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not to say loaded, and the kindly Rector taking charge of one 
portion of the scientific load, quickly showed that he had 
“handled the ribbons” many a time before. Passing rapidly 
through the village, a long hill checked the speed and enabled 
those who were so disposed to descend and trace the beds of Old 
Red Sandstone and Conglomerate upwards to their junction with 
the Carboniferous shales, here tilted up almost perpendicularly 
and succeeded by massive beds of Limestone. These latter were 
covered up near the brow of the hill by a débris of Milstone Grit, 
concealing, as Mr. Gibbs stated, more solid beds of that formation 
below. On the left a shaft was sunk through the Grit to “ win” 
the ironstone here near the top of the Carboniferous Limestone. 
From this point the members passed on to the Coal beds proper, 
and entered the Forest by the Gloucester and Monmouth Road. 
Shortly after leaving Forest Church and crossing the new rail- 
way, three fine oak trees were seen on the left, remains of the 
ancient forest, one a maiden stick, the other a fine old pollard, 
ealled “Jack in the yat,” which interpreted was said by Mr. 
Niblett, no mean authority in etymology, to signify “oak by 
the road.” An upright stone, called the long stone, close to the 
edge on the right, evidently a menhir, indicated the close 
proximity of Stanton, the first halting place. The Church, not 
very inviting externally, save from the neatness of its well-kept 
churchyard, in pleasing contrast to the general look of unkempt- 
ness elsewhere, well rewarded those who entered. Its late Nor- 
man piers, supporting pointed arches, indicated its transition 
character ; a curious square hollowed stone south of the central 
tower, said to have been once used as a font, seemed to bear 
about it traces of Roman origin, whilst the very curious stone 
pulpit attached to the north-west corner of the tower wall, and 
entered by an ingeniously contrived stone stair, which led on 
upwards to the rood loft, and then into the belfry, was of 15th 
century work. , 
Whilst the largest portion of the party was taken to see a 
