26 ELEVENTH ANI^UAL MEETING, 



it was formerly a very frequent course to have a piain 

 outer roof to support the actual covering, and an orna- 

 mental wooden ceillng wlthln. 



In the course of examining tbe church a conversatlon 

 originated on tbe subject of subterranean passages, and 

 Mr. Parker said it migbt be useful to mention that wbat 

 were called subterranean passages were generally, in point 

 of fact, drains. Tbere was often a passage leading from a 

 Castle for a sbort distance to a postern gate, but anytbino- 

 like one of a mile in length was unknown in the middle 

 ages. The drains were very perfectly constructed. Mr. 

 Jones reminded the members of the subterranean passao-e 

 which was said to exist at Stogursey, connecting the Castle 

 with the church, and which, at the last annual meetino-, 

 was found to be a well-constructed drain, through which a 

 considerable stream of water was flowing at the time. Mr. 

 Dickinson remarked that probably they were made in 

 Imitation of the large drains of Italy. 



The next place visited was Ltte's Gary, where a 

 beautiful piece of anclent domestic architecture, formerly 

 occupied as a mansion by the Lyte family, but now the 

 property of F. H. Dickinson, Esq., engaged attention. 

 Mr. Parker said it was one of the best and most perfect 

 buildings of the period remaining. The house was rebuilt 

 in the time of Henry VIII., but the chapel was of the 

 period of Edward III., and must have originally communi- 

 cated internally with the mansion. He drew attention to 

 the finials of the gables, bearing crests of the Lyte family, 

 and to a very beautiful oriel window. The domestic 

 architecture of the time, he said, did not differ very 

 materially from that of an earlier date ; but, as the habits 

 of the people changed, and the hall became less used for 

 general purposes than before, the private rooras became of 



