? 
37 
a stone roof with slabs overlying one another and moulded at 
the lap, and appears to be of 14th century work, and the doorway 
an insertion of later date; but Mr. Talbot (of Lacock Abbey) 
considered it to be the work of Sir William Sherrington, as the 
mouldings correspond with those in his work at the Abbey. 
The rest of the members here joined in, having walked through 
Spye Park. The next halting place was Lacock Abbey, where 
the owner, Mr. Talbot (a member of the Club), conducted the 
party round the outside of the building, describing the principal 
features, amongst others the roof of the cloisters very perfect and 
the masons’ marks still distinct. The Abbey was founded in 
1232 for Canonesses of St. Augustine, and converted into a manor 
house by Sir William Sherrington about 1540. The cloisters 
sacristy, and several other parts remaining untouched. Time 
compelled the party to shorten their visit, and to go away 
without seeing the inside of the building, and they returned to 
Bath by the 5.30 train. 
Dr. Bird also contributed some notes upon the botanical 
features of the country. The spring, he said, was one of the 
latest known for years, very few insects or spiders being yet 
about. The trees, too, were not out in leaf, the sycamore buds 
only just bursting out; but the large Scotch firs, the yew trees, 
and hollies presented beautiful objects in the brown woods. The 
primroses were still in full blossom, and the cowslips and 
bluebells just coming into bloom. One plant not very common 
was gathered in blossom—Erodium cicutariwm (Hemlock Stork’s- 
bill), The word Lacock he considers to be derived from lay, a 
meadow, and oche, water; Bromham from Celtic bron, breast of a 
hill, and hem, a border. 
WHITE SHEET CASTLE. 
Either the prospect of a fine day on the Wiltshire Downs or 
the desire of escaping the rowdyism attendant on the Bath Races 
attracted a larger gathering than usual of the members on 
