he establishment. A fine view is obtained of the church, which presents
a good specimen of a Cistercian edifice, every part of the original
arrangement being distinctly traceable.

The massive proportions of its arcades, and the scolloped capitals of
their columns, indicate the Norman style of architecture; whilst the
pointed arches show an approach towards that which superseded it, which
began about the year 1150. The clerestory remains entire on both sides,
with round arched windows throughout. Between the columns are
indications of a screen, which shut off the eastern aisles; at the end of
the fifth arch from the west, the choir, or portion devoted to the monks,
commences; and at the intersection of the transepts still stands the
tower, resting on four pointed arches. At the eastern end, beneath long
windows, which at some period or other have been formed out of smaller
ones, stood the altar, and near it the sedilia; whilst on the south side
are the doorways which led to the dormitories of the monks engaged in the
night services of the church. On the side next the river, a long line of
building forms the eastern cloister and the crypt; on the same side is a
handsome archway leading into the chapter-house, the roof of which is
vaulted, groined, and supported by beautiful slender columns. Beyond are
the remains of the refectory, and the room of audience--the only place
where, according to the strict rules of the order, the monks were
permitted to converse; and here also was the warm-room, kitchen, and
lavatory. On the same side are remains of a string of offices for
novices, and for scribes employed in multiplying copies of the Scriptures
and other books.

[Buildwas Abbey: 34.jpg]

Our engraving represents the church as seen by moonlight, when strong
lights and shadows bring to mind the well-known lines of Sir Walter
Scott:--

"If thou wouldst view fair Melrose aright,
Go visit it by the pale moonlight.
For the gay beams of lightsome day
Gild but to flout the ruins gray:
When the broken arches are black in night,
And each shafted oriel glimmers white;
When the cold light's uncertain shower
Streams on the ruin'd central tower;
When buttress and buttress alternately
Seem framed of ebon and ivory."

The traveller by the Severn Valley Railway can scarcely fail to notice
here, and at other points along the line, beds of sand and gravel at
levels above the highest points now reac