POOLE AND BROWNSEA ISLAND MEETING. lix. 



property of the St. George's Guild. They passed to the Crown 

 in 1547, and were purchased for the Corporation in 1550. Thus, 

 though doubtless they have been rebuilt more than once since 

 they were first built, they have been devoted to the use of the 

 poor for over 500 years. 



The party were then led to a portion of an ancient stone wall, 

 which is said to have been part of the wall built for the defence 

 of the town. This seems to the writer to have been not 

 improbable. 



The next halting place was at the 



TOWN CELLARS. 



Here a discussion arose, which was continued at the Town 

 Hall, as to whether this building was originally part of a 

 monastic establishment, or was an ancient building devoted to 

 secular uses. 



The debate may be thus summarised. 



As to the date of the building, Mr. W. MILES BARNES said 

 that, judging from the architecture, it was originally built in the 

 i4th century, and had undergone extensive repairs in the i5th 

 century. The windows at the back of the building were of that 

 period, and there had been a window of that period inserted in 

 the front facing them. 



Mr. MATE believed the building was a portion of some 

 monastic establishment. It was formerly much longer than at 

 present, and the part pulled down some 25 years ago, when the 

 new buildings were erected, had fittings of an ecclesiastical 

 character. He considered that it was undoubtedly connected 

 with a religious foundation, probably the Priory of Bradenstoke 

 (Wilts), founded by Walter de Salisburie in the i2th century, to 

 which the houses of Poole and Canford were attached. 



The Rev. F. W. GALPIN thought that it was in favour of 

 Mr. Mate's theory that there is a " Paradise " Street bounding 

 the building on the south, while on the north is "Salisbury" 

 Street, and that the old part, now pulled down, was described in 



