PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB 197 



A drive of some three miles brought the [)arty to 

 Pembridge Castle, built by Ralph dc Pembridge, who at 

 the beginning of the 13th Century was settled in this 

 neighbourhood. The Castle is quadrangular, with a 

 South entrance defended by two towers of unequal size 

 It is in iairly good condition, and the greater part of the 

 moat still remains. The building is used as a farmhouse ; 

 the present kitchen and parlour were once the great hall, 

 and a staircase in the projecting turret is, no doubt, 

 original. In the reign of Henry VIII., Pembridge Castle 

 seems to have belonged to the Knights of St John of 

 Jerusalem, who had a preceptory at Carv^'ay, a few miles 

 distant. After the dissolution it was granted to one 

 Baynham, of Newland, who was attainted in the second 

 year of Elizabeth. It was then sold to David Baker, who 

 sold it to Sir Walter Pye, and the last Sir Walter sold it 

 to George Kemble, who made it habitable. This family 

 were members of the Church of Rome, and in the Castle 

 may still be seen the desecrated Chapel v^'here mass was 

 wont to be celebrated. An aged priest of this family, 

 named John Kemble, was betrayed, discovered at the 

 altar, and arrested. He was tried and executed at Here- 

 ford, Aug. 22nd, 1679, one of the last victims of an 

 intolerant age. It is said that the old priest asked to be 

 allowed to smoke a pipe on his way to execution, and to 

 this day the last pipe before a party breaks up is called, 

 in Herefordshire, the " Kemble " pipe. 



A pleasant drive back to Monmouth, and a dinner at 

 the Beaufort Arms Hotel, brought a most interesting and 

 enjoyable day to a conclusion. 



The Fourth and last Field Meeting of the Club was 

 held on the 25th and 26th August, when a large party 

 travelled down to Wells and Glastonbury. 



On arriving at Wells a visit was paid to the Cathedral. 

 The capitals of the piers in the Nave and Transepts, the 

 elaborate carving of the North Porch, the curious inverted 



