its annual revenues were estimated by Speed, at 12171. 5s. 11d. The site was granted, in the fourth year of Edward the Sixth, to Edward Lord Clinton. After the abbey had lost its ecclesiastical inhabitants, the building soon fell into a dilapidated state; and during the civil wars of the seventeenth century, when the place was a garrison, first for the Royal, and then for the Parliamentarian forces, it suffered still further devastation. The only remain at present, is a portion of the conventual church, which is highly interesting to the architect and antiquary. The choir, central tower, transepts, and the whole of the east end are down : what portions at present are found standing are the skeleton of the nave, with parts of the south and north ailes; the latter of which is covered over, pewed and fitted up as the parish church. This portion is said to have been built by Abbot Bardney, in the year 1247. The roof is groined, and the south side separated from the nave by pointed arches, which have been walled up. The nave, in ruins, is one hundred forty-four feet in length, and twenty-eight in breadth. The nine pointed arches on the north side were filled up to enclose the north aile; and on the south side remain six pointed arches, about eleven feet wide, and part of another. These have mouldings, descending to the ground, without column or band. Over these is part of an upper tier of windows, with three mullions in each. At the east end of the nave is a large semicircular arch, with zigzag mouldings, which spring from very singular capitals. The part of the west-front, which stands at the end of the south aile, exhibits four tiers of arcades; the lowest of which displays a row of narrow round arches with zigzag mouldings; and those above have pointed arches. The entrance to the nave was by a handsome pointed archway with quatrefoiled head, containing figures in basso relievo: over which was the large west window, ornamented in the same stile. The whole of the front of the nave is highly decorated with niches and canopies, in which are various sculptured figures, representing St. Peter, and other apostles, with effigies of kings, saints, and abbots. One of which is said to be a representation of King Ethelbald, the

founder

founder of the abbey. Another is acknowledged to be St. Guthlac, the saint of the fen country, by a whip placed in his right hand, emblematic of the discipline he used to bestow on himself. The whole front is in a very ruinous condition *. At the west end of the north aile is a tower crowned by a low spire; and some part of the wall, and piers of the arches, belonging to the south aile, are yet standing. In a canopied niche, in the wall of the tower, belonging to the north aile, is a curious circular stone-font; which, from its form, appears to be very ancient; and probably belonged to a baptistery of the abbey in the Saxon period. The nave and ailes are said, by some writers, to have been executed by William de Croyland, "Master of the Works,” in the time of Abbot Upton, between the years 1417 and 1427.

Next to these venerable ruins, the triangular bridge, in the middle of the town, may be regarded as an object of "the greatest curiosity in Britain, if not in Europe +." The singularity of its shape has induced some persons to suppose, that it was emblematic of the Trinity; and built rather for the purpose of exciting admiration, than for real utility; and its steep ascent on all sides has been adduced as supporting such a suggestion. From this circumstance, carriages generally go under it; but it is easily passed by horse and foot passengers ‡. The form it assumes, and the steepness of its approach, both arise from the situation in which it is placed. The rivers Welland, Nene, and a drain called Cat3 B 3

water

* Figures of these statues, as they appeared in the year 1780, are engraved in Carter's "Specimens of ancient sculpture, now remaining in this kingdom." P. 4.

+ Gough's History of Croyland Abbey.

There is a bridge, which has been mentioned as similar to this, upon the road between St. Omer's and Calais, in France. It was erected about the year 1754, over a part of the road crossed by two canals, at right angles. The bridge consists of four circular arches, supported by four abutments, uniting in the centre. It is called, Pont Suns Pareil.

water flow under it, and in times of flood, had it not been considerably raised on the abutments, it would have been liable to be swept away by the torrent. By its being mentioned in a charter of King Edred, as the triangular bridge of Croyland, and in preceding charters simply as the bridge of Croyland; it has been conjectured that it was built antecedent to that charter's being granted, which was about the year 941. Mr. Essex, however, doubts this, and thinks that the present bridge was erected not earlier than the time of Edward the First, or Second *. If any thing can be deduced from the statue placed against the wall, it is probably anterior to either of the above periods.

This Statue is said to be a representation of King Ethelbald. From the extreme rudeness of the figure, the disproportion of the parts, the uncouthness of the head-dress, drapery, &c. it is probably a genuine specimen of Saxon sculpture. The figure is placed in a sitting posture, at the end of the south-west wall of the bridge. It has a crown on the head, behind which are two wings, the arms bound together, round the shoulders a kind of mantle, in the left hand something like a truncheon; and in the right, is a globe. The late Mr. Hunter supposed, that it represented King Henry the Second; and Willis calls it a figure of St. Guthlac. The former conjecture is improbable from the rudeness of the sculpture, and the latter is done away by the crown fleury on the head. The bridge consists of three piers or abutments, whence spring three pointed arches, which unite their groins in the centre. The whole is formed of stone, and at the middle of it three roads meet, the ascent is steep from each point, and the road is pitched with pebbles,

Though formerly a place of such celebrity, Croyland is now reduced to the size of a large village; and little more than the ruins of its former splendour remain. It had formerly a market, which was removed to Thorney, as a more eligible place; and all attempts

• Observations on Croyland bridge, published in Gough's History of Croyland Abbey.