ST. JOHN's PKIOKY, WELLS. 17 



beeil turned into a manufactory for knit-stockhigs, and 

 subseqneiitly for the wood portions of brushes. 



" In making the necessary excavations for the new 

 schools, old foundations were found extendlng far beyond 

 the walls shortly before taken down, and below the surface 

 lai'ge quantitles of freestone were discovered, in confused 

 heaps, at considerable depths, which apjoeared to have 

 once formed parts of massive arches, door-ways, window- 

 muUions, &c. Besides these, numerous fragments of deli- 

 cately sculptured stone were turned out, apparently por- 

 tions of an altar screen, of a most elaborate and elegant 

 description, most of which had been richly gilt and illu- 

 minated. 



[Many iuteresting relics were found in the ruins of the 

 Hospital, and a few of them were produced by Mr. Serel. 

 An old spoon turned out from one of the ancient sewers ; 

 three keys, found buried in rubbish below the floor of one 

 of the apartments ; a leaden bull, or bulla, of Pope Pius 

 VI, in a remarkably perfect State.] 



"It is not possible to define the ancient precincts of 

 the Priory, but there is ground for believing that they 

 extended to BuU-lane, adjoining the Railway Station. 

 Indeed the field in which the Station is built belonged to 

 the Hospital, as did other land to the west of it, including 

 an ancient mill, now held by Mr. S. Fry, Avhich, within the 

 last 60 years, was always known as " 'Prior 's Mill." The 

 Hospital inclosure was intersected by the stream which 

 flows directly from St. Andrew's well, a sure indication 

 that, even at the carly date when the Hospital was 

 founded, such an accessory to cleanliness and health was 

 well understood and appreciated. 



" Though the old Hospital will soon be swept away and 

 forgotten, its name will be perpetuated to posterity by the 



VOL. IX., 1859, PART I. c 



