Architecture And Archæology.

several instances , marked by fissures , which had become filled with soil ; and the consequence was , that the stone in contact with these fissures was soft and bad . Mr . AVrig ht ' s quarries were deep , perfect , and sound , and the stone thence taken good . This explanation of a practical man , in itself interesting , will , I think , answer the purpose for which I ive itand elucidate the word bersetbasset . Ifc must mean

g , , sloping , aud this interpretation corresponds with the actual character of our Bassetlaw . " Mr . Baine had previously remarked thafc Bersefclaiv , the BerscD hill , is the most rernaz-kabie feature of the limestone district of North Nottinghamshire . ' If gives name to the Hundred of Bassetlaw .

GENERAL ARCHITECTURAL INTELLIGENCE . Monday , the 21 st ult ., was the day chosen for the consecration of fche Clayton Memorial Church , ivhich has been erected to the memory of the late Rev . Richard Clayton , incumbent of St . Thomas ' s Church , Newcasfcle-on-Tyne . The foundation-stone was laid on the 28 th of October , 1859 . The church is handsome and commodious , und consists of

nave ancl north ancl south aisles , communion recess , tower , and south porch . The style of architecture is the Geometric Gothic , and contains a most beautiful east window of five lights . There are also north , south , and west galleries , which are very well lighted from gable windows , thereby avoiding an undue height of wall . The length ofthe buildingis 110 feet , width 51- feet , height from floor to apex of roof

54 feet , height of tower to top of pinnacles 100 feefc . Thei'o are 849 sittings on the ground floor , and 491 in the galleries , making a total of 1340 sittings , of which 453 are free . The church is ivell warmed by hot-water pipes , and otherwise well provided for the accommodation and comfort of the congregation . The nave and galleries are lighted by sunlights , suspended from the roof and containing 81 burners . The cost of the site and building is about £ 6700 . St . Paul's Church , in tho northern district of Maidstone , has been consecrated hy the Archbishop of Canterbury . A

separate district , formed from the parish of Holy Trinity , will be assigned to ib . The original estimates were £ 5000 for the church , £ 1000 for the parsonage , and £ 4000 for the endowment— £ 1200 still remains to be provided before the parsonage and endowment can be carried out . The church will accommodate 800 persons , 400 free . The plan of the edifice consists of nave , with clerestory , north and south

aisles , chancel , vestry , south porch and tower . The aisles are gabled , being divided into five bays , with three-light windows in each . The tower is at fche north-west angle , and consists of three stages , the upper portion being octagonal , with canopied pinnacles at top of buttresses . On the cardinal faces are large three-light windows , with cornice over , from ivhich will rise tho spire ( tho erection of which has been

delayed by the weather ) . Internally the nave is divided into bays by arches rising from carved columns . The chancel is separated from the nave by an arch springing from carved capitals , supported by sculptured angels . The " east and west windows are in geometrical tracery . The roofs are of lofty pitch , and formed with curved ribs and ornamental tracery , the _ principals being supported by columns , ivifch carvekl capitals and corbels . The church is fitted for gas , with , standards of bras' ; .

It has been resolved to enlarge High Harrogate Church . Starting afc the corner on the east side , ifc is ' proposed to throw out transepts on tbe north and south sides , and thereby gain fourteen commodious pews on one side and sixteen on the other . Each pew will be three feet wide and seven feet six inches long , and accommodate five persons . IScxt , it is proposed to throiv back the east end as far as the

boundary ivall of the churchyard , which will give a chancel measuring within the communion-rails 48 feet ; and from the nave to fche chancel will be 21 feet . It is also intended to improve the entrance into the galleries ; ancl , instead of the present cramped and dangerous spiral staircase , to erect a commodious one on the zig-zag principle . The free sittiim .- ; will be alteredThere will bo in all 210 IIOAV sittingsand

. , the entire cost will be £ 1400 . The ceiling will be removed , and the church opened to the roof . It is proposed to erect AVesloyan day-schools iu Erskincstreet and Prince Edwin-street ' , Liverpool , each buildiiu- to

