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Archaeological Society, operations were resumed,
under Mr. Ussher's superintendence; the work undertaken being chiefly
the clearance of the area of the church. Amongst the more important
discoveries were the bases of the reredoses of the altar of our Lady and
of the high altar itself. In the middle of the choir was also found the
rough foundation of the base of a tomb; in all probability that of
Thomas de Poynings, who, by will dated 6 Edw. III, directed his body to
be buried in the Abbey of St. Radegund's, "q'est de ma fundacion
droit en my le coer devant le haut alter;" and a tomb to be
placed over his grave with the image of a knight thereon made of
alabaster. John Criol of Lympne, by his will dated 1504, directs his
body to be buried in this church next to the sepulchre of Bertram de
Criol, in the high chancel.
During both excavations numerous tiles and other ornamental
details, such as mouldings, fragments of carved work, and portions of
tombs, and marble shafts and capitals, were discovered; all of which are
carefully preserved at the Abbey. |
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The whole of the existing buildings date from the foundation
of 1191, and are of the earliest type of pointed architecture. Much of
the work is exceedingly simple in design, and in some parts plain to a
degree. There is also a marked absence of ornamental details, although
the beautiful fragments discovered shew that some portions of the
buildings, at any rate, were adorned with carved work. The walls are of
flintwork with ashlar quoins. The jambs, etc., of windows, doors, and
arches, are also of ashlar.
The ground-plan exhibits a long and narrow church,
consisting of an eastern limb of six, with aisles of four, severies;
north and south transepts, each of two severies, one severy opening into
the choir aisle, the other into a square eastern chapel; and an
aisleless nave of foure severies, having on its north side a square
tower with singular east and west adjuncts. On the south of the nave is
the cloister quadrangle, with the chapter house, parlour, and common
house on its eastern side; on the south the |