buildings, have wrought deplorable ruin in our villages, and severed
the links with the past which now can never be repaired. The progress
of antiquarian knowledge will I trust arrest the destroyer's hand and
prevent any further spoliation of our diminished inheritance. If this
book should be found useful in stimulating an intelligent interest in
architectural studies, and in protecting our ancient buildings from
such acts of vandalism, its purpose will have been abundantly achieved.

I am indebted to many friends and acquaintances for much information
which has been useful to me in writing this book; to Sir John Evans
whose works are invaluable to all students of ancient stone and bronze
implements; to Dr. Cox whose little book on _How to Write the History
of a Parish_ is a sure and certain guide to local historians; to Mr.
St. John Hope and Mr. Fallow for much information contained in their
valuable monograph on _Old Church Plate_; to the late Dr. Stevens, of
Reading; to Mr. Shrubsole of the same town; to Mr. Gibbins, the author
of _The Industrial History of England_, for the use of an illustration
from his book; to Mr. Melville, Mr. P.J. Colson, and the Rev. W.
Marshall for their photographic aid; and to many other authors who are
only known to me by their valuable works. To all of these gentlemen I
desire to express my thanks, and also to Mr. Mackintosh for his
artistic sketch of a typical English village, which forms the
frontispiece of my book.

P.H.D.

BARKHAM RECTORY
_May_, 1901

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. INTRODUCTION
II. PREHISTORIC REMAINS
III. TUMULI OR BARROWS
IV. PIT AND PILE DWELLINGS
V. CROMLECHS, CAMPS, AND EARTHWORKS
VI. ROMAN RELICS
VII. ANGLO-SAXON VILLAGES
VIII. SAXON RELICS
IX. ENGLISH ARCHITECTURE
X. NORMAN VILLAGES AND THE "DOMESDAY BOOK"
XI. NORMAN CASTLES
XII. MONASTERIES
XIII. THE MANOR-HOUSE
XIV. PARISH CHURCHES
XV. CHURCH PLATE
XVI. MONUMENTAL EFFIGIES AND BRASSES
XVII. THE PARISH CHEST
XVIII. STAINED GLASS, TILES, AND MURAL PAINTINGS
XIX. CHURCH BELLS
XX. THE MEDIAEVAL VILLAGE
XXI. VILLAGE SPORTS AND PASTIMES
XXII. THE VILLAGE INN
XXIII. VILLAGE SUPERSTITIONS AND FOLKLORE

APPENDIX--BOOKS AND DOCUMENTS RELATING TO
PAROCHIAL HISTORY

INDEX

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

FULL-PAGE

An English village
Village street
Palaeolithic implements
Neolithic and bronze implements
Old market cross
Brought