Architecture And Archæology.

accommodate betAveen six and seven hundred children , and to cost , inclusive of the land , about £ 1-500 , or a total of £ 9000 . The AA'icker Congregational Church Schools , Sheffield , have been opened . Thev were erected at a cost- of £ 2000 , of which £ 1750 had been contributed at tho time of opening . The schools , backed by the church , form a group . The principal front , towards Gower-sfcreet , is 138 ft . long , and the

flanks afc either end , forming the gables , are 36 ' 1 ' t . wide . Tho end next the church , fronting to the Barnsicy-road , presents three two-light windows of simple design , extending from tho ground fco tho upper floor , tho intervening space being filled with tracery panels . In the lower portion of one of these windows , a door is introduced , which opens into a porch giving access to the vestry of tho church . The length

of the Gower-sfcreet front is relieved by a gable , broken up into the roof afc the junction ofthe schools , with bed-rooms for the chapel-keeper , ivhoso house is placed there . The windows on this side are plain , of tivo lights , except those to the house , which are ornamented with cuspetl heads . The end towards Ellesmere-road is plain , being only broken by one window , with tracery head . Tho schools

are arranged to fit the peculiar shape of the ground . On the basement story is tho lower day-school , for 400 children . Immediately over this room , and entering from Gowerstreefc , is the principal school-room , about 60 feet long , with accommodation for 400 children in classes . From the same entrance the lecture-room is approached , with room for 250 scholars . There are also four class-rooms for about 150 scholars .

Sfc . James ' s New Scnools , Bradford , erected by tho patron of St . James ' s Church , have been formally opened . They consist of three principal rooms , —viz . hoys' and girls' schools , each 60 feet by 20 feet ; infant school , 30 feet by 20 feet ; ancl three class-rooms , one to each school , 15 feet by 14 feet . The schools have separate entrances , cap and cloak-rooms , and lavatories . There is also a special entrance , 24 feefc by

20 feet , communicating with the different school-rooms by separate doorways . The roof is constructed of principals formed by a circular arch with collar-beam over : the principals carry rafters and purlins in the usual way . All the internal wood-work is stained and varnished . The principal front is 140 feefc long . The principal entrance in the centre projects 4 foet before the main walls , terminating with a gable , ancl having a bell turret 44 feet hi gh . The style of architecture is Gothic . Tho whole cost of the buildings , with playgrounds , and conveniences , will bo about £ 3000 . "

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

HREEMASOXjtY AXU THE ASSASSINS . AVhat have tho Assassins , or Ismaolites , to do with Freemasonry ?—H-ViuiY . —[ They were a link connecting Ancient aud Modern Freemasonry . Originally a sect of Mahomedans having an organisation similar to the Knights Templar and Teutonic Knights , being at once both a religions and a military association , aud , like the Jesuits , scattering their members over very extensive countries . ]

MUSICAL IIUETIUIJJX . Aro any of tho great singers , more particularly the Italians , brethren of our Order?—C siLiur . —[ Yes , many . Our correspondent ' s signature points to one celebrated for las C sharp , viz ., sig . Tamberlik , who is a brother . ] BASK Or EXGLAX 11 LODGE POllTllAITS . I know no one in the Bank of England Lodge , bufc I am told they have what is termed " A Book of Portraits " of

members of that lodge . Will any brother ivho is a- member favour me with a list of those representations thafc make <• ' Tho Book of Portraits , " and oblige—T . A . T . ? rilE ' ' ASIllEA . " The Aslrca is a foreign Masonic periodical . Can any one inform mo in ivhat country ifc is printed , whether it still exists , or how long ifc has been discontinued ? I am inclined

to think it was a Siviss publication , but am not sure , as only a solitary page ever came under my inspection . No doubt ; some of your readers knoiv ifc , and ivill inform inc . —J . B . 01 , 11 T . IAKK JEWEL . AVhat is the old-fashioned jcu'cl ofthe mark degree like ; or ivas there , until of late years , any jeAvel at all attached to it ?—A M . ut : c S . AV .