On the south side of the altar is a rudely carved piscina. There are two plain stone seats on each side of the chancel, but there is nothing to indicate whether they belonged to the original structure. This church, though it has suffered much from Vandalism and ignorance since the Reformation, has, up to the present, escaped the clutches of the so-called restorer, and the archæologist may be thankful if even a few more years roll by before the fashionable architect swoops down on it, and removes every vestige of interest it may once have possessed. There are remains of the staircase which led to the rood loft in the north wall of the chancel. The chancel arch is pointed without any moulding. To sum up, the chief points to be noted are, outside, the quaint old tower, the great length of the nave, and the absence of aisles or transepts inside; the Norman font, roof of nave, three-light east window, whitewashed walls. The style of the building is Early English, but the font is more ancient.

The following are the chief dimensions of the church: -Total length from east to west, outside, 114 ft. ; length of nave inside, 65 ft.; breadth of nave inside, 20 ft. 10 ins.; length of chancel, 29 ft. 3 ins.; breadth of chancel, 17 ft. 3 ins.; width of chancel arch, 13 ft. 5 ins.; height of tower, 40 ft.; base of tower, 12 ft. square; breadth of doorways, 3 ft. 8 ins.

J. ROMILLY ALLEN.

BRAICH Y DDINAS.

THE ancient fortified town of Braich y Ddinas, on the summit of Penmaenmawr, is well known to antiquaries, and has long since been described by Camden, Pownall, Pennant, and others; but amongst the various notices of it which have appeared, not one is accompanied by a map or plan fairly representing its existing state. In the third volume of the Archæologia we have an amusing sketch by Governor Pownall, purporting to be a representation of the hill-top encircled by two ramparts, and also a survey contributed by Pennant; but these are fanciful and imperfect. Such being the case, I thought it desirable, especially in these destructive days,' to obtain the assistance of Mr. Haslam, who with much patience has worked out an excellent survey under difficulties known only to those who have toiled up and down a mountain-side, over rocks and stones. Much of the original design is lost to us, and much that would otherwise interest lies buried beneath fallen ruins; but as far as traceable, a plan of the Dinas is placed before the reader.

The first account we have of it is in Camden, said to have been written by Sir John Wynn of Gwydyr, in the reign of Charles I, who states:-"On the top of Penmaen stands a lofty and impregnable hill called Braich y Ddinas, where we find the ruinous walls of an exceeding strong fortification encompassed with a treble wall, and within each wall the foundation of at least a hundred towers, all round and of equal bigness, and about 6 yards diameter within the walls. The walls of this Dinas were in most places 2 yards thick, and in

1 Extensive quarries have been opened on Penmaenmawr and Yr Eifl, unpleasantly near to the remains of Braich y Ddinas and Tre'r Ceiri.