161 
triangular base was believed to symbolise the Holy Trinity. 
The round tower, the staircase and inscription have now 
been bricked up. In 1779, on Bishop Warburton’s death, 
Prior Park passed to the first Viscount Harwarden, after- 
wards created the Earl de Montalt, who married Mary, 
daughter of Philip Allen, Ralph Allen’s brother. This 
nobleman, who was of a philanthropic nature, was much 
interested in the hospitals of Bath, and also rebuilt and 
enlarged in 1779 eleven cottages (which Ralph Allen had 
erected for his quarry foremen) in order that they might 
be let as lodgings for invalids. Lord de Montalt also founded 
the De Montalt Paper Mills, where formerly Bank of England 
notes were made. The premises are now used as Cabinet 
Works. 
The Earl de Montalt died in 1803, and was succeeded by 
Thomas, the second Earl de Montalt, who died in 1807 without 
issue. The estate was then put into Chancery, and bought in 
1809 by Mr. George Thomas, a rich Quaker of Bristol, who cut 
down the trees, but notwithstanding this sacrilege, which 
was deplored at the time, he proved a most excellent and 
worthy man. He resided at Prior Park for 20 years, and was 
a valued member of the Committee of Management of the 
Kennett and Avon Canal, which he saved from ruin in 1793, 
by financial advances and extraordinary business capacity. 
From that time forward, at the request of his colleagues, 
he undertook the supervision of the whole work, and his 
practical sagacity and unwearying attention and unimpeach- 
able integrity brought about the completion of what was then 
considered one of the best canals in Europe. He died at 
Prior Park in 1829, at the age of 74.* The canal was opened 
in 1813, the same year that the Somerset Coal Canal was 
completed. Mr. Thomas left the Combe Down Quarries rights 
to his great niece, the first Mrs. Cruikshank, who disposed of 
them to various quarry-owners in the neighbourhood. 
The estate having been put up for sale in 1829 it was pur- 
chased by Bishop Baines for a seminary for priests of the 
north-west district (now the Bishopric of Clifton), and for a 
college for Catholic lads of good families. The price Bishop 
Baines paid was £22,000, and 186 acres, 2 roods, 37 perches 
were comprised in the estate. Soon after the purchase 

* Mr. Shum, who was in the chair, stated that he enjoyed 
Mr. Thomas’ hospitality in 1828. 
