170 THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURE IN ESSEX.
The former is mainly built with Roman bricks and other
materials. The west doorway has a triangular arch, a peculiar
feature of Saxon work, and the windows have plain semicircular
arches which, together with the jambs, are formed of Roman bricks,
as are also the quoins of the tower itself.
The latter is a unique specimen of work. It is constructed of
oak trees about 12 inches in diameter, cut down the centre,
placed side by side and morticed into a cill and top plate, and form-
ing in fact an oak wall, the flat side being placed inside and the
round side outside. Those at the west end were probably removed
when the tower was erected. Some forty or fifty years ago a new
cill was inserted, the old one having decayed, and it is believed it is
placed at a higher level than the old one, the tenons of the trees
having no doubt become decayed.
In lists of Saxon buildings we find Boreham and Felstead
Churches described as of that period. I presume the towers are
alluded to, but a close examination has satisfied me that both these
structures are Norman.
The peculiarities of Saxon work are :
r. Long and short masonry.
2. Plain semicircular and triangular arches.
3. Rude balusters when windows have two openings.
4. Absence of buttresses.
The absence of remains of Saxon buildings in Essex probably
arises from the fact that they were no doubt constructed with
timber ; stone, except that arising from older buildings, being very
difficult to obtain, the county itself being absolutely devoid of any
stone whatever.
We now come to the most interesting period of English archi-
tecture, the third division of my subject, namely, the Norman and
Gothic period, extending from the landing of William the 1st, in
1066, to the death of Elizabeth, 1602. During this period, the
architecture of England developed so rapidly and assumed such
distinct characteristics, that architects have adopted the divisions
set out originally by Rickman, namely—
A. The Norman period, from William I., 1066, to the death of
Henry II., 1189.
B. The Early English, from Richard I., 1189, to the death of
Edward I., in 1307.
C. The Decorated, from Edward II., 1307, to the death of
Edward III., in 1377.