On an Altar Slab found at Hougham Church

( 269 ) SMALL ALTAR SLAB EOUND IN HOUGHAM CHURCH. DEAR MB. SCOTT ROBERTSON, On removing a wooden flooring in the north aisle of Hougham Church during the repairs which are going on, we came on a pavement made up of old tiles, tombstones, and such like. Among the rest was a stone, of which I send you a description, in the hope that you will give me some information. Its original shape apparently was a parallelogram, of 2 feet 11 inches by 2 feet 7 inches. But a large corner is cut off, making the length of one side to be 1 foot 5 inches, and of the adjoining one exactly 1 foot. The thickness is 5 inches at the sides, but the back is rough, and rather exceeds this measurement. The side, which measures 2 feet 11 inches, has a hollow chamfer. The. material is Kentish rag, and the upper surface has been chiselled away, so as to leave a small platform rising 1 inch above the rest, on which are four crosses; the corner which should bear the fifth is damaged. This elevation is oblong, measuring 1 foot 10 inches by 1 foot 6 inches and a quarter. It is not in the middle, but stands 3 inches and three quarters from two of the sides, 5 inches and a quarter from another side, and 13 inches from the fourth. Fragments of two columns were found not far off in the pavement; they are of ragstone, and measure 14 and a half inches at the bottom. I incline to believe they were bases, but my builder calls them capitals. Their rich mouldings (E. E.), have a height of 4 and a half inches, and the fragments of their shafts are 5 inches in diameter. Did these shafts support the altar ? I am, yours truly, EDWARD R. ORGER. HOUGHAM VICARAGE, DOVER, August 30, 1884.