The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-01 00:00:00

if St. Cuthbert. Attention was called to the evident effects
of the pressure of the vaulting on the walls, a very usual
result in Norman buildings, whose walls, even with the
later adoption of the slight projections—the rudiment of
the buttress—were insufficient for the enormous thrust of
the barrel vaults which covered the more important build-
ings. These walls are eonsiderabby inclined outwards, and
clearly show the cause of the fall of the vaulting. Of the
conventual buildings little remains, but the few walls show
their extent. They were on the south side of the church,
and appear to be unusual in extending southward instead
of eastward from the prior's lodgings.
The interior is now roofless; and of one side of the nave
with the aisles only the base of the columns remains, and
the tower is gone. The spoiler's hand has, indeed, been
laid heavily upon the structure :
" Has worn the pillars' carving quaint,
And mouldered in his niche the saint,
And rounded with consuming power,
The pointed angles of each tower."

The adjacent parish church is of about the year 1200,
with later additions. The chancel has been recently re-
stored with great care, so as not to destroy the original
features. The early lancet windows are retained on the
three sides, and the walls, though rechiselled, are not con-
cealed by modern plaster.
This morning the Congress concluded its round of ex-
cursions by visiting the remains of .NorhamCastle, a border
stronghold in Northumberland, which is said to have been
built by the warlike Bishop Flambard in 1121, and restored
by Bishop Pudsey after its partial destruction by the Scots.
The date of the erection of the great tower has been ques-
tioned, but Mr. Roberts assigned the remains to about 1150.
As the castle belonged to the See of Durham, no baron
lived there ; but it was the constant scene of border war-
fare, and was besieged on several occasions by the Scotch,
and was sometimes taken. Edward I. frequently visited it,
and John Balliol swore fealty there. The visitors were
conducted to the castle by the rector of Norham, the Rev.
Mr. King, under whose guidance they also inspected the
church, which contains some handsome Norman arches with
zigzag work, and has rece tly been restored with good taste.
After luncheon at Mr. Ki g's the Congress was declared at
an end, but a few of the embers, headed by Mr. Roberts,
resolved to cross the rder and try to " view Mel-
rose aright." A more successful meeting has never,
perhaps, been held by the association. Thanks
to Colonel White, the chairman, to Mr. Fowler, one
of the secretaries, and other active members of
the local committee, the arrangements at Durham were
complete, a point of great importance at these meetings. It
would be unjust also to leave unnoticed the tact and good
humour of Mr. G.Wright, secretary of the Junior Athenteum
Club, who had charge of the general arrangements of the
Congress, and was able to smooth over many difficulties.
The local hospitality was unbounded. Then almost every
village in the district is classic ground. It has its ruined
chapel or ruined keep, or is connected in border minstrelsy
with some wild legend. For all these reasons the choice
of Durham was a happy one, and the Congress there will
long be pleasantly and profitably remembered.