CERNE AND MINTERNE MEETING. xliii. 



THE ABBEY BARN. 



After tea at the New Inn new in the seventeenth century 

 the Club walked to the barn, where Mr. Moule read the paper 

 upon it, which will be found, with a photograph of the building, 

 at page 64. 



The magnificent flint work of the barn was admired, and there 

 was some discussion as to the material of the stone dressing ; it 

 was suggested that the white stone was Portland stone. Mr. 

 Richardson said it did not show any of the characteristics of the 

 Oolite. Mr. Cunnington thought it was hard chalk from the 

 Chalk rock, in which the neighbourhood abounded. 



In answer to an enquiry, Mr. Moule stated that Mr. Mickle- 

 thwaite had given the early part of the fourteenth century as the 

 probable date of the building, the evidence of which date might 

 be seen in the inner arches, the roll moulding round the head of 

 the outer arch, and the apex stone above it with its fmial. (See 

 illustration, p. 64.) 



The Acting- President heartily thanked Mr. Moule, and the 

 Hon. Secretary expressed the Club's acknowledgment to Mr. J. 

 Sprake for allowing them to enter the barn. Re-entering their 

 carriages, the Club then had a pleasant drive back to Dorchester. 



