VOL. XVIII. (i) EXCURSION— BATH AND BOX 39 



obtained for the district a world-wide reputation : Rev. H. H. Winwood, 

 F.G.S. (Vice-President), L. Richardson (Hon. Sec), E. T. Paris (Hon. Assis*^ 

 tant Sec), Lieut. -Colonel J. C. Duke, Messrs F. H. Brethcrton, H. W. Bruton, 

 Charles Curtis, A. J. Cullis, T. S. Ellis, R. G. Foster, O. H. Fowler, J. W. 

 Gray, F.G.S. , F. Hannam-Clark, H. Haio[h, H. H. Knight, H. Knowles, E. L. 

 Lawrence, H. McLaughlin, E. C. Seweli, J. W. Skinner, W. J. Stanton, W. 

 Thompson, H. J. Weaver, etc. 



The Members arrived at Bath at 12.10 p.m. Here they were met by the 

 Rev. H. H. Winwood, who conducted them to the Pump Room and Roman 

 Baths. 



First of all, he reminded them that Bath was celebrated for its Roman 

 remains. Indeed, probably there was no place in Britain where they were 

 so fine as here, and very few continental places surpassed them in this 

 respect. Directing attention to the pediment of a temple found in 1790, Mr 

 Winwood dealt with the three theories advanced by way of explaining its 

 original meaning. First they had the Sulinus-Minerva theory, the large head 

 carved on the stone being supposed to have the characteristics of the Sun 

 God and those of Minerva. Of the latter it was possible to point to Minerva's 

 emblem of the owl and her helmet. Another authority said that it was the 

 Gorgon's head or Medusa, and yet another held that it was Esculapius. 

 Personally he lent to the Sulinus-Minerva theory. Another carved figure 

 was undoubtedly Luna, the crescent near the head of the fair goddess being 

 very conspicuous. Turning from these remains of an ancient temple, Mr 

 Winwood conducted the party to the main bath, which is open to the sky, 

 and for over thirty years has attracted a steady stream of visitors. 

 He explained that whilst it was opened up in 1878, they must go back to 

 T755 for the first discovery. They were now standing beneath the open sky, 

 but many years ago he walked through a drain situated above these remains, 

 and it might interest them to know that there were eleven feet of lacustrine 

 mud superimposed upon these old baths. They knew it must be lacustrine 

 mud because of the shells taken from it. How long did it take for that mud 

 to accumulate ? The Romans left the district between 410 and 425, and the 

 Saxons came in 577. The place was destroyed, but how, remains, and must 

 remain, a mystery. It was absurd to suggest, as had been suggested, that 

 p,n earthquake did it. As proving that it must have been a lonely, swampy 

 place, it might be mentioned that a teal's egg was found there and forwarded 

 to the British Museum. The level of the baths was 14 feet below that of the 

 present streets. 



The Members then proceeded to make a perambulation of the baths, 

 inspecting one of the hot springs, and noting the solid masonry still remain- 

 ing in situ, and testifying to the substantial nature of the structure. The 

 daily out-put of hot water from the three springs is 507,000 gallons, and the 

 temperature, 120 degrees as it rises from the earth, never varies. 



After visiting the Pump Room and Corporation Baths, a move was made 

 for Messrs Fortt and Sons' for lunch. In the regretted absence of the Presi- 

 dent, Mr Winwood presided. 



At 2 p.m. the Members left Bath and motored to the Box Ground Stone 

 Quarry of the Bath Stone Firms, Ltd. Here they were courteously received 

 by officials of the Company. 



"The tradition of the discovery of the famous stone at Box, known as 

 ' Box Ground,' is not generally known. According to the legend, St. Aldhelm, 

 a man of distinguished piety and virtue, being about to found the Abbey at 

 Malmesbury, indicated, by throwing down his glove, the spot where stone 

 might be found, or, to use the words of Aubrey, the learned Wiltshire 

 antiquary : — ' Hastlebury Quarre (i.e. Box) is not to be forgot ; it is the 

 eminentest freestone quarry in the West of England, Malmsbury, and all 



