124 The Forty-Seventh General Meeting. 
the south aisle will once more be roofed over and thrown into the 
Church. Some discussion took place as to the use of the curious 
projecting stone chamber, in the triforium on the southern side, 
apparently of late fourteenth century date, which Mr. Brakspear 
regarded as having been built to contain the organ for use in the 
nave services. 
Mr. Brakspear’s account of the building and its history was very 
much to the point, but as it is hoped that when the work is complete 
he will put the knowledge he has gained at the disposal of the 
Society in the shape of a paper in the Magazine it is unnecessary 
to dwell further on it here. 
After the Abbey, the adjoining ABBEY HOUSE, the residence 
of the late Dr. Jennings, was kindly thrown open to the inspection 
of the Society, and the vaulted chambers with a range of windows 
looking over the valley—now forming the cellarage of the 
Elizabethan house, but once part of the Infirmary Hall of the 
Abbey—were visited with much interest, as well as a good panelled 
room in the later building above, with a fine view from its windows 
over the river. 
From this point the party proeeeded slowly, for the day was 
hot, to take advantage of the tea most kindly provided at 
Halcombe by Cou. and Mrs. Luce. 
After tea many of the party made their way to St. John’s 
Hospital, with its handsome transition Norman archway built up ; 
and to the quaint little court house behind it—still used for the 
courts of the ‘‘Old Corporation.’ Here the annual election of 
officers takes place on Trinity Tuesday, and in former years after 
the election, a procession, with a representative of King Athelstan in 
a scarlet cloak, paraded the town—conspicuous amongst the officers 
being the Steward of the Common, whose business it is to allot their 
land to the four hundred and forty freemen, or commoners, who 
still enjoy the benefit of King Athelstan’s donation of the “ King’s 
Heath.” On this occasion it was the custom within living memory 
to pelt the steward with flour, soot, and eggs, but whether on 
account of his own particular misdemeanours or on account of 
those of some semi-mythical predecessor does not seem to be known. 
