previous page is a suggestion that "it dates back to a very early period, probably anterior to the Conquest"; but, as remarked by Dr. Cox (vol. i, p. 100), "there seems no reason to assign it to an earlier date than that of the Norman period."

The representation is of especial interest, as, according to Mr. Keyser, "in sculpture there are very few representations of the Crucifixion earlier than the thirteenth century" (Arch., vol. xlvii, p. 148), the symbol of the Agnus Dei being more generally employed.

Darley Church, dedicated to St. Helen.-Affixed to the west end of the tower (of the Perpendicular period) is a square stone carved with two fabulous animals: one, a winged wyvern. Another stone found in the churchyard contained portions of sculptured animals of a similar kind. They originally formed part of a tympanum or of a lintel (probably the latter, judging from the squareness of the stones). In the early part of the century, they were seen and sketched by the Rev. D. Lysons (vide Add. MSS., 9463; cf. Dr. Cox, vol. ii, Pl. 7, facing p. 168).

Findern Church, dedicated to All Saints. To make way for a new edifice, the old church was removed in 1862, and during the demolition a Norman tympanum, with the accompanying arch, was discovered in the north wall (so recorded by Mr. Jewitt, but Dr. Cox reports this to be a mistake, and to have been the south one: vol. iv., p. 314; and this is corroborated by the present vicar). The arch is formed of plain stones, excepting that on either side of its base a human figure, with arms akimbo, is rudely sculptured. The base of the tympanum is carved with two rows of a kind of fretwork (Mr. Jewitt likens them to "a variety of star ornament"). The semicircular space is filled with chequer-work, with sunken interspaces (it may have been intended for interlaced work), and bears in its centre a raised cross patée or formée: "of the same kind," remarks Mr. Jewitt, "as was borne by the De Fyndernes, with the difference of that in their arms being fitched at foot." This family "must have settled at this place at a very early date— probably from the time of the Conquest—and here they

continued until the family became extinct, in the middle of the sixteenth century" (Reliquary, vol. iii, p. 192). The stone is preserved in the present church.

Hault Hucknall Church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist (2).-Occupying an unusual position at the west end of the nave is a blocked-up doorway, with a semicircular arch, formed of a single row of plain stones. Below this is a carved tympanum, supported by a large irregularly-shaped rectangular stone, also carved, and acting as a lintel; but whether it originally belonged to the present doorway is doubtful. The sculptures on the

stones have nothing in common with each other. Dr. Cox describes them thus: On the right of the tympanum "is a tall quadruped with a long tapering neck, somewhat resembling a giraffe; but the head terminates in a beak, and each of the legs in claws. The tail twists back between the legs and behind the back, above which it seems to terminate in a cross set in a circle. In the right-hand corner is another much smaller quadruped with ears. Down the centre of the stone is a Latin cross

1 The author is indebted to Messrs. Bemrose and Sons, of Derby, for the loan of the illustrations of the Tympana at Findern, Normanton, and Parwich Churches.

with a long stem. On the left hand is a centaur, corresponding in size with the giraffe-like figure opposite; in one hand it holds a palm branch, with the other it grasps the cross." The "second oblong stone . . . is now in two pieces, but has evidently once formed a single block. To the right is a large winged dragon, with a protruding forked tongue. The tongue almost reaches an upright cross, on the other side of which is a man, bearing on his left arm a kite-shaped shield, and in his right hand an extended sword. Below his right arm is what appears to be another shield, resting on the ground" (vol. i, pp. 242-3).

Two points additional to the above account are worthy of attention. The first is that, according to Mr. Romilly Allen, the centaur has "a nimbus round the head" (p. 364; an excellent woodcut of the tympanum is given on p. 366). The second relates to the figure on the lintel. It is affirmed by the last-named writer (p. 274) in Gentleman's Magazine (1799, vol. i, p. 449), and in Assoc. Arch. Soc. Reports, vol. xii, p. 162, to be intended for St. Michael; but Dr. Cox makes no suggestion respecting it, possibly owing to the circumstance that the figure is destitute of wings, their absence serving to indicate the figure to be that of St. George.

Hognaston Church, dedicated to St. Bartholomew.— The Norman south doorway still retains its tympanum in situ. The latter is one of the most interesting in the county, owing to the number of figures it contains. Commencing from the west side, there is first a wellmarked Agnus Dei with two birds above it. Then follows the full-length figure of a man, habited in a tunic reaching to the knees, and confined by a waist-belt; he holds a pastoral staff in his right hand, and a book in his left, which he presses close to his body. A tonsure is indicated by two projections above the line of the ears. Next in order are two animals, one above the other, the upper being certainly intended for a boar, while the lower is shaped something like a wolf, with a short tail, and apparently having the tongue projected towards the human figure. Behind these are two smaller animals, one above the other, whose identity is not very apparent.