OSMINGTON MEETING. xlvil. 



mansion house, with all its rooms under one roof, and, so far as we have 

 observed, in Dorset the change was usually effected by adding new rooms and 

 offices to the principal chamber. You may remember that at King John's House, 

 Tollard Eoyal, this was the case, the King's chamber being preserved almost 

 intact, and the later buildings added to one end of it. You may observe the 

 same thing at the interesting old manor house of Bingham's Melcombe, where 

 the present hall is the ancient chamber or hall probably the former of 13th 

 century or Norman date ; the same may be said of Barneston, in the Isle of 

 Purbeck, and of Herringston House, where the ancient chamber in the centre of 

 the house is now occupied by a stone staircase with its landings. The halls and 

 chapels remained generally to a later date ; the private chapel of the manor 

 house at Gorton still exists, and the chapel of Herringston House existed 

 to a late date, and was used by the courtesy of the owner, a member of 

 the Williams family, as a parish church for Winterborne Farringdon, when 

 the church of that parish had fallen to decay and could be no longer used. 

 Many other instances could be given. But to return to Eobert Morgan. "We 

 have much yet to learn of the domestic life of our forefathers in the mediaeval 

 times. The disclosure which this record makes of Kobert Morgan disposing of 

 his lands to John Newburgh, but stipulating that his old chamber at the east end 

 of the hall should be reserved for his use whenever he pleased to occupy it, 

 suggests questions to which it would be interesting to have answers. Did the 

 possession and occupation of the chamber give the possessor a right to a place in 

 the hall and use of the kitchens ? If so, what happened when both squires 

 were in residence at the same time, and what arrangements were made for 

 feeding the retainers of each ? Perhaps the old squire had the use of the 

 kitchen, or put up a small kitchen of timber, roofed with shingle, for himself, 

 and had his dinner served in his private chamber. The early Kings sometimes 

 dined in their private apartments. (" The Sheriff of Dorset is ordered to 

 wainscote the King's Chapel and the Queen's Chapel at Gillingham over the 

 altar of the same chapel, and to make a certain bench between the King's hall 

 and kitchen to arrange the King's dinner on." Lib. Kot. 45 Hen. III.) The 

 Manor of Warm well was divided, at an early date not yet ascertained, into two 

 manors, with two manor houses. John Newburgh came into possession of both 

 and re-united them, and it is not certain that this was Eobert Morgan's manor 

 house, though I believe it is. Perhaps some member can enlighten us. I have 

 not yet had time to work the problem out. 



The PRESIDENT expressed the warm thanks of the Club to 

 Mr. and Mrs. Howard Thomas for their kind welcome and 

 hospitality. 



On leaving Warmwell House shortly after five o'clock, two 

 of the conveyances were driven to Dorchester and the third to 

 Weymouth, arriving in ample time to catch their trains. 



