at Bradford, in Kingston House in 1851, during the progress of some extensive repairs, and an account of them was given in our Archæological Journal for November 1854. These deeds are nearly 100 in number, and throw much light on matters of interest connected with our town. The names of the chief landowners;—of the principal inhabitants:-of the old streets;-of the various churches; of the Chantry-Priests;-the customs of the manor,-these are a few of the points on which this series of deeds gives much information. We have spoken of this era, commencing with the time of Edward I., as one of increasing prosperity for Bradford. There are many indications of this in the large buildings which were now erected. That remarkable barn, called Barton Barn (see pl. ii.), well known to architects for its Early English roof, so framed from the ground as to be independent of the walls,' was certainly built in the earlier part of this period. By whom the barn was built is matter of doubt. Very little can be made out of Aubrey's observation that he saw in 1670, at the point of one of the gables, the hand and battle-axe, the well known crest of Hall. It is quite possible, moreover, that Aubrey's eyes may have rather deceived him, for certainly among the present ornaments of the gables there is not one that looks at all like the remnant of the hand or battle-axe. To a little later date also in this period we owe the lengthening of our chancel, and the insertion of the large east window (the tracery of which has been lately restored); - also those two recessed tombs, one on the north and the other on the south side, the former containing the figure of a female, the latter of a crosslegged knight. Till lately one of these was completely walled up, all the label and pediment, with its ornamental crocketting, having been completely cut away to admit of the wall being flat enough to receive some large monuments; the other was sadly mutilated:—the last-named one has been restored (see plate iii.), and it is hoped that some day we may be able to restore the other. Whose tombs they are is not at all known. The only two 1 There are barns of similar character and about the same date at Peterborough and Ely. See Parker's 'Glossary of Architecture,' under (ROOF.) |