Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire Volume 43-44 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893 Excerpt: ...a side line added. No. 38, like No. 15, is upon a loose stone, and brings to mind some of the loose straggling marks at Gloucester (eleventh century) and on some of the Cheshire churches. If not a form of monogram, it seems to be a combination of two marks. No. 39 is somewhat similar, and is of a most unusual form. The number of angles they both contain appear to be purposely arranged. No. 40 resembles the Arabic numeral 4. It is a very common and universal form, having been found on the pavement of the Dome of the Rock Jerusalem, and at Baalbec. (Prof. Lewis, Journ. Brit. Arch. Association, vol. xlv., p. 152.) In some examples the triangle is so extended as to resemble an unfinished hour-glass. (No. 27.) No. 41 seems to be associated with Nos. 42, 43, and 44. The standard or crutched stick occurs in several different marks, sometimes with the angle line, and sometimes with three or more lines so drawn as to resemble a pennon or ribbons. No. 45 is clearly a workman's tool with a saw edge, very well represented. Such a one is figured in use from a window in the" Cathedral of Chartres, executed in the thirteenth century. Annates Archcologiqucs, vol. ii., pp. 143, &c.; and Essays on Archatological Subjects, Thomas Wright, 1861, vol. ii., p. 133.) So far, although my collection of marks numbers several thousands, I have been unable to find another example exactly similar. It is particularly interesting as a mark, when it is remembered that the founder of Burscough Priory died in 1174, as it shows that this particular tool was in use at about that date. With regard to the tool itself with a serrated edge, the very valuable and interesting paper by Prof. T. Hayter Lewis, F.S.A., already quoted, bears directly on the point. (Trans. Lodge Quat. Coronal., v...