The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-03 00:00:00

ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISEE

ARCHITECTS.

EXCAVATIONS AT FOUNTAINS ABBEY.
On Monday evening, at the meeting of the Royal Insti-
tute of British Architects—the Right Hon. the Earl de
Grey, K.G., president, in the chair—some interesting
drawings, casts, and objects from Fountains Abbey were
exhibited, and an account of the extensive excavations
now in progress read by Thos. L. Donaldson Esq., secre-
tary of foreign correspondence. This account of the ex-
cavations was a series of letters addressed to the noble earl
by a Ripon antiquary, who, along, with J. R. Walbran,
Esq., of that place, has assisted in directing the excavators
in their interesting employment. --An animated discussion
afterwards took place respecting the probable use of some
large earthenware vases which were discovered embedded
in the solid masonry forming the base of an old screen that
had crossed the nave of the church near its eastern extre-
mity. Several of the members of the institute concurred
in the opinion of the earl's correspondent that these vases
had been for some local use, which it is now impossible to
ascertain ; but one gentleman present happening to men-
tion that a somewhat similar discovery bad been made in
a church at Norwich, it is not improbable that at some
future period, by analogy and comparison, their real use
may be ascertained. The following is a list of the objects
exhibited :—One of the original earthenware vases, fixed
in the stone and mortar in which it is embedded. The
cast of a figure of a female martyr saint, from a niche over
the great north window of the tower, Fountains
manyAbbeya—rs
date, circa 1500. A cast of a beautiful early English holy
water-stoup (c. 1230), taken from the abbey
ago, and now used as the font in the chapel at Aldfield,
village distant about a mile from the ruins. A cast of a
very simple but beautiful early English bracket. Some
small and curious lead ornaments of the decorated period.
A cast of a shield, bearing an uninscribed label, and the
initials, mitre and crosier of Abbot Huby (A.D. 1491-1526),
the builder of the great tower at Fountains and many other
works. An o, iginal and most beautiful alabaster sculp-
ture of the Assumption of the Virgin. A large plan of the
Abbey Church, and several drawings illustrative of the
improvements that have taken place in consequence of the
I excavations. A vote of thanks to the noble earl for the
I treat he had afforded the members of the institute was
carried by acclamation We may further add, that though
his lordship, in returning thanks, modestly denied any
merit due to himself for the discoveries and excavations at
his Abbey at Fountains, and generously ascribed all to his
Ripon correspondent and others, he may with truth be
styled the "Layard" of the English monasteries; for be it
remembered that the full development of the ruins of
Salley, in Craven, is due to his lordship's liberality and
taste. The works at Fountains aro of the most extensive
and complete description ; and it is to be hoped that the
example set by the Earl de Grey will be followed by all
proprietors of our monastic remains, or, in default thereof,
by public societies. Let antiquaries and architects re-
member that the glorious structures 'of Byland, and
• Rivaulx, and Ginsbut ough, and Mount Grace, and Cover-
ham, and Easby, and several others of equal interest, yet
lie.partially buried in the rubbish which an lihtliStill•
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MOIZIPtiO4 Ine beeped on their bards: