45 



is doubtless of Roman origin, and formed a position of impor- 

 tance in support of an attack on the strong British defence 

 on the hill top. Upon reaching the summit of the hill the 

 party perambulated the greater portion of the fine British 

 encampment, consisting of a well developed double entrench- 

 ment surrounding an irregular circular area, said to contain 

 about forty acres; in the ascent the ancient house of the 

 Overburys at Upper Clopton was pointed out. Descending 

 the hill on the N.E. side Upper Meon was reached, whence 

 carriages conveyed the party to Ilmington. They were met 

 by the Rev. C. J. Young at the church, which has under- 

 gone many alterations; the chancel is of the thirteenth 

 century, and there is a finely moulded Norman doorway on the 

 north side of the building, against the wall of the chancel is 

 placed a very remarkable and we believe unpublished 

 recumbent figure of a priest, a monumental slab, apparently 

 of the thirteenth century. Leaving Ilmington, the high 

 table land of Nebsworth was gained, where a small Roman 

 earthwork about fifty yards square was inspected, this 

 though on so small a scale is wonderfully well defined ; and it is 

 likely from its commanding position, that it was originally 

 formed for a signal station. Proceeding onward, Ebrington 

 was next visited and the tower and chancel of the church 

 only found standing, the nave being under the process of 

 rebuilding; in the neoclassic chancel is the eflSgy of 

 chancellor Fortescue, temp. Henry VI.; near the 

 vicarage the site of a Saxon cemetery was inspected, where 

 many antiquities were discovered which have been preserved 

 very carelessly, or not at all. The carriages now conveyed 

 the party by Battle Bridge, where some years ago a fine 

 British shield was found, which was long used as a ' dripping 

 pan' by its first possessor, to Campden the burial place of the 



