324 MR kell's notes, etc. 



good taste, and in the course of which, a good deal of church- 

 wardens' whitewash has been removed. (For the style, see Hodg- 

 son's History). 



The party next visited Otterburn tower, where they inspected 

 three of the five Roman Altars found in 1844, upon Mr. James' 

 estate at Rutchester, (Vi7idohala, per lineam Valli,) and de- 

 scribed in the fourth volume of the Archceologia ^liana. These 

 altars are placed in the entrance porch of the tower, in a situation 

 calculated to preserve them, and to exhibit them to great advan- 

 tage. Mr. James had procured, for the inspection of the natu- 

 ralists, some hazel nuts, which presented a bright metallic 

 appearance : these nuts were brought from a well situate between 

 Otterburn and the river Reed, and called " the Silver Nut Well," 

 from the circumstance of such like nuts being frequently thrown 

 up by its water. The metallic appearance may probably be 

 attributed to the presence of sulphur in the strata, through 

 which the water forces its course : the party were much 

 disappointed at not being able to visit the well. After receiving 

 much hospitable attention from Mr. and Mrs. James, the mem- 

 bers returned to Newcastle, in the evening. 



The meeting was not productive of much interest to the natu- 

 ralists, but to the antiquaries it afforded a rich treat, and to all 

 a pleasant excursion. 



Sept., 1852. 



Note — The history of Otterburn tower, and of the last proprietor of the old 

 edifice, James Ellis, a good antiquary, and correspondent of Sir Waiter Scott. 

 See the Minstrelsy of the Border. 



