XXIV 



1874, the new church was struck by liglituing, and, the woodwork 

 taking fire, the greater part of it was destroyed. The present 

 church was then built, half a mile nearer the village. Mr. 

 Jephson pointed out the still-existing evidences of the fire and 

 showed the former extent of the church ; and in taking leave the 

 thanks of the party were accorded to him for his courteous attention 

 and hospitality. 



A field-path was then taken to Ayot St. Lawrence to see its 

 ruined church, the most picturesque in Hertfordshire. The tower 

 is nearly perfect, but the rest of the church is in utter ruin, 

 through its demolition rather than falling to decay, for it was 

 unroofed and partly pulled down. The church was built by one 

 Eadhere, to whom the manor was granted by Henry the First. 

 "He built the Church with Stone," says Chauncy, "and then 

 began the Hospital near it, which Church was founded . . . 1123, 

 23 H. I." In the year 1778 Sir Lionel Lyde built in his own 

 park a new church on the plan of a heathen temple, and commenced 

 to pull down the old one, but the Bishop interfered, and he had to 

 desist, leaving the walls roofless and the tower only intact. 



After viewing the old ruins and visiting "the abomination," as 

 Cussans remarks, "which is now dignified by the name of the 

 parish church," tea was partaken of at the village inn, and then 

 the walk was continued through Lamer Park to "WTieathampstead 

 Station. 



In the course of the walk the following plants were observed 

 in flower, and recorded by Mr. Hopkinson, the director of the 

 meeting : — 



Anemone nemorosa, L. Ulex eiiropajus, L. 



Myosiurus minimus, L. Sarothamnus vulgaris, Wimm. 



Ficaria verua, Muds. Medicago lupulina, Z. 



Eammculus acris, Z. Trifoliimi pratense, Z. 



,, auriconius, Z. „ repens, Z. 



,, bulbosus, Z. Vicia sepium, Z. 

 Caltlia palustris, Z. ,, sativa, Z. 



Fumaria officinalis, Z. Ervum hirsutum, Z. 



Cardamine pratensis, Z. Prunus cerasus, Z. 



,, hirsuta, Z. ,, spinosa, Z, 



Alliaria officinalis, Andrz. Fragaria vesca, Z. 



Sisymbrium officinale. Scop. Pntentilla fragariastrum, Z. 



,, tliallianum, /. 0((i/. Poterium sangnisorba, Z. 

 Sinapis arvensis, Z. ,, muricatum, Spach. 



Eropbila vulgaris, BO. Pyrus malus, Z. 

 Capsella bursa-pastoris, Mocnch. ,, ,, var. acerba. 



Eeseda lutca, Z. ,, ,, var. mitis. 



Viola Eiviuiana, Reiehh. Crataegus oxyacantba, Z. 



,, canina, Z. Cbicropbyllum temuliun, Z. 



Polygala vulgaris, Z. Anthriscus silvestris, Hoffm. 



Melandrium silvestre, Roehl. Scaudix pecten-veneris, Z. 



Cerastitmi arvense, Z. Sanicula enropica, Z. 



Stellaria holostea, Z. Galium cnuiata, Scop. 



Moehringia trinervia, Clairv. Asperula odorata, Z, 



Acer pseudo-platanus, Z. Senecio vulgaris, Z. 



Geranium Robertianum, Z. Leucanthemum vulgare, Zam. 



Oxalis acetosella, Z. Bellis perennis, Z. 



Ilex aquifolium, Z. Taraxacum officinale, Weber. 



