Ixviii PROCEEDINGS, 



bones and a few skulls from it were seen. The teeth are in a 

 remarkably perfect state of preservation, but they are ground 

 down quite flat, this being presumably due to wear from the 

 mastication of food not free from grit. Another interesting point 

 about these human remains is the size of some of the bones, one 

 thigh bone being that of a man who must have been at least seven 

 feet in height. It is probable that this is the site of a battlefield 

 of Saxon times. Examples of these remains may be seen in the 

 temporary museum in the Market Place, St. Albaus. 



Proceeding along the Ermine Street into Huntingdon, the house 

 in which Oliver Cromwell was born was pointed out (now No, 82, 

 Ermine Street) ; and in All Saints' Church was seen the entry of 

 his baptism on the 29th of April, 1599 (four days after his birth), 

 and also of the resting, within the walls of the church, of the body 

 of Mary Queen of Scots, in 1612, on its way from Peterborough 

 Cathedral to Westminster Abbey. Before the church was visited, 

 tea was partaken of at the Fountain Inn, nearly opposite, an 

 excellent repast being provided. There is one other church in 

 Huntingdon, St. Mary's, but at one time there were fifteen churches 

 in and around the town. 



Leaving by an evening train, St. Albans was reached at a quarter 

 to ten, after an enjoyable and interesting day in perfect weather, 

 the excellent aiTangements made by Mr. Campion conducing much 

 to the success of the meeting. 



Field Meeting, 22nd Mat, 1897. 

 ASTON AND BENNINGTON. 



This was one of the most enjoyable field meetings which has 

 ever been held, the weather being perfect for a long walk, a cool 

 breeze tempering the rays of a bright sun only occasionally obscured 

 by a passing cloud, a beautiful part of the county being visited, 

 and much of interest being seen ; and yet very few members of the 

 Society took part in it, the number of the party being only ten. 

 It was under the direction of Mr. Hopkinson, who had devoted 

 the two previous Saturdays to finding out the prettiest walk and 

 making the necessary arrangements. 



Starting from Kneb worth Station at about half -past eleven, the 

 road leading to Aston was taken for a short distance, and then 

 a path across the fields to Bragbury End. Crossing a tributary 

 of the Beane, a pretty woodland walk was taken to Aston Bury, an 

 old manor-house probably built by the Botelers in the early part of 

 the sixteenth century. It was formerly surrounded by a moat, in 

 part of which water still stands, and at the eastern end it is said 

 there was once a chapel. There are two remarkably fine carved oak 

 staircases, one at each end of the house, leading up to a room at 

 the top extending the whole length of the house, 113 feet. Various 

 conjectures were made as to the use of this room, which seems to 



