Neglecting, therefore, for the present, the Gable Ends, the Towers and Turrets, the Porches, the Doorways, the Chapels, the Cloisters, and all the other adjuncts of an Ecclesiastical Building, and bestowing our entire attention upon these Exterior and Interior Compartments, we will proceed at once to a comparison of their several parts, and consider in order the mode of treatment they received at the hands of the builders, of each of these Seven Periods, commencing with the earliest and descending to the latest. CHAPTER IV. THE SAXON PERIOD. A.D. ---- TO A.D. 1066. Inasmuch as there does not remain to us a single Exterior or Interior Compartment in any Cathedral or Conventual Church of genuine Saxon Architecture, the comparative illustration of this Period is rendered impossible. A few Piers and Arches exist indeed, in all probability, in the Churches of BRIXWORTH in Northamptonshire, St. Michael's at ST. ALBANS, and REPTON in Derbyshire; but they differ considerably in their character from one another, and as widely probably in their date. We have also a few Chancel and Tower arches left, which appear to belong to this Period; as well as some singular and interesting Towers, a few Doorways and Windows, and some considerable portions of masonry. Altogether, however, these remains are not such as to enable us to define, with any degree of certainty, the nature and character of the _Main Walls_ of a Saxon Cathedral, and are, therefore, not available for our present purpose. BUILDINGS OF THE SAXON PERIOD. BRIXWORTH All Saints' Church Nave, Tower. REPTON St. Wistan's Church Crypt, Chancel. BARNACK St. John's Church Tower. BARTON St. Peter's Church Tower. EARL'S BARTON All Saints' Church Tower. WHITTINGHAM St. Bartholomew's Church Tower and Pier-arch. CAMBRIDGE St. Benet's Church Tower. SOMPTING Parish Church Tower. DEERHURST Holy Trinity Church Tower. CORHAMPTON Parish Church Nave. STANTON LACY St. Peter's Church Nave. ST. ALBANS St. Michael's Church Nave. STOW St. Mary's Church Transepts. WORTH Parish Church Nave, Chancel. WING All Saints' Church Chancel. CHAPTER V. NORMAN PERIOD. PRINCIPAL CHARACTERISTIC. THE UNIVERSAL USE OF THE CIRCULAR ARCH IN EVERY PART OF A BUILDING THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PERIOD. _Exterior Compartment._