Woolbope jaataraliats' fwlh Clab. 



May 30th, 1887. 



A VISIT to the Camp at Wall Hills, Thornbury, in the Bromyard district, situated 

 in the north-eastern corner of our county, has for a long time been premeditated 

 by our Club, and at last has become an accomplished fact. Two large brakes 

 conveyed our party on Thursday, June 30th, along the Bromyard road, through 

 the Frome district (see Map of Botanical Eistricta, Transactions, 18G6), and the 

 town of Bromyard, thence in a northerly direction, along the Tenbury road for a 

 couple of miles, when a short divergence to the left brought us through Lower 

 and Upper Horton to what might have been the original Roman road of access, 

 by its southern entrance, into the Camp. 



The Bromyard district has not been much explored by the Members of our 

 Club. Geologically, we passed over in our route to-day the lower Old Red clays 

 and marls ; the hills of cornstones and sandstones, as at Castle Frome and Bishop's 

 Frome, lying upon our east. Botanically, this district has very great interest, for 

 here, near Tedstone Delamere, was once found that very beautiful and curious 

 orchidaceous plant (so shy and uncertain even in such parts of Europe as claim 

 it as indigenous) the Epipogum aphyUum*. For several year.s this was the only 

 instance of its occurrence in Great Britain, until it was once again found near 

 Ludlow. The Rev. A. Ley left the party with the object of exploring Edwin's 

 Wood and the neighbouring country, and to the sketch of his rambles we owe the 

 subjoined report of the botany of the day. Nor were our Entomologists less 

 busy. Notwithstanding the heat of the day, which rendered our travelling more 

 slow, and necessitated a halt in order to give water to the horses, thus leaving but 

 little time at our disposal, we must admit that they made the most of this little 

 time. They captured the larvse of several somewhat rare species including Selenia 

 illusiraria, Notodonta dictoeoides, If. trepida, &c., &c. 



But to return to the camp at Wall Hills, Thornbury, which we reached 

 by the main southern entrance. The mention of Wall Hills reminds us of the 

 repeated retention in this county of the Roman Vallum in the modern appellation 

 of Wall. We have Wall Hills at Ledbury, Wall Hill near Orleton, Wall Field 

 near Cradley, Walford near Leintwardine, Walford near Ross, Sutton Walls near 

 Hereford, Coxwall Knoll near Leintwardine, and others. For a discussion on the 

 meaning of the term Wall, see "Transactions," 1883, p. 23. 



Thornbury Camp, oval in plan, comprising an area of about 25 acres, is 

 enclosed by a single rampart, surrounded by a deep ditch, at heights varying 



" Since the period of our visit to this neighbourhood the " Flora of Herefordshire " has 

 been published. See page 300, Plate I. for a representation of this rare plant. 



