moolljopt naturalists' fidh Club. 



July 29th, 1879. 



TITHE third Field Meeting of this Club was held on Tuesday, 29th July, at 

 ^ Downton, on which occasion a goodly number of ladies, invited by special 



tickets, honoured the members with their presence. The train left Barr's 

 Court at 9.25 a.m. for Ludlow, at which station carriages were waiting to convey 

 the party to Downton. The conveyances were soon filled, and, the day being 

 fine, the drive over the beautiful hill of Mary Knoll was most enjoyable. 

 Immediately under this hill is the wooded valley of Hay Park, where the Earl of 

 Bridge water's children lost themselves and gave occasion to Milton to write 

 " Comus." 



The carriages were stopped at Aston for a short time to enable the members 

 to inspect the little Norman church, when the Rev. G. H. Clay, the incumbent, 

 explained its interesting architectural features. The Church was being restored : 

 in the course of restoration, an old timber- jambed, square-headed, priests' door- 

 way had been laid open in the north wall of the chancel ; and a lychnoscope just 

 opposite to it in the south wall. The north Norman doorway with its finely-carved 

 tympanum (about a.d. 1120) was admired by the Club. 



Since their visit, some original wall-painting of an early date has been dis- 

 covered, and thoroughly well restored after the original pattern, by Mr. Robert 

 Clarke, of Hereford, under the superintendence of Mr. F. R. Kempson, architect, 

 of Hereford. 



About one hundred yards east of this Church is a very conspicuous, though 

 small, circular tumulus, with a moat surrounding it, half of which still remains 

 full of water. 



At the Hay Mill the party left the carriages, and wended their way 

 through the beautiful and romantic scenery in the gorge of the river Teme to 

 Downton, where many varieties of lovely ferns flourish in the greatest profusion. 



On the bridge in front of the castle a halt was made to collect the visitors 

 together. The private grounds and conservatories were then visited, and under a 

 wide-spreading beech tree the President took the chair, and the business of the 

 Club was transacted. The Rev. Henry Twells Mogridge waa elected, and three 

 other gentlemen were proposed as members of the Club. 



The President next read an interesting paper written by Mr. Timothy 

 Curley on " The monastic remains discovered in the construction of the Ludlow 



