VOL. XVII. (3) EXCURSION— STRATFORD-ON-AVON 285 



EXCURSIONS 

 191 1 



EXCURSION TO THE STRATFORD-ON-AVON DISTRICT 



Tuesday, May i6th, 1911 



Directors : L. Richardson atid G. W. Webb 



{Report by W. Thompson and G. W. Webb) 



On Tuesday, at the first Field Meeting, the Club broke fresh ground, 

 and, although not a word was heard about geology, nor any work accom- 

 plished by the botanists, it was generally admitted that the trip into War- 

 wickshire was most enjoyable. Mr L. Richardson, the able and energetic 

 Hon. Secretary, aims at gratifying the tastes of all the Members, rather than 

 of specialising for a few. With him, of course, geology stands first, but he 

 is not adverse to providing an off-day for archaeologists, and if botanists can 

 do a little work so much the better. On Tuesday, about thirty Members 

 journeyed to Stratford-on-Avon by G.W.R. line, thus obtaining glimpses 

 of Winchcombe, Broadway, Toddington and other picturesque spots. At 

 Stratford a motor 'bus, obtained from Coventry, was in readiness, to convey 

 the party to the pretty and historic village of Kineton and thence to Edge 

 Hills. It must be confessed that this road machine was not a conspicuous 

 success, although it completed both journeys in safety. Members would 

 have preferred horse vehicles, but, as twenty-eight miles had to be covered, 

 the Secretary naturally thought that a motor would be preferable. All's 

 well that ends well, but if the double journey could have been accomplished 

 somewhat faster, the day's programme would certainly have been riaore 

 profitable. We say this advisedly, because at Kineton Church, Members 

 were met by Mr G. W. Webb, Headmaster of Kineton Middle School, who 

 proved to be a veritable storehouse of local information, and who naturally 

 regretted that owing to lack of time only a brief resume of the Church's 

 history could be given. [W. T.]. 



Speaking of this historic structure he said the church was built between 

 13 15 and 1370. It has an Early English Tower and arch, with handsome 

 dog-tooth mouldings. The church was rebuilt (except tower) in 1770, under 

 superintendence of Sanderson Miller, of Rodway Grange, who added north 

 and south transepts. This man designed the hall of Lacock Abbey, Wilts., 

 and is considered the father of Jacobean Gothic. He planted the trees 

 lining the Edge Hills, which was his estate, and is now owned by a descen- 

 dant. The Rev. Francis Miller, M.A., was Vicar of Kineton from 1835-90. 

 In 1870, he began to " restore " the church. He spent some ;£6,ooo on its 

 interior and exterior. The handsome open parapet around the chancel he 

 put in memory of his first wife ; that round the nave and transept and the 

 embattled perpendicular work at the summit of the tower to his second wife. 

 The epitaph to each is upon the stonework on the north side of the church. 

 He raised the arcade of the nave and the chancel arch, put in splendid oak 

 roofs to nave, transepts and chancel (under the original roofs, which are 

 still undisturbed), supported on handsome stone corbels. The old box pews 

 were cut down and modernised, and all the woodwork — which is very good, 

 including the pulpit and the carved work at the west end — was done by the 



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