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that Fielding lived in the house 1 The following is a summary :— 

 " The object of the paper which I have to read this afternoon 

 is only to point out and not solve two questions in relation 

 to our Parochial History in Twerton. Most parishes in England 

 are connected in some way or other with a person of more than 

 local fame. With Twerton is connected that of Henry Fielding, 

 the noveUst. There he is said to have lived some portion of his 

 roving life and still more there he is said to have written his 

 celebrated " Tom Jones," a book especially interesting to all 

 dwellers in Bath, Squire AUworthy being without much doubt a 

 sketch of Ralph Allen. We have therefore in Twerton a house 

 called Fielding's Lodge in past days, evidently of some pre- 

 tensions, to which carved stone vases and other work bear 

 witness. Some years ago it stood in its own acre-and-a-half of 

 ground, but now it is surrounded by humbler and more recent 

 dwelHngs ; these, as if in respect for their neighbour even in its 

 reduced circumstances, are styled Fielding's Buildings. But I 

 should be glad to know of some more certain authority than 

 CoUinson s statement that it was here Fielding lived and Avrote his 

 novels. Why should he live here when his sister lived in Bath 1 

 he had no special employment here and at Prior Park there was a 

 certain welcome. On the door of this house there is a large slab 

 on which is placed a stone crest, consisting of what appears to be 

 a Phoenix rising out of a mural coronet. It is somewhat hollow, 

 the wings of the Phoenix are only represented by stumps ; the 

 beak has apparently formed a target for an only too skilful stone- 

 throwing lad ; and in the cracks and crannies formed by time are 

 now growing miniature wall-flowers. But what does it mean 1 — 

 what family does it represent? Were they the owner's of the 

 house, had they any connection with Fielding? One thought 

 of course that it would form a key to some past history of the 

 family, but alas, I have failed altogether to connect it with any 

 family, and in my search I have not run alone. Mr. God-vvin, 

 Librarian to the Marquis of Bath, most kindly interested himself 



