322 .. MR. kell's notes 



splendid specimen, about 35 feet high, is said to be the finest in 

 England. Time did not permit the party to solicit a visit to 

 the contiguous modern mansion of Sir Charles M. L. Monck, 

 Bart.* 



Leaving Belsay, the party had a delightful drive past Cap- 

 heaton, Kirkharle, and Little Harle Tower, to Kirkwhelpington, 

 where, as they passed, they viewed with deep interest the church 

 and parsonage, erewhile the seat of the duties and the residence 

 of the Rev. John Hodgson, the historian of Northumberland j 

 and it is gratifying to learn that a memoir of him has at length 

 been undertaken by the Rev. James Raine, author of the history 

 of North Durham, a kindred spirit of the highest order, in whose 

 hands the warmest friends of Mr. Hodgson feel that his memory 

 will be honoured. 



The route now changed in character, from the rich and well 

 cultivated plains, teeming with splendid crops of ripe grain, the 

 only want being reapers, to bleak and swelling hills of moorland. 

 The day being beautifully fine, the view from Ottercaps was un- 

 usually extensive ; and having at length reached Otterburn, the 

 party was met, at the entrance to the town, by Mr. Coward, (on 

 whose invitation the place of meeting had been selected,) and 

 were escorted by him to his shooting box at Dean Head, where 

 they received attentions and hospitality which merit their 

 warmest acknowledgments. 



The party, under the guidance of Mr. Coward and one of his 

 keepers, visited the Roman Station of Bremenium (High Roches- 

 ter), where they found a party of workmen engaged in exploring 

 the station, at the instance and expense of the Duke of Northum- 

 berland : the progress and results of the operations had been re- 

 ported to the Newcastle Meeting of the Archaeological Institute, 

 on the preceding day, in a very interesting paper by the Rev. J. 

 C. Bruce. Mr. Coulson, under whose directions the excavations 

 were being made, exhibited the Altars and other inscribed and 

 carved stones, coins, fibulse, and fictile wares which had been re- 



* Had time permitted, I should have referred to Mr. Hudson Turner's 

 interesting Notice of Belsay Castle, in the volume of " Ancient Domestic 

 Architecture/' published since these Notes were written. — W. K. 



