280 



339ft. 6in., internal longest diameter 218ft., internal shortest 

 diameter 163ft., frojii first ascent to the greatest curve height 30ft. 

 The only coin found on.the spot was a silver one of the time of 

 Philip Augustus, 240 A.D., ■which was in the possession of Mr. 

 Pownall of Lincoln. His Worshij) added that he had had the 

 entrance dug in search of the great stone, but without finding it. 

 They found however that the soil there had been disturbed to the 

 depth of ten feet, as there had been vaults there. Dr. Bird would 

 not accept the work as Roman at all ; they might have made use 

 of it, but they were too practical to expend the labour which the 

 construction of that place would require. It was a prehistoric 

 w:ork belonging to the unhewn stone period, and its very name 

 was Gaelic — meaning the fort of the big stone. After thanking the 

 Mayor for his information the party walked on a mile and a half 

 to Maiden Castle, a magnificent earthwork measuring about 1,000 

 yards from E. to AV. ?ind 500 from N. to S., covering altogether 

 about 115 acres. It is surrounded with two, and sometimes three, 

 ramparts, 60ft. high and remarkably steep. An extensive view 

 was enjoyed from these, though a strong south-west breeze made 

 walking on them a very uncomfortable proceeding. There are 

 four gates, with elaborate defences in the shape of outworks. A 

 large number of barrows are to be seen in the immediate neigh- 

 bourhood. Diligent search failed to find any flint flakes, and Mr. 

 Broome reported nothing remarkable in the flora of the neigh- 

 bourhood. After a pleasant walk back into Dorchester a halt was 

 made at the King's Arms Hotel, where the party was joined by 

 the Mayor at luncheon. His Worship afterwards led the way to 

 S. Peter's Church, and pointed out the Norman transition south 

 porch, which was considered locally to have been brought from an 

 ancient friary which stood about a hundred yards away. On the 

 other hand it had been suggested that it was a fragment of an 

 older church. The Assistant-Secretary concurred in the latter 

 opinion. The mediaeval builders might spare part of an old 

 building if it suited their purpose, but they would not bring it to 



