170 



July 6th. 



THE ANNUAL EXCURSION. 



The most pleasant event of the year in connection with the 

 Society was participated in by about forty of its members and 

 several friends. Favoured by weather, which was in every respect 

 most suitable, the party spent a delightful day, thoroughly enjoying 

 the trip, which was not easily to be forgotten. It had been de- 

 cided to visit Pevensey, Hurstmonceux, and Hailsham, places which 

 were visited by the Society some twenty years ago. The party 

 left Brighton in two saloon carriages at 11.35 in the morning, and 

 were met at Pevensey liy thiee brakes, drawn up at the hotel close 

 by. After a slight, though, nevertheless, acceptable lunch, they 

 mounted the vehicles, and were driven to the ancient and 

 ivy-covered ruins of the Castle. On entering the grounds sur- 

 rounding the Castle, the visitors seated themselves on the grass, 

 and listened attentively to the following paper by Mr. G. D, 

 Sawyer, President of the Society, on 



Pevensey Castle. 



Gentlemen, fellow members, and friends of the Brighton 

 and Sussex Natural History Society, — Your Committee, in the 

 exercise, as I think, of a wise discretion, have usually arranged 

 that during our annual excursion in each year we should be invited 

 to visit one or more of the interesting ancient ruins existing so 

 plentifully in our count}'. On this occasion they have selected 

 Pevensey Castle, a spot second to none in the interest it must 

 excite in the minds of all imbued with the slightest love of 

 archfeology. I feel sure that you will desii-e no apology from mo 

 for asking you to listen for a very short time to a few facts and 

 opinions connected with tiiis venerable ruin. True, they are quite 

 accessible to any of you Vvho choose to search the volumes issued 

 "by our excellent Archaeological Society of Sussex, and some other 

 books which I have consulted ; but you may not have had time 

 to refer to them. I h^ve merely made a selection out of a larga 



