288 



that we are indebted for the discovery of this portion of the 

 Via Julia, and for the learned references which I have embodied 

 in the foregoing remarks. 



Leaving the Via Julia at Soudley, where there is a small 

 triangular camp, which may have had some connection with it, 

 the members made a hasty visit to the iron works, and 

 examined some of the ores smelted there. Soudley has been 

 for centuries the seat of iron manufacture. In 1550 or 1560 

 wire was made there drawn out by strength of hand. It is at 

 present devoted to the production of " pig " only, of which some 

 25 tons are turned out daily when the furnaces are in full blast ; 

 and this quantity will before long be increased. The ores are 

 of several sorts. Forest haematite, fine Spanish ore from Bilbao, 

 and grey iron stone from Yorkshire. The mixture of these 

 different sorts produces the particular quality known as 

 " Soudley pig." It is not a little curious that while the 

 Romans mined iron in Dean Forest to such an extent that their 

 imperfectly smelted cinders have ever since furnished a source 

 of wealth in the re-smelting, iron-mining had fallen to so low 

 an ebb in the district a century ago, that every bit of ore smelted 

 in the Forest was for some time brought from Lancashire. 



While the party was occupied in the examination of these 

 heaps, the foreman of the works brought an ancient ladder to 

 shew them, which had been found in one of the old workings, 

 quite recently. It was a single beam of Oak, 5 or 6 inches thick, 

 and about 7 feet in length, with large notches cut in it to 

 afford foot-hold to the miner, in reaching faces of rock a few 

 feet above his own height. 



The party returned by way of the Blaize Bailey to N'ewnham, 

 where they dined together at the Victoria Hotel. 



The Second Field Meeting of the season took place at 

 MALMESBURY, 

 on Thursday, 15th of June. 



The rain, so earnestly desired by the farmers, did not 

 contribute to the enjoyment of the members of the Cotteswoli 

 Club on this occasion. 



