151 



oolb0p^ liatnralists' fidh Olliib. 



Second Field Meeting, Tuesday, July 24TH, 1855. 



EARDISLEY. 



On Tuesday (24th) the members of this Club held their Second Field Meeting 

 of the season at Eardisley. The attendance, owing to the wetness of the morning 

 and other causes, was thin, but a very pleasant and instructive day was spent. 

 At nine a.m., the party met at breakfast at the New Inn, the Chair being filled 

 by the respected President, the Rev. J . F. Crouch, Rector of Pembridge. Between 

 10 and II o'clock, the sky having cleared, the party set out on their scientific 

 exploration of the district. 



The route taken was by Willersley and Letton to Bredwardine Bridge, and 

 thence up the hill to the Cromlech, or so-called Druidical monument of Arthur's 

 Stone. This Cromlech they found to consist of three large blocks of stone, of 

 which the two* upon the ground are masses of Cornstone, while the superincum- 

 bent (which is also the largest) block, is of the Old Red Sandstone, placed in a 

 horizontal position as regards the stratification. As the Cornstone " crops out," 

 and is at present being burnt for lime, at a distance of about half a mile to the 

 northward of this spot, and as the hill itself is of the Old Red, there is no ground 

 for supposing that the Cromlech was formed of stones brought to the hUl from 

 any other place. 



After examining the stone, the pairty proceeded along the pleasant green 

 lane, in which Arthur's Stone stands, towards the northern extremity of the hUl, 

 which 's known as Merbage point. The view westward as they passed along, 

 was striking ; the whole extent of the Golden Valley, dotted with scattered 

 farm-houses, the secluded village of Dorstone, and the tall spire of Peterchurch 

 peering out from amid the trees, and the ridge of Cusop and Vagar hUls carrying 

 the eye upward to the stern and bare Black Mountains, in the background ; 

 while the southern horizon wjis bounded by the Blorenge and the Scyrrid ; and 

 the Graig, Garway, Saddlebow, and Orcop hUls led on the eye to the far-ofi 

 Malvern range, the limit of view to the east. 



From Merbage Point, a magnificent panorama delighted their eyes. The 

 day, at this time, about 2 p.m., was brUliantly fine, and the fertile vale, bright 

 with the windings of the gUttering Wye — the wooded slopes of Ladyhft and 

 Bishopstone — the Upper Ludlow ridges stretching on to meet the broad hills of 

 Radnorshire and the lofty Begwm in the west, with the ridges of igneous rock 

 which surround it — made up a scene equally rich in natural beauty and in scientific 

 interest. 



* The separate supporters are eight in number. See page 158. — Editor. 



