18 
party. The route lay through the Frome Valley, by way of 
Frenchay, Glen Frome, Oldbury Court, Stapleton and Fishponds, 
to the “‘ Speedwell Pits,” on the western side of the Kingswood 
coal-field. Hight years previously, in the summer of 1872, the 
Club‘had visited the Collieries at Kingswood. This excursion 
therefore may be regarded as complementary to the former, 
and of especial interest as enabling the visitors to witness the 
newly-introduced application of compressed air to the ventilation 
of mines. 
In passing through Mangotsfield a halt was made to examine 
an ancient Manor-house and the Church. The former known 
as “ Rodway Hill House,” still retains about it many features 
_ of antiquarian interest, but is especially noticeable as having 
over the entrance-door a stone escutcheon with the armorial 
bearings of the Bouryn family, of whose connection with the 
place there is no record. 
In the church is a mutilated female figure with the curious 
mitre-shaped head-dress of the early part of the 15th century. 
She is supposed to represent a member of the family of Buount of 
Bitton, who were for many generations the principal proprietors, 
and whose arms are to be seen on two escutcheons over the 
western door-way. The arms of Broun as given by BicLanp 
are “ Argent 2 Bars Azure, and over all an Escarboucle of 8 
rays pometté and floretté Or.” 
Passing by way of Downend and Cleeve Hill the party reached 
the beautiful Frome Valley, which they traversed on foot. 
The Frome river—so called according to a Cambro-British 
authority from a Welsh word signifying “ running water ”— 
takes its origin in, and traverses the “‘ Pennant” sandstone of 
the coal measures, which forms as important a feature in the 
Bristol as it does in the Forest of Dean and the Welsh coal-fields. 
This “ Pennant” sandstone fornis a deep valley through which 
the river Frome makes its way amid scenery of no ordinary 
beauty, in which trees, rocks and water combine to present 
all that is most pleasing to the eye and most grateful to 
the feelings. Embowered amongst woods on the stream, is 
“ Snuffy Jack’s Mill,”—a favorite subject for artists—so called 
5 
