VALLEY OF PYDEL AND BUCKLAND NEWTON. llll. 



Canon Ravenhill added that on their way to Plush Folly the 

 Members would visit the site of the old church on the hill. It 

 showed how carefully the monks chose the spots for their 

 churches. The stream took its rise from just under the old 

 church. The late President (Mr. Mansel-Pleydell) said that the 

 Pydel rose in Plush, as if that was its only source ; but the river 

 had two sources, the other being at Alton Pancras. The word 

 " Folly " was of interest. When associated with the name 

 " Plush " it had no reference to the conduct of a fool, but meant 

 a coppice of firs. 



THE DOWNS. 



After luncheon the party set off, under the leadership of Mr. 

 Dicker, to climb the steep down to the west and to walk over 

 Ball Hill and Church Hill, a distance of about two miles and 

 a-half, to Alton St. Pancras. On the way Mr. DICKER called 

 attention to the remains of the earthworks with which the downs 

 are almost entirely covered. He first pointed out traces of a 

 great prehistoric settlement, and observed that the whole settle- 

 ment was enclosed by a rampart. For the information of the 

 botanists of the party he showed a copse in which is to be 

 found the herb Paris, a liliaceous plant with four leaves. A 

 good example of an ancient dewpond was also observed, and 

 then the party came to what is generally called "a Roman camp 

 of observation " a small rectangular enclosure with a well- 

 defined rampart and ditch. 



Canon RAVENHILL observed that Mr. Warne considered this 

 camp to be of Roman construction. Calling attention to the great 

 extent of country which it commanded, he remarked that on a 

 clear day they could easily see Stourton Tower on the north- 

 east and Hardy's Monument on the south-west. Mr. DICKER 

 said he should like to know what reason Mr. Warne gave for 

 assigning such a work to the Romans. Canon RAVENHILL said 

 that for one thing it was its oblong shape, he believed. Mr. 

 DICKER answered that he could show 50 oblong works in that 

 neighbourhood, some on the hills and some not on the hills, 



