250 



whole series. If these be, as Mr. Etheridge contends, the 

 lowermost beds of the " Old Eed," then doubtless the upper and 

 middle beds will be found to lie between them and the "Culm" 

 or Coal of Bideford. But if, on the other hand, as some 

 competent observers hold, these beds are the " Brownstones " 

 or upiiermost beds of the " Old Eed " of Herefordshire, then it 

 would certainly seem to follow that the slaty beds above belong 

 to the lower Carboniferous series, and this is the question which 

 still awaits solution. 



To revert to the Cotteswold Club. A party, about nine in 

 number, assembled at the Egremont Hotel at Williton, a most 

 comfortable hostelry, two miles from Watchet. 



There being time for a ramble before dinner, some of the 

 party made their way to the coast, while others walked a 

 distance of two miles to the ruins of Cleeve Abbey, of which 

 the ruins are picturesque and extensive. Of this monastic 

 foundation, the work of William de Eomara in the 12th century, 

 little appears to be known, though the remains shew its former 

 importance. It is now in a lamentable state of neglect, being 

 dovetailed into a farmhouse. The chapel has been replaced by 

 cowsheds, and barn and granaries occupy the place of dormitories 

 and refectories. Still enough remains to shew the extent and 

 importance of the original structure. The refectory is a noble 

 apartment, full 50 feet long, with a fine vaulted roof of carved 

 oak, having wall-springers representing angels resting on corbels. 

 The earliest portions now existing do not appear to date back 

 beyond the middle of the 13th century. 



The architecture of the dormitory is of much earlier date than 

 the refectory, probably about the end of the 13th century. The 

 lower story has good double lancet windows, divided by shafts 

 with boldly worked bases and capitals. The dormitory itself is 

 a fine apartment, with very small lancet windows (each parted 

 by a plain block of stone) which evidently were never glazed. 



I am indebted to our colleague, Eev. Mr. Eowlee, for the 

 following account of the Gate-house : — 



" Arched entrance flanked by buttresses ; an inscription over 

 the arch in old English letters, from age and contractions not 



