VOL. XVIII. (3) 



EXCURSION— CIRENCESTER 



215 



There had been an extensive settlement of the stonework, and this may have 

 been due to the fact that originally the gateway was 20 or 30 feet higher, and 

 the weight resting on the arch would have been considerable. It dated back 

 to late Henry II., the whole character of the erection pointing to the end of 

 the 12th century. 



A short walk brought the party to all that remains of St. John's Hospital 

 (fig. 3). According to Leland it was founded by Henry I., and endowed by 



Fig. 3. — St. John's Hospital, Cirencester 



him with one-third of the tithes of his demesne in Cirencester. The sur- 

 viving arches were utilised for the erection of cottages, one of which remains, 

 but three arches have been restored to their original state, and this involved 

 the removal of the tunnel-like passage known as the " paen," along which 

 the boys of Cirencester, I\Ir Sewell included, were in the habit of running. 

 [E.C.S.] 



In Gloucester Street attention was drawn to some model cottages erected 

 by Earl Bathurst in lieu of pre-existing slums, and which he endeavoured to 

 make conform to the best type of Cotteswold cottage extant. The general 

 effect is pleasing, and it was acknowledged that the Earl had been happy in 

 his selection of architect and builder. 



A short walk along the bank of the river Churn, under the branches of 

 noble limes and with the scent of hay borne on the breeze, brought the Mem- 

 bers to Barton Mill, and then to Mr Anderson's house, where the finest of 

 Roman pavements in the immediate neighbourhood of Cirencester was in- 

 spected. The discovery was due to the removal of a walnut tree. Mr Sewell 

 pointed out the design of the pavement — Orpheus charming animals and 

 birds by the power of his lute — and then Mr Baddeley said that the steps 

 taken to preserve this Roman relic had been characterised by skill. He 

 mentioned that the remains of a full-length man had been discovered beneath 

 the pavement, and the curious thing about the discovery was that the man 

 belonged to the Saxon period. This was proved by the large iron boss which 



