in the Archæological Journal, vol. ii. p. 271. The figure appears to represent St. George, his head protected by a head-piece of the form termed Phrygian, precisely similar to that which appears in the monumental portraiture of Geoffrey Plantagenet, who died A.D. 1149[1]. He is represented as attired in a tunic, open at the side and fitting closely to the
- ↑ See Stothard's Monum. Effigies. The general form of the armour on the head, as seen on the Great Seals of Stephen and Henry II., is of this Phrygian fashion.
