287 



wards inspected. The situation was strong for mediaeval times, and 

 would contain a considerable building. Higher up than the church on 

 the road towards Bath is an old barn Avith a fine high pitched roof of 

 the 15th century, said to have been built out of the stones of the ancient 

 castellated mansion of the Gournays, after the attainder of the last 

 proprietor, Sir Thomas Gournay, who was implicated in the murder of 

 Edward II. The old Eectory adjoins the Barn, as if the church had 

 succeeded to the practical headship of the parish, forming perhaps the 

 land of the Duke of Cornwall to whom it belonged. There is a curious 

 old yew tree with an arch between its double stem, caused no doubt by 

 two trees having been fastened together at a certain height from the 

 ground when young and having grown to one tree in that way. The 

 effect looting down into and across the ravine below is curious. The 

 Rev, J. Smart, the clergyman, kindly showed the Club round and ex- 

 plained a good deal. He has restored the Chancel and removed the 

 whitewash so as to show even the marks of the Norman chisel. 

 Altogether the visit to Englishcombe was most interesting and enjoy- 

 able. The Prince of Wales is building a new model farmhouse a short 

 distance from the church, but on higher ground and close to the remains 

 of the Wansdyke, in fact on part of it. It is to be hoped this ancient 

 landmark of history willl be preserved from destruction in the carrying 

 out all the surrounding improvements. 



In the month of April the members walked to Pen hill, Kelston 

 Knoll and over the racecourse home to Bath, the object being 

 to verify some of the points touched upon in a paper read before 

 the Club by the Rev. J. Wright on " Fortified Hills, near Bath." 

 Ascending the eastern flank of the hill a plainly marked ridge is 

 crossed. Is this one of the outworks defending a camp on the 

 top, or is it merely the remains of a hedge 1 The large elm 

 growing on it seems to indicate the latter, but evidently a cutting 

 right through can alone decide this question. It is difficult for 

 the most enthusiastic antiquary to discover traces of any 

 fortifications on the top ; the steep slope to the S.E. is nothing 

 more than the natural escarpment of the hill. Whilst crossing the 

 inclined ground between Pen and Kelston hills on the southern 



