34 ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 



and tlie apartments beneath were commonly used merely 

 as cellars or store-rooms. It was usual with our ancestors 

 to build thelr houses, so to speak, upon vaults. These 

 were now called ambulatories, cloisters, and other names ; 

 but the fact was tliey were used for whatever purpose they 

 were required. This was a remarkably fine ball, if it miglit 

 be called a hall ; from the peculiarlty of its position it was 

 usually termed the banqueting room instead. It was, 

 hovvever, one of the finest rooms of the kind he knew. 



By the courtesy of Messrs. Parker the committee are 

 enabled to enrich the present volume with the following 

 illustratlons of Meare, froin Domestic Architecture of Ike 

 l-ith Cenütri/, viz. : — Abbot's Honse, N.E. vIew ; Window 

 in the Hall ; Fire-place in the Hall ; the Fish House. 



The Church at Meare next formed the subject of atten- 

 tion. It contains a fine stoue pulpit, which has rccently 

 been scraped. The roof of the nave has been restored, 

 and is highly beautiful. Mr. White stated it to be an 

 exact Imitation of the former roof. There is also an old 

 oaken roof in the chancel. Tlie roof of the south aisle has 

 been replaced by a piain one. Mr. White explained that 

 the parisli, haviug raised £700 or £800, had been unable 

 to put up a good roof to that part ; but he hoped to be 

 able eventually to efFect an entire restoration of the church. 

 A very curious old alms-box was noticed, resting on a 

 handsomely carved pedestal. There is a painting repre- 

 senting the Descent from the Gross. Mr. White said 

 that it was probably 200 years old ; but about 30 years 

 ago it was daubed over by sorae artlst, and spoiled. Mr. 

 Parker then gave a description of the church. The 

 chancel and porch appeared, he said, to be about the sarae 

 date, and he should suppose them to be of the fourteenth 

 Century. He was informed by the vicar that they were 



