15 



Members assembled at Nailsworth Station on the Midland line 

 and proceeded in carriages to Calcot, 



On ascending the hill to Barton End a halt was made at the 

 stone quarries, where Mr. Witchell called attention to the 

 thinning out of the Middle Division of the Inferior Oolite ; the 

 whole of the Oolite Marl series together with the Upper 

 Freestone beds appearing to be altogether wanting ; the lower 

 Freestones being capped by the Trigonia beds on Eagstone. 

 The upper surface of the Freestones showed extensive marks of 

 boring, and an example of Lithodomus at the extremity of its 

 burrow was pointed out, the shell remaining just as the animal 

 had left it after the termination of its operations. Oysters also 

 in great numbers are attached to the surface, shewing that in 

 this part of the oolitic sea a pause of some duration took place. 

 On regaining the road, Mr. G. F. Playne pointed out on the 

 opposite side of the valley the old vicarage of Horsley, once 

 occupied by the antiquarian Fosbeooke, a short account of whose 

 life he read from notes made some years before. 



The party then proceeded to Calcot Barn, and were shewn 

 over it by the tenant Mr. Drew. This building is a well-known 

 landmark in the surrounding district, and on account of its 

 antiquity is rarely overlooked by tourists. Its present appearance 

 is marred by a tall chimney-stack erected against its south 

 side, thereby illustrating how in modern farming, steam has 

 supplanted the manual labour of the middle ages. 



The foUoAving account of the Barn, communicated by Mr. 

 Lysons was read. — 



" Calcot Barn is in the neighbourhood of Newington Bagpath. 

 It is 140 feet long by 37 feet 4 inches wide. It was built A.D. 

 1300, as appears by an inscription on a coign stone inside the 

 south porch. There is an inscription on another part of the 

 same porch stating that the barn was burnt down by lightning, 

 October 9th, 1728, and was rebuilt at the cost of Thomas 

 EsTCOTJET, Esq., and John Pitt Caepentee, and finished October 

 20th, 1729. But from the appearance of the side walls it seems 

 probable that it was only the roof which was destroyed, as it is 

 evident that the upper part of the walls have been i-epaired. 



