55 



infiltration from Carboniferous beds, since denuded. The 

 course of the party was now directed to Wenlock Abbey, where 

 a long halt was made ; and a paper was read by Mr. Wayne, 

 giving all the information now to be gathered respecting this 

 fine old monastic foundation, the plan of which is still clearly 

 traceable, though the wreck and ruin of 300 years have left 

 but scanty remnants of what was once amongst the noblest of 

 those religious edifices, which, formerly scattered broadcast 

 over the land, having done their work, have been very properly 

 disestablished and disendowed. The style is, for the most 

 part. Early English with some late Norman, of which the 

 Chapter House, with its beautiful intersecting arcades, is the 

 principal example. Here, surrounded by these old monastic 

 associations, and by those of a not less pleasing nature, which 

 spring from genial company and good fellowship, the party, 

 numbering in its ranks many ladies, partook of a luxurious 

 luncheon, provided for them by the kind forethought of 

 Mrs. Maw. 



From Wenlock the party went by train to Buildwas : the 

 name, according to Mr. Wayne, derived from " Bield," a 

 shelter and " Was," water ; indicative of its character and 

 position, and so far very appropriate. It is a small cruciform 

 Norman Chm-ch, very homogeneous in character, smaller than 

 Wenlock, but much more perfect. In the course of some late 

 excavations an underground passage has been discovered, 

 which has only been partially explored, leading in the direction 

 of the Severn, and apparently a means of shelter and escape 

 in case of danger. Perhaps this was the very " Held " from 

 which the Abbey derived its name. Near Buildwas are the 

 Strethill Drifts — a stratified mass of Gravel and Boulder Clay, 

 210 feet thick, resting against the old Silurian coast-line. A 

 full detail of this section is given in Mr. Maw's exhaustive 

 papers on the Gravels of this district, in Volume XX of the 

 " Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society." 



Wednesday, 9tJi. — The sun was shining brightly as the party, 

 under the guidance of Mr. Maw, descended the hill to Iron- 



