104 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB 



The third field meeting was held on August yth, when 

 the party assembled at Newnham, and drove thence to 

 Awre, where the architectural features of the church were 

 explained by Mr Waller. The members examined the 

 curious old muniment chest, on the top of which in old 

 days the bodies of those found drowned in the Severn 

 were placed ; and the Register, complete from the year 

 1538. The tide was too high to allow of an inspection of 

 the interesting Liassic beds which are exposed at low 

 water in the bed of the river. The drive was then 

 resumed through Blakcney to Soudley, where there 

 exists in good preservation a small Roman Camp in a 

 commanding position close to the Via Julia. Most of the 

 members then climbed the Hill to the Blaize Bailey and 

 walked thence to Littlcdean, enjoying one of the most 

 lovely and extended views in the Forest of Dean. They 

 passed an old house called the " Temple," about which 

 Mr John Bellows made some remarks, saying that he was 

 of opinion that the Severn at Newnham was the scene of 

 the most important battle the Romans ever fought in 

 Britain ; that the site of " the Temple " commands this 

 battle field from the summit of the hill above, and that no 

 less than four Roman roads are known to cross at the 

 same spot. >i-Vfter luncheon at Littlcdean, the members 

 proceeded to Gunns Mills along the Roman road, on 

 which the bordering stones can still be very clearly 

 traced, passed Flaxley Abbey, examined, close to the 

 schools, an interesting Upper Ludlow Quarry, and thence 

 drove to Westbur}', where the Vicar kindly acted as guide 

 to the church. A visit was then paid to the celebrated 

 Garden CUfi', the geological features of which were 

 explained by Mr Wethered. The party then honoured 

 the President with a visit to Westbury Court, and 

 returned thence in the carriages to Newnham. 



