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miles of Wedmore village. A spirit of inquiry has been stirred 

 up to ascertain if any remains of the buUding could be found, and 

 these efforts have not been unrewarded. Excavations have been 

 undertaken by the Vicar, who has had the field opened, and the 

 excavations have revealed the foundation walls of the palace and 

 an arched chamber,* as well as a system of small rooms, 

 resembling the arrangement of a Roman bath. In the course of 

 excavating much pottery and many hexagonal tiles have been 

 found. The hexagonal tiles are cut upon the Roman plan, but 

 are not so large and wide as the Roman. The pottery is of 

 various kinds — much common black ware, which seems to have 

 been in use from a very early to a comparatively late period, and 

 glazed pottery of different periods. No articles of value have yet 

 been found — only iron keys, nails, and a knife ; nor is this very 

 surprising, as the palace was no doubt inhabited long after Alfred's 

 time, and then probably occupied as a grange, until it gradually 

 fell into disuse, and in the end became a quarry. 



The site is very striking, well suited for a royal residence, 

 looking across the lowland, formerly a lake, and having Glaston- 

 bury within sight about eight miles distant, and the ridge of 

 the Polden hills, and the Quantock hills bordering on the Channel. 



There is little doubt that if these excavations can be continued, 

 the entire plan of the palace may be made out, and probably some 

 objects of interest discovered. 



Mr. Earle seems to think he has discovered the ancient Saxon 

 font at Aller at which Guthrum was baptised. Certain it is that 

 his visit there twenty years ago has rescued from neglect and 

 oblivion an interesting memorial of early times, which may have 

 served the holy purpose at the solemn service, when King 

 Alfred and his nobles were present. The font is now restored to 

 its proper use, and will remain an interesting relic of a bygone age. 



• This chamber is 8 feet below the surface, the walls are at present 4 feet 

 high, and two steps lead into it. One of these walls is 5 feet 10 inches thick. 

 Some of tlie wall plaster remains. 



