346 



In the year 1890 the peeling of oak bark was nearly finished before the ash 

 in the same woods had burst its buds, beinp; an interval of fully three weeks in 

 favour of the oak tree. 



After the papers had been read and discussed, the party resumed their seats 

 in the carria'jes for their next destination, viz., St. Briavel's. Passing through 

 Newland village, a handsome specimen of the Quercus siiber, or cork tree, was 

 espied from the carriage seats, growing in the gardens of Oak House, and, on the 

 lawn of the same house, the oak tree which had lost the huge limb which 

 succumbed under an overweight of snow, measuring thirty-four inches in diameter 

 at its base, as previously mentioned (page 340). 



The road to St. Briavel's passes through a country somewhat undulating, 

 and occasionally over portions of the old Roman i-oads, about 9 feet in width, 

 conspicuous by their boundary kerbstones, with which our members have become 

 tolerably familiar, having on many occasions previously observed traces of these 

 roads in various localities in Dean Forest. The tall shaft of the cross in Clear- 

 well village, resting on a square base, 14th century, somewhat resembling in 

 character the White Friars' Cross at Hereford, was passed on the left hand. 

 During the dusty drive it was remarkable that more than one lady's hair had 

 turned grey in three-quarters of an hour, whilst our Assistant Secretary who 

 brought up the rear, looking as if just turned out of a flour mill, presented the 

 most ludicrous contrast in comparison with the rusty coloured miner just emerged 

 " raddled all over " with the red ochre which abounds in a few localities in the 

 subterranean iron mines, indicating the existence of the variety of iron ore called 

 hsematite. 



The carriages having eventually arrived at St. Briavel's took up position in 

 the road opposite the entrance to the Church on the right, and the Castle on the 

 left. The Vicar, the Rev. Wm. Taprell Allen, had deposited some notes with the 

 veteran sexton, which were of assistance to the visitors, from which the following 

 extracts are given : — The Church, dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin, is a cruci- 

 form building, consisting of nave, north and south aisles, north and south 

 transepts, and a tower built in 1831 on the south side. The tithes were originally 

 granted by Wm. Fitz Osbern to his Abbey of Lire in Normandy, which he 

 founded a.d. 1046. The Church was built a.d. 1089, temp William Rufus ; 

 enlarged in 1164 by the addition of choir, transepts, and chancel ; and re- 

 consecrated in 1165. The Abbot of Ivire and his house made over the patronage 

 to the Dean and Chapter of Hereford about 1219. Robert, Abbot of Lire, Canon 

 Residentiary of Hereford Cathedral, died August, 1272. It is suggested, or rather 

 it is asked, is the coffin slab with a triple cross in the south transept in any way 

 connected with him ? It appears to be of the 14th, or late 13th, century work. 

 The female head in freestone, covered with a wimple, however, is a later insertion. 

 The slab is ornamented witVi carvings of oak and laurel leaves, and has on it a 

 triple cross, the mark of a high ecclesiastic. The 13th century canopied tomb, 

 restored, is probably an Easter tomb. The present north arcade of the nave was 

 probably built in the 13th century. It has four lofty pointed arches resting on 



