Ivi. WIMBORNE, BADBURY, AND KINGSTON MEETING. 



Having finished the inspection of the interior, the party, still under Mr. 

 Bankes' guidance, proceeded to view the exterior of the house from the south or 

 garden front. While they were standing on the terrace Mr. Bankes stated that 

 the wine cellars were built under the entire length of it. When his eldest 

 brother succeeded to the property in 1856 he discovered a portion of the cellar 

 bricked up and full of port wine, which had lain there unobserved for many 

 years. A large percentage of the bottles had become uncorked from age ; but 

 where the cork had remained firm the wine was quite perfect. From the terrace 

 they could observe that the house was built on the side of a hill. The garden 

 side is on the level of the top of the hill, whereas the entrance is at the bottom. 

 The party moved from the terrace to see the Egyptian obelisk, noticing by the 

 way the vases and well-heads of red Siena marble, bronze lions from Hercu- 

 laneum, a large Egyptian granite sarcophagus, and two well-heads copied from 

 Italian ones and sent over between 1850 and 1860 by Mr. W. J. Bankes. The 

 Egyptian obelisk was brought from the Island of Philoe in 1819. It was of the 

 total height of 30ft. S^in. As stated by inscriptions on metal round the base, 

 Mr. W. J. Bankes, M.P., caused the obelisk and the pedestal (from which it had 

 fallen) to be removed under the direction of Belzoni from the Isle of Philoe, 

 beyond the first cataract of the Nile, and brought the platform from the ruins of 

 Hiera-Sycaminon, in Nubia. The inscription on the obelisk and pedestal 

 recorded their dedication to King Ptolemy Euergetes II. and two Cleopatras, his 

 Queens, who authorised the priests of Isis, in the Isle of Philoe, to erect them 

 (about 150 years before Christ) as a perpetual memorial of exemption from 

 taxation. 



On the way from the obelisk to the lawn for tea Mr. Bankes pointed out the 

 cedars planted by the Duke of Wellington and, in line with these memorials of 

 the " Iron Duke," that planted by King Edward last autumn. 



At Mrs. Bankes' invitation the party then partook of tea ; after 

 which many of the party accompanied Mr. Fletcher to the 

 further side of the Park to examine the section that had been 

 opened by Mrs. Bankes on the site of the Roman Road. The 

 raised track was clearly visible, but no signs of any pitched or 

 even gravelled road could be found. This trackway, which is 

 spoken of by Dr. Smart, was most likely used for watering stock, 

 it being the shortest line from Badbury to Barford. 



Before leaving Kingston Lacy, the PRESIDENT, in the name of 

 the Club, assured Mrs. Bankes of their hearty appreciation of 

 her hospitable reception, and also thanked Mr. Albert Bankes 

 for so ably and agreeably acting as guide. 



