200 The Fortieth General Meeting. 



Castle — the scene of some sharp fighting during the Civil War. 

 The Rev. J. F. Welsh here gave an interesting account of what is 

 known of the historical events connected with the spot. After this 

 the party proceeded through Horningsham to SHEARWATER, 

 where an excellent lunch, provided by the liberality of the Local 

 Committee, awaited them. After the thanks of the Society to 

 Lord and Lady Bath had been expressed by Mr. C. A. Bleeck, a 

 few minutes were allowed for the enjoyment of the scenery of the 

 beautiful sheet of water before the carriages were ready to take the 

 party on to LONGBRIDGE DEVERILL, where the Church — described 

 by Mr. Ponting — and the seventeenth century almshouses which 

 group so well with it as seen from the road, were visited. In the 

 latter the original oak staircases to the upper rooms, and the 

 panelling, though plain, are of some interest. 



A short drive further brought the Members to HILL DEYERILL, 

 where the exceedingly unpromising-looking Church was visited 

 for the sake of the fine Ludlow altar-tomb and the curious 

 wooden tablets of the Cokers. Close by is the interesting old 

 manor-house of the Ludlows, now a farm — the front of the house 

 being good work of about 1700, whilst the back is of older Elizabethan 

 work, and the immense barn against which it is built is of the 

 fifteenth century — the earliest work of all being a low range of 

 buildings circa 1420, now forming the stables, on the opposite side 

 of the yard, which still retains a fine doorway with interesting 

 details, and its original roof. This probably formed the entrance to 

 the original house. The fullest liberty to inspect these interesting 

 buildings was kindly allowed the party by the owner, Mr. Stratton. 



A further drive and a stiffish climb on foot brought the party to 

 the ramparts of BATTLESBURY CAMP, where a grand view, and 

 — what perhaps for the moment was even more appreciated by 

 the majority — an excellent cup of tea, provided by the forethought 

 of the Local Committee, awaited them. 



Probably few who had not visited this camp before were prepared 

 to find it, as it certainly was, one of the greatest treats of this 

 year's Meeting, the double line of earthworks it presents round its 

 entire circumference of a mile having a most striking effect, and 



