EXCUKSIüN. 23 



that the pulpit is inserted in the wall of the church, and 

 approached through an aperture in the wall, leading to the 

 back part of it. This aperture, Mr. Freeman appeared to 

 think, originally communicated with the rood-loft. Mr. 

 Dlckinson, however, pointed out that there were indlca- 

 tions of an opening having existed near the chancel- 

 arch, which had probably answered this purpose. A 

 small window in the eastern part of the nave on the 

 south side, Mr. Freeman said, corresponded with tliose 

 that were usuallj found lighting the rood-loft, vvhere the 

 church had no clerestory. The roof of the church was of 

 a description very common in this part of England, and 

 also in South-Wales — the coved. It was a kind of roof 

 that all modern archltects and restorers abomlnated ; and, 

 if the church should be restored, no doubt something 

 brought down from the north would be substituted for it. 

 He had had the satisfaction of preserving roofs of that 

 kind in one or two instances ; and thought it to be one of 

 the best descrlptions, although, where it was ceiled over, as 

 had been the common practice with old fashioned church- 

 wardens, and where there were not projecting ribs, it did 

 not, of course, look well. 



The cavalcade next halted at Somerton. The road 

 afforded very beautiful and extensive vievys, reaching to 

 Ham-hlU, and the Wellington Monument. It passes by 

 Compton beacon, on the summit of which a Roman en- 

 campment was pointed out. The church at Somerton was 

 inspected, and eliclted general admiration. The magnifi- 

 cent carved oak roof was spoken of in the highest terms. 

 Mr. Freeman explained the characteristics of the sacred 

 building. Here, he said, was a church of another Somer- 

 setshire type, and with a much larger and more compli- 

 cated ground-plan than that last visited. It was a quasi- 



