284 The Forf//- Second General Meeting. 



arranged, so that there was no undue hurry ; Castle Combe was 

 looking its best ; the deep combes and steep hill-sides of the country 

 about West Kington and North WraxaU, so unlike the rest of 

 Wiltshire, was a surprise to many who had never seen this comer 

 of the county before ; the Churches displayed a considerable variety 

 of architecture ; and the old houses were exceptionally nmnerous 

 and interesting. 



At the evening meeting, at 8. 30, there was again a somewhat 

 smaU attendance — twenty-eight being present when Mr.C.H.Talbot 

 read his paper on " Eecent Discoveries at Lacock Abbey," which 

 was admirably illustrated by a beautiful series of photographs taken 

 by Mr. Sidney Brakspear — so that the whole work of discovering 

 and unblocking the chapter-house door and windows, &c., &c., went 

 on step by step before the eyes of the andience ; and the loving 

 care with which the owner of Lacock Abbey treats the building 

 was abundantly manifested. 



At the conclusion Mr. H. E. Medlicott, who presided — the 

 President having left during the afternoon — ^moved a very hearty 

 vote of thanks to the Local Committee for the very kind way in 

 whicli the Society had been received at Corsham, and especially to 

 Mr. II. Brakspear, the Local Secretary, upon whom the whole 

 brunt of the arrangements had fallen ; to Mr. Lowndes for his 

 hospitality and also for the many other ways in which he had taken 

 much trouble to make the Meeting a success ; and to Sir J. Dickson 

 Poynder, Bart., M.P., for his kindness in lending a break and pair 

 of horses to the Society both on Wednesday and Thursday, and for 

 the hospitality offered to the Members at Hartham on Wednesday 

 afternoon. Mr. Bell seconded the vote of thanks ; which was 

 responded to by Mr. Mayo and Mr. Brakspear, on behalf of the 

 Local Committee. 



FEIDAY, AUGUST 2nd. 



Leaving the Town Hall at 9.15 the first stoppage was at LACOCK, 

 whore the grand foiuieenth centuiy BARN of the Abbey was in- 

 spected before the party moved on to the CHURCH. Here Mr. 

 Talbot read some notes on the building and afterwards showed 



