21 



This paper was further iUustrated by a fine series of fossils, 

 obtained by the author at Bradford, the list of which, with an 

 account of the beds in which they occur, furnished subject for a 

 lively debate. 



Next day, the NaturaHsts and Antiquaries, after examining 

 the section at Bradford, the "Half-way House," &c., terminated 

 a most agreeable visit with an excursion to the venerable Abbey 

 Church of Sherborne, the interesting features of which remark- 

 able structure cannot fail to make a lasting impression on the 

 mind of every intelligent visitor. 



Wednesday, 1 6th August. The Club met at Tortworth Court, 

 the seat of the Earl of Ducie, where, in the absence of the 

 noble proprietor, the boat-house on the lake was prepared 

 for the reception of the party. From hence they proceeded to 

 examine a locahty on the Vineyard Hill, where Eoman coins 

 and pottery had been occasionally turned up. The Vineyard 

 Hill at Tortworth occupies a warm and sheltered slope, in a 

 valley facing the south. The old vineyards, with their terraces 

 of dry masonry, are still well preserved and clearly traceable, 

 and demonstrate unmistakeably the fact that at no distant period 

 of time the out-door culture of the vine was well understood, 

 and practised on a large scale in this country. The quaUty of 

 the wine yielded by these grapes may be matter for discussion; 

 but in those days, when the vnnes of France, Italy, and the 

 Ehine were with difficulty attainable, even by the most wealthy, 

 it may well have been that the thin liquor fermented from 

 native-grown grapes was deemed no ill substitute. 



A body of labourers with pickaxes were employed in excavating 

 on the spot which had yielded Eoman relics, and were successful 

 in finding a quantity of coins, for the most pai-t undecipherable, 

 but amongst them some were recognised as belonging to the 

 period of the second Constantine, in the fourth century. With 

 these were found portions of pottery of unquestionable Eoman 

 origin, together with some pieces of pure-grained hsematitic 

 Iron ore. 



The attention of members was especially directed to the well 

 marked lines of circvunvallation which occupy the summit of 



C2 



