on when, as is often the case, there is some three or four inches' depth of water standing in the crypt. "The evidence of the Messrs. Hine seemed to point to the central recess as being a portion of the main passage which they had penetrated. It was therefore decided, by those of the Sub-committee who were present, to begin by making a hole through this wall. "In a short time several stones had been taken out, but near the upper part they were soon stopped by some brickwork, which had the appearance of belonging to a grave. The side walls seemed to be continued only for a short distance further; but whether this was their original termination, or whether they had been broken through in order to lay in the brickwork before mentioned, there was no evidence to shew. 66 As no further excavation could be continued in that direction without disturbing the grave, it was thought better to make an opening in one of the side passages. The mason began with the wall bounding the north passage, but on taking out some stones it was found that the whole of the space behind was filled up with earth. "It was then decided to try the southernmost passage. This likewise was filled up to the top with earth; but as the side walls could be distinguished as existing further, although the vaulted roof, if the passage ever had one, had been destroyed, orders were given to dig out the earth. Some little difficulties arose, in the way of making good the flooring above, and so some delay. Thus the first day's work was ended without anything being satisfactorily discovered. "The next day, however, the work had not proceeded long in the same direction before the men came to a large stone, and soon to another, above it, and somewhat recessed. As the earth was cleared away, a third became visible, and then a fourth, though not in such good preservation. A portion of a fifth stone was also visible, projecting from the wall on the left hand. There was no doubt, therefore, that the end of that passage had been reached, and that it was bounded by a flight of steps leading straight up into the nave of the church. The stone walling on each side, too, ceased, and the undisturbed gravel was laid bare. "So far, nothing could be more satisfactory than the result of the excavation. All doubt was at an end as to the purpose and use of this passage, as well as of its extent, namely, that it afforded an entrance to the crypt from the nave, just as the two winding staircases which originally existed afforded access to the same crypt from the chancel. "The success which had attended the excavation of the southern passage led the Sub-committee to decide upon continuing the excavation of the north passage. This was accordingly done. "Instead, however, of the steps being more perfect, there were only some stones reached, of which, by themselves, it might have been difficult to determine the purpose. The fact, however, that the lowest was found to be the same distance to an inch from the entrance as the stone of the lower step in the southern passage, together with the fact of the walling ceasing about this point, and that which is still more important, of the undisturbed gravel being reached, can leave no doubt in any person's mind that there were two similar passages, both leading from the nave down into the crypt beneath the chancel. "The middle passage was still doubtful, but in order if possible to throw some further light on the matter, an opening was made down from the church and the earth dug out. The digging was attended with difficulty, as the men constantly came upon the brick graves, which are in great abundance only two or three feet below the pavement of the church. "In case the passage, if it existed, did not proceed in a straight line, the precaution was taken of digging on each side of the opening till the undisturbed gravel was reached. No traces of a wall were found, and the evidence on the whole was enough to shew that no passage-wall could have existed in this direction, because it was not probable, from the position of the vaults, that there would have been any necessity for destroying every vestige of stone-work which might have been found there had the passage been continued so far. "Before giving up their search, as in face of such very strong traditionary evidence the Committee were loath to do, they decided upon making an opening outside the church, in consequence of a report that during some work at the west end of the church the men had discovered remains of a passage. Of course if this existed it would have gone far to shew their conclusions as to the passage not having extended along the body of the church to be wrong. A large hole was dug outside the west doorway, but no traces whatever were arrived at. On the contrary, the foundations of the church were found to be perfect, shewing that no passage could have passed that way. "Every circumstance tended therefore to shew that the central passage did not extend far into the church, and it only remained for them to decide how far it did extend; and to determine this some more of the wall in which they had made the first opening was cut away. What was supposed to have been a grave turned out to be only some brickwork belonging to a place for a stove. "There was no need, however, for continuing the work long, for it was found not only that the side walls ceased, but that the lower part of the present wall was the original boundary of this middle recess. "The stones on each side, as the opening was made large enough to examine them, were filled in alternately with the sides of the recess, shewing, in the judgment both of Mr. Buckeridge and of the mason who conducted the work, that the construction was all of a piece, and that the sides and lower part of the end wall were therefore of the same date. "It resulted, therefore, from this (and from the negative evidence before referred to) that the centre passage never extended further than it does now. "The Committee, however, have reason to be much satisfied with the excavation. They have not only been able to set at rest the question "At a distance of 30 ft. 8 in. from the first chancel-step the paving was taken up, and a hole made 4 ft. 6 in. long by 3 ft. 4 in. wide, and dug to the average depth of 5 ft., which disclosed the ends of four graves containing coffins, one of which was evidently of great age. Undisturbed gravel was found at a depth of 3 ft. 4 in. from the nave central passage on its south side, and also at 3 ft. 8 in. on its north side. Further excavations were made under the wood floors of the seats, enlarging the hole to the width of 9 ft., going on the north side as far under the seats as 3 ft. 4 in., but no traces whatever of the passage were found." as to whether either of the passages leading from the crypt ever proceeded beyond the church, (much less to Wolvercote, as tradition has handed down,) but they have been able clearly to make out the ancient arrangement of the crypt. "So remarkable is this arrangement that they are able to name no other similar instance in this country either of the twelfth century or of a later period. "On the other hand,—and this renders the arrangement still more remarkable and interesting, it does so happen that they are able to point to two examples in the north of England in which a similar principle is adopted in the access to the crypt, but both the examples are acknowledged by all archæologists to be of a date anterior to the twelfth century, probably of the sixth and seventh centuries. In addition to this, it should be added that similar arrangements are by no means rare in churches of the twelfth century in France, and of that century as well as of later times in Italy. "The following is the conclusion at which the Committee have arrived regarding the original arrangement of the church of St. Peter's. "Without entering into the question whether any earlier work than that of the twelfth century exists, there seems evidence that the walls of the crypt below and the walls of the chancel above are of one and the same date. There is the negative evidence that no line of demarcation can be traced; there is the positive evidence to be derived from the traces of the doorway now visible on the south side of the chancel wall bearing a marked resemblance to the two doorways in the crypt below. There was a doorway on the north side which has been stopped up, but the staircase exists behind it. Thus from the chancel there was access gained to the crypt by two winding staircases. One has been partially destroyed, a large buttress built in its stead, and a straight flight of steps from the churchyard substituted for the spiral staircase leading from the chancel to the crypt. "The level of the chancel is shewn to be the same now as it was originally, by the bases of the chancel-arch; and there is no reason to suppose that the level of the nave has been changed. The steps also leading from one to the other are probably much in the same place as formerly. "Besides the means of access to the crypt from the north and south side of the chancel, (probably for the use of the priests,) there were also means of access provided for the people from the nave. "At about twenty feet from the centre of the chancel-arch, and on each side of the nave, a flight of steps went downwards to a passage. This, by reference to the plan and section which accompanies the report, will be seen to extend for about ten feet beyond the bottom step, where a door was reached. The jambs of the doorway exist more or less perfect in both instances, with the marks of the hinges, bolts, locks, &c. Each door opened outwards, and flat against a portion of projecting wall, leaving a space for access to the crypt of about 2 ft. 10 in. in width. "Whether one side was intended for descending worshippers, and the other for them to ascend by when their devotions were ended, is of course only a matter for conjecture; but it is clear that in the same wall through which these passages open, there is a large recess, which from its size and general appearance leaves little doubt that it was in |