The writer is grateful to his wife, for the plans and sketches which she has drawn for him, and for much help: to Mr C. C. Hodges and Mr J. P. Gibson, for the permission to make use of their photographs; and to the Rev. J. C. Cox, LL.D., F.S.A., and the Rev. R. M. Serjeantson, M.A., F.S.A., for their kindness in reading through the proofs and supplying suggestions of the greatest value. A. H. T. GRETTON, NORTHANTS _26 January 1911_ CONTENTS CHAPTER I THE ORIGIN OF THE CHURCH PLAN IN ENGLAND SECTION PAGE 1. The basilican church plan 1 2. Problem of its derivation 2 3. Rival theories of its origin 3 4. The Roman basilica: old St Peter's 6 5. Basilicas at Ravenna 8 6. Tomb-churches and baptisteries 9 7. Centralised plans at Ravenna 10 8. Relative advantages of the basilican and the centralised plan 12 9. The basilican church at Silchester 13 10. Early churches in Kent and Essex 14 11. Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts. 16 12. Escomb church, Durham 16 13. Early Northumbrian churches 18 14. Wilfrid's churches at Hexham and Ripon 20 15, 16. Brixworth, Northants: other basilican plans 21 17. Exceptional occurrence of the basilican plan in England 24 CHAPTER II PARISH CHURCHES OF THE LATER SAXON PERIOD SECTION PAGE 18. The normal pre-Conquest plan 27 19. The western bell-tower 29 20. Plans in which the ground floor of the tower forms the body of the church 30 21. Barton-on-Humber and the centralised plan 33 22. Centralised planning in England 34 23. The Saxon lateral porch 35 24. Development of the transeptal chapel 36 25. Towers between nave and chancel 37 26, 27. Development of the cruciform plan 38 28. Influence of local material upon the aisleless church plan 42 CHAPTER III