Ivi PEOCEEDTIfGS OF THE 



are "bournes" which flow in the winter and spring, usually 

 ceasing in the summer and autumn ; but the " Hertfordshire Bourne ' ' 

 is of a more erratic nature than this, running on the average only 

 about once in from three to seven years. To see this River Bourne 

 flowing, and to trace it from its source to its outflow into the 

 Ptiver Bulbourne at the hamlet to which it gives the name of 

 Bourne End, under the guidance of Mr. John Evans, D.C.L., F.R.S., 

 was the object of this meeting, in which members of the Geologists' 

 Association of London took part, meeting the members of the 

 Hertfordshire Natui'al History Society at Berkhampstead station at 

 three o'clock. 



Before, however, proceeding to the valley of the Bourne, the 

 members of the two societies first visited the ruins of Berkhamp- 

 stead Castle, close to the station, and here Mr. John Evans gave 

 an interesting outline of the history of the castle from Anglo Saxon 

 times to the present day. He said that it was claimed for the 

 Castle that it dated back to ancient British and Roman times, for 

 there was a coin of Cunobeline which was reported to have been 

 found here, and some Roman coins had also been found. It was 

 certainly a low position for a castle, but the site accorded well with 

 the ancient British "town" which was a place fortified by woods 

 and marshes, for here there were in front extensive marshes and 

 the town must have been surrounded by woods, and would therefore, 

 owing to its natural defences, probably be a place of sufficient im- 

 portance to become subsequently a castle. It was doubtful how far 

 the great antiquity of the Castle was supported by facts, but it was 

 certain that it was a place of considerable importance in Anglo Saxon 

 times, for it was here that, after the Battle of Hastings, William 

 the Conqueror received the deputation of Saxon nobles which 

 awaited him to offer him the crown and swear fealty to him. After 

 tracing the further history of the Castle, Mr. Evans made some 

 remarks upon its construction, pointing out that all the earthworks, 

 and the double moat by which the kee]) is surrounded, were arti- 

 ficial, and that the walls were built of flints from the Chalk of the 

 district. 



The Rev. J. "W. Cobb, Rector of Berkhampstead, and author of 

 a work on its 'History and Antiquities,' who had joined the party 

 in the Castle grounds, then gave some further historical information, 

 referring to a paper by Mr. G. T. Clark, in the ' Proceedings of the 

 Archaeological Institute ' * for 1873, in which a plan of the Castle 

 was given, and stating that a new edition of his own work, in 

 which this plan would be introduced, was now being printed. 



The Church, dedicated to St. Peter, was next visited, its principal 

 interest centering in its connection with the poet Cowper, whose 

 father was rector of the parish. From the church Mr. Cobb con- 

 ducted the party to the Rectory, Cowper's birthplace. In the 

 Rectory grounds "Cowper's Well" was pointed out, and a large 

 piece of the Hertfordshire conglomerate was inspected, affording 

 Mr. Evans the text for a brief account of the physical characteristics 



* Vol. XXX, p. 401. 



