DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6914#0220
188
architectural antiquities.
with sculptured ornaments, extending from the floor all round the arch ; and has
also an impost, or lintel, enriched with sculptured figures, of the Deity within an
oval frame, supported by two angels. In the nave of the church, an elevation of
which is shewn in the annexed engraving, No. 34 in list, we are presented with a
very early and curious example of the Pointed arch, in which every member and
part, except the form, are of the genuine Norman, circular style, a, elevation, with
plan of the columns, and plan of the wall with its attached columns, window, &c.
on the side of the aisle. Letters c d e f and g refer to members delineated more
at large, h, string course with base and capital in the aisle, i, part from the
south-west corner of the west front, k, two pateras. l, ornament in the west
front, m nt, mouldings from the arches of the southern arch-way.
As an account, with plates, of this church is given in the first volume of the
Architectural Antiquities, it will be unnecessary to go into further narrative here.
Romsey, or Rumsey Church, Hampshire.—An Abbey, of which this Church
formed a part, was founded here in the Saxon times, either by King Edward the
elder,52 or Ethelwold, one of his thanes, whose daughter Elfleda took the veil, and
was sometime abbess here.53 King Edgar, in 967, replenished this establishment with
a convent of Benedictine Nuns, placing them under the government of the abbess,
Merwenna, who was a subscribing witness to the charter granted by the same
monarch to Croyland Abbey in 966.54 Edmund, the son of King Edgar, was buried
in the Abbey Church, which was plundered by the Danes about the year 992, bat
the nuns' relics, and chief valuables had been previously removed to Winchester
for safety by the Abbess, Elwina. All the early abbesses were of royal birth, or of
elevated rank," and it was probably from thence, and from the reputation which this
establishment obtained as a seminary for noble ladies, that its endowments in land
52 " Ecclesia de Ruraesey ab Edwardo seniore fundata est." Leland's " Collectanea," vol. i. p. 26.
This must have been prior to 925, since King Edward died in that year.
53 " See Capgrave, in " Vita St. Elfleda;."
54 " See Ingulphus, Script, post Bedam, f. 501, b. 502. Hoveden, with whom agrees Sim. Dunelm.
says, " Rex Angl. Edgarus in monasterio Rumesiee (quod avus suus rex Edward, senior construxerat)
sanctimoniales collocavit, sanctamque Merwinam super eas abbatissam constituit." Ibid. f. 244, b.
55 " In 1085, Christina, sister of Edgar Atheling, took the veil at Romsey, and was entrusted with the
education of Matilda, daughter of Malcolm, king of Scots, and afterwards wife to Henry the First. Mary,
the youngest, but sole surviving daughter of King Stephen, became first a nun, and subsequently abbess
architectural antiquities.
with sculptured ornaments, extending from the floor all round the arch ; and has
also an impost, or lintel, enriched with sculptured figures, of the Deity within an
oval frame, supported by two angels. In the nave of the church, an elevation of
which is shewn in the annexed engraving, No. 34 in list, we are presented with a
very early and curious example of the Pointed arch, in which every member and
part, except the form, are of the genuine Norman, circular style, a, elevation, with
plan of the columns, and plan of the wall with its attached columns, window, &c.
on the side of the aisle. Letters c d e f and g refer to members delineated more
at large, h, string course with base and capital in the aisle, i, part from the
south-west corner of the west front, k, two pateras. l, ornament in the west
front, m nt, mouldings from the arches of the southern arch-way.
As an account, with plates, of this church is given in the first volume of the
Architectural Antiquities, it will be unnecessary to go into further narrative here.
Romsey, or Rumsey Church, Hampshire.—An Abbey, of which this Church
formed a part, was founded here in the Saxon times, either by King Edward the
elder,52 or Ethelwold, one of his thanes, whose daughter Elfleda took the veil, and
was sometime abbess here.53 King Edgar, in 967, replenished this establishment with
a convent of Benedictine Nuns, placing them under the government of the abbess,
Merwenna, who was a subscribing witness to the charter granted by the same
monarch to Croyland Abbey in 966.54 Edmund, the son of King Edgar, was buried
in the Abbey Church, which was plundered by the Danes about the year 992, bat
the nuns' relics, and chief valuables had been previously removed to Winchester
for safety by the Abbess, Elwina. All the early abbesses were of royal birth, or of
elevated rank," and it was probably from thence, and from the reputation which this
establishment obtained as a seminary for noble ladies, that its endowments in land
52 " Ecclesia de Ruraesey ab Edwardo seniore fundata est." Leland's " Collectanea," vol. i. p. 26.
This must have been prior to 925, since King Edward died in that year.
53 " See Capgrave, in " Vita St. Elfleda;."
54 " See Ingulphus, Script, post Bedam, f. 501, b. 502. Hoveden, with whom agrees Sim. Dunelm.
says, " Rex Angl. Edgarus in monasterio Rumesiee (quod avus suus rex Edward, senior construxerat)
sanctimoniales collocavit, sanctamque Merwinam super eas abbatissam constituit." Ibid. f. 244, b.
55 " In 1085, Christina, sister of Edgar Atheling, took the veil at Romsey, and was entrusted with the
education of Matilda, daughter of Malcolm, king of Scots, and afterwards wife to Henry the First. Mary,
the youngest, but sole surviving daughter of King Stephen, became first a nun, and subsequently abbess