of science. The fine old church of Colwall — the "Colewelle" of Domesday 

 Book — was the first point to which their steps were directed ; and on the way 

 those members who took interest in antiquariaH questions conversed on the 

 etymology of the name. It being generally agreed that the spelling of Domesday 

 Book was the best guide to the etymology, it was concluded that the "well" 

 •which had given name to the places was probably one of the supposed holy 

 ■wells or springs which were so important in the Saxon paganism, being supposed 

 to be the abodes of minor deities. The worship of these deities seems to have 

 survived for many ages, in spite of all attempts to extirpate it by penal law, 

 although heavy penalties were denounced against icelwecyrtkunga (well- worship) 

 as well as against other pagan usages. The first syllable of the word Colewelle 

 was held to mean Cold, either from the open position of the well, or from 

 the temperature of the water, as compared with that of St. Anne's well, which 

 is probably the nearest holy well ; but no well was observed which seemed 

 likely to be the one from which the parish received its name. 



On reaching the church, the archteological section of the party examined 

 the restored chancel and the remains of the interesting old cross near the 

 ohurch, with its richly-carved tracery ; and be it added that many a 

 regretful thought was given to the sad reminiscences suggested by the poor 

 deserted rectory close by. 



From the churchyard the main body proceeded by a farm-house, whose 

 great size, and heavily-timbered walls, and odd windows, give it an appearance 

 of departed greatness, that bears out well the tradition of its having been 

 formerly one of the summer palaces of the Bishops of Hereford — on through 

 the farm-yard — on by the muddy remains of the fish-pond — on to the field that 

 still has the name of Colwall Park. In the middle of this field stand the two 

 celebrated Colwall oaks— alone in their glory,— the last remnants of the 

 primeval forest of the district. They are very picturesque trees ; — they still 

 bear a considerable amount of foliage about their centres, but lift up through 

 it their large stag-headed branches, bare and dead, towards the sky ; they are 

 of great, but not of extraordinary, size. The largest tree, at 5 feet from the 

 ground, measures 21 feet 7 inches in circumference, but spreads out towards 

 the ground to the circumference of no less than 40 feet 10 inches. This tree is 

 hoUow ; and as five of the members stood up within it, it was evident that three 

 more could also have done so at the same time. The companion tree, at 5 feet, 

 measures 16 feet 2 inches, spreading out in a similar manner to the circum- 

 ference of 34 feet on the ground. They are both Quercus pedunculata, the 

 so-called old English oak. The very great appearance of age presented by these 

 trees, their picturesque shape and solitary position, well backed as they are by 

 the range of the Malvern Hills, gives them a most interesting character. 



" Three hundred years an oak expends in growth — 

 Three hundred years in majesty stands forth ; 

 Three hundred years declines and wastes away : 

 Then dies, and takes three hundred to decay." 



So says the lolo M.SS. in the "Ancients of the World." These trees are 



A 2 



