The Fifth General Meeting. 245 



parislies, we had a number of cliapelries, having an existence next 

 to immemorial. Then again look at the structure of our churches. 

 In the small churches — more commonly in the chancels — we found 

 the early English style of architecture more prevalent than in the 

 larger churches; but in the naves of parish churches, we almost 

 g 'ways saw a great enlargement, generally in what might be called 

 t le perpendicular style, which came in after the reign of Edward 

 \ he Third, and after the period that the trade of the country had 

 ;;radually increased. This was especially the case where there were 

 town populations — he might say, almost universally the case. Take 

 for instance the ancient Norman churches at Devizes, the naves of 

 which had been almost, if not entirely, rebuilt, or renovated, after 

 the period of Edward the Third. It might be that the increase of 

 population, or the increase of riches and the disposition to spend 

 them on works of this kind, had induced these alterations. Of 

 this however there could be no doubt, that the history of our 

 parishes might be read upon the date of our churches, or upon 

 particular parts of them. These ecclesiastical divisions then, par- 

 ticularly in the chancels and in the enlargement of the naves of 

 our churches, opened up a field of observation to those who were 

 engaged in different kinds of country business, which they would 

 do well to work out, and if he was a wise man, when passing a dull 

 day at Chippenham, with a number of constables coming in to be 

 sworn, he might perhaps see a little in the local archscology of the 

 neighbourhood which he had not before thought of." 



After an inspection of the various objects of interest in the Town, 

 the company re-asscmbled at 8 o'clock in the Town-Hall, for an 

 Evening Conversazione. Mr. W. Long of Bath, read a paper on 

 " Avchury," illustrated by diagrams, models, and drawings: and 

 Mr. J. Parkf-k of Oxford, another on the "Mediceval Houses of 

 Wi/ts/n'rc." The Rev. J. Wilkinson of Broughton Gifford, con- 

 cluded the proceedings with a Topographical description of the 

 succeeding day's excursion. 



SECOND DAY— WEDNESDAY, August 12th. 

 The Excursion for the day, conducted by the Rev. J. Wilkinson, 

 lay through the village of Ilolt, Moukton Manor House, Whaddon, 



