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Wenlock. The sun now shone out brightly, and a few minutes pleasant ride 

 brought the party to the pretty station of Wenlock, from which a beautiful view 

 of the ruins ia obtained. 



THE PRIORY OF WENLOCK ANCIENTLY CALLED WIMNICAS, 



la very ancient, and has seen many changes. St. Milburga, the daughter of King 

 Merwald, the founder of Leominster Priory, first erected a Nimnery here about 

 the year 680, and presided over it herself as Abbess. This building was destroyed 

 by the Danes, but was restored by Leofric, Karl of Chester, in the time of King 

 Edward, the Confessor. It was then forsaken and became decayed, when Roger, 

 Earl of Montgomery, Chichester, and Shrewsbury, a person of vast possessions, 

 rebuilt and endowed it as a Monastery in the 14th year of William the Con- 

 queror, placing therein a Prior and Convent of Cluniac Monks. The Priory be- 

 came very rich, but suffered the fate of other alien Priories, during the wars 

 between England and France, in spoliation. It however again became rich and 

 remained so until it was suppressed by Henry VIII. The site was granted to 

 Augustine de Augustinis, and two years afterwards was in the possession of Thos. 

 La wley, Esq., who lived in the Priory House. It has since continued to be pri- 

 vate property, and is now in the possession of C. G. Milnes-Gaskell, Esq., who 

 had most kindly given special permission to the members of the Woolhope Club 

 to visit it on this occasion. 



The ruins of the Church are very extensive, and its architecture singularly 

 rich and elegant. Light and beautiful columns support pMnted arches, very rich 

 in detail. The Chapter House adjoins the church. Three circular Norman 

 arches, enriched with undulated fillet work lead into it, and its sides are formed 

 of curiously intersecting arches of peculiar interest. Further detail cannot here 

 be given, except to state that the Priory precincts included 30 acres — that the 

 whole length of the buildings from east to west was 401 feet ; the nave of the 

 church was 156 feet ; the space under the middle tower 39 feet ; the Ladye chapel 

 48 feet ; and the width of nave and aisles 66 feet. 



The ruins have suffered greatly from their immediate proximity to the 

 town. During the last century whole portions of the masonry were pulled down, 

 and the materials used to build houses. 



The Abbot's house orignally formed a quadrangle. It is now occupied by 

 Mr, Milnes-Gaskell, and the members enjoyed very much the kind permission 

 which was given to visit the chief rooms. The oratory, with the altar and stone 

 Norman reading desk, the ambulatories, the old oak fittings, &c., &c., excited 

 great interest, kept up as the whole place is with the greatest care and the best 

 possible taste. 



There was no time to think of the celebrated ridge of Wenlock limestone, 

 which forms so prominent a member of the Silurian system of rocks ; the day was 



