of this pillar, and below the west arch, corresponded with that before gained from the excavations on the sites of the eastern piers, in proving that such ground, prior to the Norman structure's erection, had been merely open churchyard. When an opening was, however, made near the north-west angle of the south-west pier in nave, pre-Norman walling appeared for the first time. Westwards it ran on into the nave, and east into the crossing, there deeply cut down into by the Norman sleeperwall crossing it at right angles. Its line was but a short space north from the sleeper-wall under the south arcade of the nave, stone rubbish filling up the space between. The sleeper-wall formed through the hollow trough of the Saxon structure was here faced up with older ashlar procured from those buildings the fire of 1116 destroyed. The opening at the south-west corner of the same pillar, when the modern paving was removed, and an additional 5 in. of rubbish, laid bare that old pavement whereon the stalls rested previous to the change of the site of the choir by Dean Lockyer in 1734, with the burial-slab of Sub-Prior Francis; and again, at some depth below, what first was taken to be a layer of stonedust. The sinking near to its south-east angle disclosed, close to the surface, a strong but shallow foundation across the south transept-arch; being, in fact, that of the stone screen seen existing behind the stalls in the plate of the choir in Bridge's County History; of this a small fragment remained at the base of the south-east pillar, up to its removal for rebuilding. The sleeper-wall here became the north boundary of the excavation. Still lower down, at right angles to which a second wall of Saxon date appeared, looking to be, as it actually was, the east return-wall of that first found in the nave. 1 The vault and passage Gunton mentions were eventually cleared out, and found to be work much later than of Norman times. Leaden pipes entered the passage from the west, probably a water supply. These passed west through the north nave-aisle, and were afterwards found to enter the nave through a cutting made through the sleeperwall below the second arch west from the crossing on the north side. The pipes, perhaps, went to St. Chad's Well in Laurel Court" or Cloister Garth. Eastwards, stone coffins and burials appeared. Along its west side (and a parcel of the wall itself) was opened a stone seat, its top surface and front covered with hard, grey, Saxon plastering. In front and below which the white layer seen westwards was again reached, and now found to be the plaster-flooring of that space these Saxon walls enclosed. This floor-level agreed in both excavations, and more careful search revealed it in the narrow space first opened, in parts thickly covered with burnt wood-ashes. The stone seat here was wanting. The removal of this south-west crossing pillar manifested that such pier and the sleeper-walls were merely begun on the surface of the Saxon plaster-flooring, which, though sunk down and crushed by the enormous weight, yet so remained that its crushed surface could be washed to find whether painting or incising had existed, neither of which appeared. Among the loose materials on it lay a tile of Norman date, with incised ornament ; others, of two patterns, were found (see later on); possibly additions by Abbot Ernulph, prior to 1114. On this floor, among the fragments of rough limestone, one stone, on removal, was found to have on its lower surface the impress of a man's hand, as if it had been first laid spread out open on the thick wood-ashes on the floor, and then impressed on the flat side of the stone, as a rude memorial of the Saxon structure's fate. This stone was unfortunately left outside, and the rain washed the impress off. Under none of the four pillars was any sort of foundation-stone found. The necessary removal of all materials above the limestone rock over that space required for the concrete blocks to support the rebuilt pillars, exposed the northeast angle of the Saxon structure, whose north wall, retaining much of its hard, grey plaster-coating, became on that side a boundary to the mass.1 This removal of so much of the old Saxon flooring brought to light, from beneath it, that fine fragment of string ornamented with interlacing work (its top and 1 The vault over the remains of the Saxon church enables the visitor to pass round and study on two sides the character of the square blocks of concrete under the south-west pillar of the crossing, a specimen of those on which the tower is resting at present. bottom surfaces plain), which is now built up into the south-west pillar; and a holy water basin of stone, having one side straight, the other three-fourths round. Still more singular, it evidenced the fact that stones were among the materials of this Saxon walling which had belonged to a still earlier structure, for they yet retained patches of like hard, grey plaster received whilst the wallstones of an earlier building. The stone seat along the west or inside face of this east wall seemed to suggest doubts of its being part of the church; though the burials to north, and stone coffins and burials eastward, proved such space to be formerly church yard. Of the "great stones" described as "requiring several yoke of oxen to draw them" no trace appeared below ground. Other small excavations made at a later period, to enable Mr. J. L. Pearson to report further on the condition of the foundations of south transept, opened a continuation, as it seemed, of the above east wall passing outwards in the same line under the Norman gable wall, and (externally) discovered it to return westwards to the cloister. The interest of these Saxon remains induced the Reverend Dean Perowne (now Lord Bishop of Worcester) to decide that, as soon as conveniently it could be effected, the whole should be uncovered, to see whether they were parts of the early Abbey Church or no. When, therefore, the reconstructed central tower permitted of the removal from its arches of the great timbers used for shoring and centering, such search became practicable, and the order for it was given. After careful consideration, it seemed probable, should the fragments laid open belong to the Saxon Abbey Church, that the extreme width obtained must represent transept widths, as it was so considerable. If so, its small chancel must therefore, of necessity, be found lying between that fragment to east of the south-west crossing pier, and a somewhat similar amount cut off, commencing from the wall discovered outside the south transept gable. An average of such probable quantities suggested where the walls of its choir might be found; that northwards just south of the present line of the nave wall of the south aisle; and the line of the south wall of its choir at the point |