WAREHAM AND LYTCHETT HEAtH. Ixxvil. 



Mr. F. J. BARNES mentioned the desirability of having a 

 recently discovered dene-hole at Portland a beehive-like 

 structure of slabs of stone, believed to be Roman, and used 

 as a grain store removed to the Dorset County Museum. The 

 expense of removing it to Dorchester could not be great. It 

 might be from j to 10, and the advantage of having so inter- 

 esting an historical relic at the recognised depository of county 

 antiquities was obvious. Dene-holes were getting scarce ; and 

 if they did not take steps to preserve this one, the likelihood 

 was that it would be destroyed, and they would not soon have 

 an opportunity of securing another. 



The PRESIDENT stated that he wrote to Captain Acland about 

 it ; but he answered that he thought there was not room for it 

 at the Museum, and, moreover, that the Museum Council could 

 not afford to bear the cost of its removal. (The Council sub- 

 sequently declined the proposal.) 



Mr. BARNES answered that eight feet by six feet was the 

 utmost floor space that it would take up, and it was seven or 

 eight feet high. He proposed that the Club strongly recommend 

 the Museum Council to secure the dene-hole for the Museum. 

 Mr. FORDE seconded, and it was carried. 



Dr. COLLBY MARCH asked what evidence there was that it was 

 really a Roman dene-hole.* 4 In reply Mr. BARNES described the 

 nature of the structure, and gave all the particulars in his 

 possession. 



The meeting having ended, the party repaired to the lawn, 

 where, under a marquee, tea was served. 



The PRESIDENT, before the party quitted the lawn, proposed a 

 hearty vote of thanks to Lord and Lady Eustace Cecil for their 

 kind invitation and the hospitality of their reception, and also to 

 the Hon. Mrs. Evelyn Cecil for conducting them through the 

 lovely gardens. 



The vote having been carried with acclamation, 



* The dene-hole closely 16561111)168 that figured on p. 165 of " Damon's Geology 

 of Weyrnouth, Portland, &c.," 2nd Edn., 1884, except that the present one 

 consists of a single excavation only. 



