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in this locality covered with surface soil. There was a quarry in which the Upper 

 Beds, and the transition into the Millstone Grit, might have been seen, but the 

 rain came down with such determination that no halt was made. Further on, 

 on their way towards the Wilderness, a shelter was found under trees until the 

 rain ceased, and then the party proceeded onwards towards the Cement Works, 

 having abandoned their intention of visiting the large quarries in the Carboniferous 

 Limestone at "The Wilderness" on account of the threatening state of the 

 weather. At Mr. Colchester Wemyss's " Wilderness Cement Works" they were 

 met by his courteous Manager, Mr. J. M. Carr — under whose guidance they were 

 at first conducted to a cutting recently made intersecting the Upper Limestone. 

 After an explanation of the strata, the whole process of making cement, possessing 

 all the hydraulic properties of the so-called " Portland Cement " was studied, and 

 the skill and experience required in so incorporating the admixture of its con- 

 stituents. Carbonate of Lime, Silica, and Alumina, in such proportions as to 

 ensure perfection of hardness and properties of setting in water, were pointed out, 

 the many chances of failure being at the same time demonstrated. Mr. Carr 

 conducted the members over some more vestiges of the " Roman Workings," close 

 to the Cement Works — one called ''The Waggon" presented a very uninviting 

 dungeon-like appearance ; here again it behoves the traveller to be wary where he 

 plants his feet. 



The Church was now visited under the guidance of the Rev. H. H. Hardy, 

 the Vicar. It is dedicated to St. Michael, hence the name Micheldean — which is 

 now more usually spelled Mitcheldean. The Church has a Nave and Chancel, one 

 aisle on the South side and two aisles on the North. A Tower at the South-West 

 angle surmounted by a lofty and tapering spire. The old oak roofs over the two 

 North aisles, of different ]5attems, are fine examples of the flat Perpendicular style, 

 being richly moulded and carved throughout with angels in high relief ; a 14th 

 century barrel-shaped roof covers the Nave, divided into panels, with carved 

 bosses at the intersections of the rib mouldings. There is no Chancel arch, but at 

 the division of the Nave and Chancel, immediately under the roof, are the remains 

 of some ancient woodwork which probably stood over the rood screen, of which 

 there is now nothing remaining. This woodwork is divided into panels, the 

 paintings on which represent figures — too distant to be distinguished, and much 

 hidden below by a modern wooden arch. The old Norman font has been restored, 

 the upper portion newly worked to fit on to the old part below, having figures in 

 the arches similar to the font in Hereford Cathedral. In the South-east angle of 

 the South aisle is a very good piscina and credence. In the modern vestry at the 

 Eastern end are two brasses fixed to the walls, each about 2 feet C inches in height, 

 supposed to be the effigies the one of Margery, wife of Thomas Baynham, daughter 

 of Richard Hodge, a.d. 1444, and the other, of Alice, wife of Thomas Baynham, 

 daughter of William Walwyn, a.d. 1456. The Church possesses a peal of eight 

 bells of exceptional beauty. Its register dates from the year 1680. 



The more active members then visited the Terra-Cotta Pottery Works, 

 situated on the Longhope Road, at a distance of one mile from Mitcheldean, 

 where they witnessed the whole process of working the material, from its 

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