tg8 . •

The Norman Conquest produced immediately a marvellous advance in everything that pertained to architecture and the allied crafts. If Saxon buildings either of wood or stone existed at this time the Norman made short work {)f them, and left not a vestige of such work, even in the Cathedral of itself. But he built instead a church in almost every parish, and to this day portions of them remain to tell the story of the vastness of his architectural reforms. The finest present Norman remains are to be seen in the early Norman Priory Church at Tutbury, founded in 1081 by Henry de Ferrers, and completed within ten years after­ wards, the founder being present at the dedication. St. Editha's at Tamworth, St. Chad's at Stafford, and the Col­ legiate Church at , have also extensive remains of this period. Eome of the carviug at Gnomll is very Feculiar in character and Romanesque in style. But in every part of the shire where an ancient church remains Norman features of one kind or another are to be sEen. Some may be men­ tioned: Longnor, \Vaterfall, IpEtones, Draycot, Blore, Lapley (Collegiate Church), Enville, Stoke-on-Trent (rui11s), King's Bromley, Forton, Ellenhall, , Patshull, Rol­ ]eston, 1\fadeley, Alrewas, Alstonfield, Alton, Bobbington, Checkley,· Codsall, High Offiey, , Stow, Gayton, Swinnerton, and Longdon. The Norman builders were fond of imagery, and carried it out in their carvings every­ where. A door-head often afforded them a space for their artistic chisel ; there are three churches where this is well displayed, viz., King's Swinford; Tutbury, and Ipstones. These Normans not only built much but well, as is proved by the continuance of their work to the present day, not­ withstanding all the vicissitudes it bus met with. Coming to Gothic times, beginning with the thirteenth century, when. the pointed arch was the distinguishing architectural feature, the Cathedral of Lichfield is to be cited as the crowning example of the period. The work of the Cistercians, as now remaining at Croxdcn Abbey, at Dieulacres, near Leek, and at Hulton Abbey, near Stoke-or.­ Trent, testifies to their superiority as builders. The Colle­ giate Church at Penkridge, the little church at Coppenhall, the chancels of , Patshull, Gayton, Brewood, and