LECTURES. 53 
owe their very best thanks for the kind way in which they conducted 
the Society about the Colleges and gave up so much of their time. 
BITC, 
EXPEDITION TO CHEPSTOW AND TINTERN. 
AHE first of the two annual expeditions of this 
Society took place on Saturday, May 26th, 1894. 
The places selected for our visit were Chepstow 
and Tintern, which fully justified the choice and 
the popularity which they gained some years ago 
when the Society visited them before. We were 
: 2 not very fortunate in respect of weather, which 
was very wet at times, and rather marred the pleasure of what was in 
all other respects a most enjoyable day. Leaving the Great Western 
Station at 1.15 p.m., we arrived at Chepstow shortly after three o’clock, 
in the midst of a heavy thunderstorm, which, however, did not 
prevent our admiring the view where the train leaves the cutting in 
the hillside to come out on the bridge over the Wye. Owing to the 
rain it was decided to proceed at once to Tintern, contrary to 
the original plan, which had been to see Chepstow and then go 
vid the Wyndcliff to Tintern. Accordingly we went on to Tintern, 
through the most lovely scenery along the banks of the Wye. 
On arriving there, we were thankful to observe that the storm had 
ceased, and we at once went through the village to a picturesque 
little inn called the Beaufort Arms, situated immediately opposite 
the Abbey. Here a halt was called, and we were given the choice of 
remaining at Tintern till eight o’clock and going back to Cheltenham 
by train all the way, or of walking by the Wyndcliff to Chepstow. 
The majority chose the latter alternative, so while those who had 
decided to stay at Tintern were exploring the Abbey, the pedestrians 
were accommodated with an excellent tea, which was much appreciated 
by all. After, we went over the Abbey, a beautiful old building which 
is still, though possessing no roof and having the tracery of some of 
the windows damaged or missing, remarkably intact considering its 
age. It was built in 1131 by Walter de Clare, for monks of the 
Cistercian order. It is built in the Early English style for the most 
part, though in places the transition to the Decorated may be seen. 
We entered by the West door into the Abbey Church, by a ladder in the 
North transept of which access is gained to the top of the ruins, 
whence a fine view of the Wye valley may be obtained. Returning 
GS Af 
———— 
