Xl. OSMINGTON MEETING. 



thickly in ivy. The west window fell in about three years ago, 

 and Mrs. Wood, then the owner of the property, had it put up 

 again under the superintendence of Mr. Crickmay, reproducing 

 the old window as nearly as possible. It had been said that this 

 building was formerly a monastery. 



Mr. W. MILES BARNES observed that, 



as far as one could see, the walls were of the Tudor period, but portions of them 

 might be more ancient, and as early as the 13th century. With regard to the 

 place being a monastery, he should not like to say that it was or was not, except 

 that they had no record of it being a monastery, and absence of such record was 

 strong presumptive evidence against the theory. But it was quite possible that 

 the original building might have been a monk's cell. As that place was given by 

 King Athelstan to Milton Abbey, it was not improbable that two monks were 

 sent down there from the Abbey and that their cell was on that site. Thus it 

 might be, if they liked, a monastery in miniature, but certainly not a large one. 

 All the details there were of the Tudor period, even to the fire-place before them, 

 which was of late Tudor, as they could see by the depression of the four- centred 

 arch. 



The ruins were of much interest, and the entrance to the 

 buttery, or kitchen, on one side and the doorways to the hall on 

 the other side of the passage from the door may still be seen. A 

 part of the walling of the courtyard remains, with a buttress in 

 it which may have belonged to a barn in mediaeval times. 



The party then re-entered their conveyances and drove to 

 Holworth House on the cliffs below Poxwell. Here they 

 dismounted and, sending the carriages back to Osmington Mills, 

 walked down to 



THE BURNING CLIFF, 



where they rested, reclining at ease on the grass under a cloud- 

 less sky, with a magnificent panorama, which included Weymouth 

 Bay and Portland, stretched out before them. Lunch was taken 

 here, after which the PRESIDENT read the following paper on 



THE GEOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY OF THE COAST: 



I regret extremely that it was found necessary by the Executive to place the 

 date of this meeting in this month, as it has deprived us of the presence of 

 Mr. Hudleston, whom, I think, we may well consider one of the greatest living 



