by John Carter and Sir R. Hoare of the ruins as they were at the beginning of the century, which are very useful for comparison with those of recent date. The earliest portion of the buildings now remaining show that the church was originally plain and simple, but dignified in design, in keeping with the well-known severe rules of the 30 feet Cistercians in such matters. Carter's view of the west front has quite From the illustration of a part of the nave a continental appearance. " 20 feet Chapter-House, Margam Abbey-Interior of East End. (From Hoare.) arcade, given on page 87, we should have been disposed to assign an earlier date to the building of the church than that recorded, so plain and simple is its character. In the thirteenth century the Cistercian Order had already com menced to depart from the strictness of their original rules as to architectural adornment, and the chief glory of Margam at that date must have been its very beautiful Chapter House, of many-sided form, the use of which by this Order was most uncommon, only one other instance (Abbey Dore) being known. The many illustrations, some of which we are able to reproduce, enhance the value and interest of the work, as they consist not only of plans and drawings of the different buildings, but of many full-page photographic facsimiles of seals and charters, sepulchral monuments, and sculptured stones. A chapter is devoted to the sculptured stones peculiar to Margam, illustrated by drawings prepared by Mr. A. G. Langdon from photographs and rubbings taken by himself specially for this work. We give an example of a tomb-slab preserved in the church, the memorial of Robert, Abbot of Rievaulx. This slab exhibits a deeply-incised pastoral staff, or crosier, of exceedingly elegant design, with an inscription in Lombardic capital letters round the sides and lower end of the slab. For the student of Welsh genealogy this book should have particular attraction, owing to the numerous references to the ancient families of Wales to be Tomb-slab of Robert, Abbot of Rievaulx, at Margam |