Summary of Proceedings of the Bath Natural History av 

 Antiquarian Field Club for the years 1865-6. 



Mr. President, Vice-President and Gentlemen, 



The continued increase in the number of members indicates 

 that there is no lack of interest in the proceedings of the Club, 

 Whether the object for wliich it was founded has been attended 

 to — viz., the investigation of the Natural History, Geology and 

 Antiquities of the neighbourhood — the summary of proceedings 

 for the past year, Avhich the Secretary presents to you, can 

 alone show. 



The four Excursions fixed at the last Anniversary have all 

 been caiTied out, with the exception of that to Silchester, Avhich 

 at the wish of the members expressed at one of the Quarterly 

 Meetings was indefinitely postponed. The first of the season, 

 to Wantage, the Berkshire White Horse, and UfBngton, was a 

 success in every way, due chiefly to the admirable arrangements 

 made by Mr. Wasbrough for the transit and conveyance of the 

 members. Under this gentleman's guidance the chief points of 

 interest in the birth place of Kuig Alfred were visited, — the 

 fine Church with its massive Early English piers supporting the 

 Tower — the bedroom in which Bishop Butler was born — and 

 King Alfred's well (a crystal bath worthy of a King). Leaving 

 Wantage the members proceeded in carriages to the foot of the 

 Downs, and essayed a blast upon the blowing stone (a mass of 

 perforated silicious sandstone, said to have been formerly used 

 for sounding an alarm over the neighbouring country). The 

 iinited efibrts of all Bath were unable to produce a sound from 

 the trumpet shaped hole. A native trumpeter, however, being 

 found was more successful, and satisfied all present that when 

 m its original place on the top of the Downs a most effective 

 alarm could be raised. Taking the Kidgeway on the right, a 



