VOL. XVIII. (2) EXCURSION— COLN VALLEY 103 



ideal conditions. The house was built in 1590, by John Coxwell, a.nd the 

 manor remains the property of his successors. Arlington Row, which has 

 been represented on the walls of the Royal Academy, was also viewed and 

 admired. 



By kind permission of Mrs Cooper, the members had the opportunity 

 of seeing Bibury Court and grounds. This beautiful house was built by 

 Sir Thomas Sackville, a former lord of the manor, about the time of James I., 

 and the date 1623 appears on the front of the house. ' 



The handsome Parish Church, which was also visited, occupies the site 

 of an earlier Norman building, for there was a priest here in 1086, and there 

 is some stone-work in the chancel wall which is thought to be Saxon. 



Bibury is well-known in connection with its springs — the " Bibury 

 Springs." These are situated in a garden, well cared for by the tenant of the 

 Swan Hotel. The water issues forth from the junction of the Great-Oolite 

 beds with the Fullers'-Earth clay — the same geological horizon as the Bisley 

 Springs. It was unnecessary to remind the Members that the Coin is a river 

 beloved of anglers : fish and fishermen were much in evidence. At Coin 

 St. Aldwyn, the Manor House, the residence of Lord St. Aldwyn, was pointed 

 out, beautifully situated on a flat projecting spur of high ground. At Quen- 

 ington, the two richly-carved Norman doorways of the Church of St. Swithin 

 were inspected. Surprise was exhibited at the ornate work and at the 

 extreme interest of the tympana. 



The subject of the tympanum of the North doorway is the Triumph of 

 Christ over Death and Satan. Three souls are arising from Hades, symbolised 

 by a whale, and are adoring their Saviour. Satan lies on his back, bound hand 

 and foot, pierced through the mouth by the staff of our Lord's cross. The 

 figure of a sun represents the First Person of the Holy Trinity. Above 

 the doorway is a ram's head, much mutilated. 



The subject of the tympanum of the South doorway is the mythical 

 Coronation of the Virgin Mother, which, when thus treated, was considered 

 to be symbolical of the Church Triumphant. The Second Person of the Holy 

 Trinity is placing a crown on the head of his Mother, who holds a dove, the 

 symbol of purity, and also of the Third Person. On either side are two sym- 

 bols of the Evangelists : on the right, the Angel of St. Matthew and the Lion 

 "of St. Mark ; on the left, the Bull of St. Luke and the Eagle of St. John. 



The Members also climbed up into the building commonly called a 

 " barn," and saw a very curious piece of roof work. From Quenington the 

 party motored to Cirencester, across open Cotteswold country, fresh with 

 unrestrained breezes, and part of an extensive tract over which in all direc- 

 tions pleasing views were obtained. 



At The Beeches, Cirencester, Mr and Mrs E. C. Sewell entertained the 

 Members at tea. The President, in well-chosen words, expressed the Club's 

 appreciation of the welcome that had been extended to them ; and 

 Mr Sewell, in reply, said he had long awaited an opportunity of entertaining 

 the Club, but he had always been forestalled by his friend Mr Bowly. 



The party from Cheltenham then returned by way of the Cemeys and 

 Colesborne to Cheltenham, arriving at the G.W.R. Station at 7.15, and so 

 ended an excursion which was a source of pleasure to all concerned. 



I. An account of Bibury Court and Ablington Manor will be found in " Country Life," 

 Sept. 7tb, 1912, or vol. xxxii., pp. 324-329. 



