379 
The Ancient Stronghold of Worlebury. By Rev, H. G. TomKrns, 
(Read 10th February, 1876.) 
Your Hon. Secretary has asked me to read a paper to your 
Society on Worlebury. 
In consenting I have told Mr. Winwood that I accept no more 
ambitious task than the endeavour to give as clear and accurate 
a notion as I can of that very ancient fastness, and of what was 
/ 
found within it. 
One qualification for the work I can claim. During the time 
of exploration, beginning about 25 years ago, I lived in Weston 
and was one of those engaged in the work, and I now lay before 
you original sketches and sections, some of which were engraved 
in the Proceedings of the Somersetshire Archeological and 
Natural History Society to illustrate the reports of my lamented 
friend the Rev. Francis Warre. 
As much as possible I will try to avoid theorizing, and you 
will, I trust, agree with me in thinking that the description I 
have to give to-night is the more trustworthy inasmuch as it was 
written and delivered at Weston, and at Devizes, some three-and- 
twenty years ago when everything described was fresh before our 
eyes. I took every precaution against error by submitting my 
paper in detail to my friends Mr. Warre, Mr. E. Martin Atkins, 
Dr. Pring, and Dr. Thurnam (whom I had the pleasure of enter- 
taining as my guest at Weston) and to my father, whose cautious 
accuracy was well known to his friends. 
I need not say how welcome will be any corrections or additional 
information which the antiquaries and scholars now present may 
be so good as to supply this evening. 
Worle Hill to the north of the town of Weston-super-Mare, 
whose slope, once swarming with rabbits, is now covered by the 
works of builders, town commissioners, and gardeners, is one of 
those parallel limestone ridges, running nearly east and west, which 
mark out so strongly the scenery of that part of Somerset. 
* Vou. III, No, 4, 
