286 The Forty -Second General Meeting. 



extremely interesting building has been rescued, is to be congratu- 

 lated most heartUy on the way in which the work has been ac- 

 complished. 



A short drive further took the party to what must formerly have 

 been the stately mansion of HAZELBURY HOUSE. The occupier, 

 Mr. Fry, very kindly allowed the Members to wander all over it, 

 and to inspect the finely-carved stone mantelpiece in the upper 

 room of the detached building — formerly the Dower House? — 

 now occupied as a cottage close to the great house. The fine 

 garden walls, the gate pillars surmounted with the arms of Speke, 

 and the grouping of the buildings that remain, give Hazelbury an 

 imposing appearance still, though the house was originally probably 

 at least three times its present size. 



On arrival at BOX the first thing to be done was to inspect a 

 small piece of Roman tessellated pavement lately uncovered in 

 Miss Bm-gess's garden, after which the CHURCH was visited. 

 This, as it at present exists, is a remarkable example of the tin' 

 restored Church crowded with galleries, one of which is approached 

 in an original manner by a staircase through the west window of 

 the north aisle! The greatest stickler for the preservation of 

 ancient monuments would hardly drop a tear over the disappearance 

 of these galleries, but if the question of the removal of the central 

 tower was the rock upon which the negotiations for restoration split 

 some years ago — then having the example of Corsham as a warning 

 before their eyes — archaeologists can hardly help rejoicing that as 

 yet, at all events, no such scheme of " restoration," falsely so called, 

 has been carried out. 



DITTERIDGE CHURCH, the next point at which a stoppage was 

 made, with its fine Norman doorway, font, and early Norman 

 lancet windows, is full of interest to the student of architecture. 

 Here Mr. Brakspear read notes on the building prepared by 

 Mr. Ponting. Within a very short distance is the fine old resi- 

 dence of CHENEY COURT, with three beautiful fireplaces in the 

 upper rooms, the whole house being most kindly thrown open to 

 the Society by the temporary occupants. A short drive further 

 brought the party to the Dower House of Cheney Court, known as 



