The Conversazione. 101 



























It is described in 1728, ‘The pit of the late powder house which remained 
within memory,’ and may have served this purpose when the castle was re- 
fortified during the Civil Wars. An apartment adjoining, 19ft. x 16ft., 
facing south, had in its outer wall three small Norman windows very deeply 
splayed and each protected on the outside by strong masonry projecting 
outwards in a semicircle, so as to admit light downwards, the earth being 
thrown up on the outside to a considerable height for the defence of the wall. 
In the centre of the keep, walls of a very large apartment—at least 50ft. x 40ft. 
were also uncovered, near the centre of which, and resting on a wall 3sft. 
_ thick, were bases of massive Norman piers, suggesting, perhaps, the site of a 
large common hall and garrison room. In other smaller apartments adjoining, 
were found medieval pottery, glazed and unglazed, boar’s tusks, and antlers 
of deer.” ! 
From the Castle the party returned to the Council Chamber, 
_where the Mayor and Mayorgss most kindly entertained them at 
_ tea, after which ST. JOHN’S AND ST. MARY'S CHURCHES * were 
seen under the guidance of Mr. C. E. Ponrinc, who minutely 
_ described their architectural features. 
THE ANNUAL DINNER was held at 7 o'clock, at the Assembly 
Room at the Bear Hotel, some fifty-seven members sifting down 
to it. Mr. Srory MASKELYNE again took the chair, and, in pro- 
posing the toast of the Society, spoke of the good work that had 
been done by it, since its formation fifty years ago. 
_ At the CONVERSAZIONE, held at 8.30, in the Town Hall, there 
was an attendance of about seventy-five. The Rey. E. H. Gopparp 
gave an account of the BOROUGH MACES, STANDING CUP, and 
the Brittox Club Punch Bowl, all of which, together with the 
‘small silver staff, or mace, given by Mr. Butcher as a mace for the 
ayoress in 1900, which seems, however, in old days to have been 
ied before the Rector of Devizes, were kindly exhibited for the 
sasion. Mr. Goddard also commented on the very curious 
story connected with the remarkable acorn cup now in the pos- 
Session of Sir J. C. Robinson, of Newton Manor, Swanage, and 
most kindly lent by him for exhibition. Mr. Goddard’s notes on 


Z. Mr. Kite’s notes on the castle are reported in full in the Devizes Gazette, 
July 30th, 1903. 
Mr. Ponting’s notes on St. John’s Church are given in full in the Devizes 
Gazette, July 30th, and those on St. Mary’s in the same paper August 20th, 
I03 4 
