xxx. I>I;\VI.ISH AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD. 



historical and artistic. After a ramble through the old-world 

 gardens, the President expressed tho thanks of the Field 

 Club to Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom for allowing them to visit 

 the house. 



It had been intended to walk up to the " Dorsetshire 

 Gap " and to enjoy the view over Blackmore Vale, but the 

 mid-day heat suggested prudence, and the drive was continued 

 to the neighbouring manor house of Melcombe Horsey. Here 

 was seen another type of house, which nevertheless presented 

 many points of attraction to the antiquary. Before entering, 

 Mr. Pentin told the Club that the building, although 

 externally modernized, was the surviving portion of the old 

 manor house of Lord Rivers. At the time when the Tudor 

 style was merging into the Jacobean, the owner w&s Sir 

 Thomas Freke, of Iwerne Courtney, to whom was attributed 

 the 'erection of the domestic chapel at the north-east end of 

 the house. The outer walls of this chapel are built of ashlar 

 and blue flints in alternate courses ; on the south side ire two 

 large windows of debased Gothic, and on the north is a series 

 of Perpendicular windows, which were transferred, as it is 

 believed, by Sir Thomas Freke from the ruins of a previously 

 existing parochial chapel. At the present time tie chapel 

 is converted to other purposes, a floor divides it horizontally, 

 and the upper part is used as a loft. The vis tors then 

 inspected the interior of the house, where they fjund large 

 rooms with moulded plaster ceilings, and parelled walls 

 with Jacobean overmantels. In earlier days, however, the 

 woodwork had been covered to a large extent wth layers of 

 paint. In the chapel, the original waggon roof, hiilt of chest- 

 nut and oak, was much admired, also the car'ed bosses of 

 the timbers, some of which retained their herallic colouring. 

 Before leaving Melcombe Horsey, Mr. Richaxlson thanked 

 Mr. and Mrs. F. O. Kent for their kindness h receiving the 

 Field Club at their pleasant home. 



The last item on the day's programme was a visit to 

 Chesilbourne and its church, where the patfy was met and 

 welcomed by the Rector, the Rev. F. S. Belle. 



