NOTES ON THE ANTIQUITIES OF ABBOTSBUEY. 

 (BY THE EEV. G-. H. PEionr.) 



DEAR PROFESS on BUCKMAN, * 



These are busy days, and multiplied engagements occupy the 

 time even of those country clergy who were wont to be considered 

 men of leisure. 



I hope these may plead in my own case an excuse for my 

 addressing to you, in the shape of a letter 'currente calamo] what 

 observations I have to make about the antiquities of Abbotsbury. 



You saw that there was much to interest the lover of Nature in 

 this parish. Up to a time within my own connection with it visitors 

 were few, and the inhabitants and their surroundings had, to a great 

 extent, escaped assimilating influences. " Portisham out of the 

 world and Abbotsbury round the corner," was hardly too broad a 

 saying to express the facts. 



Very often I wished that someone versed in antiquarian lore, or 

 geological science, were at hand to lead on a willing disciple in such 

 matters. Hence, among other reasons, my readiness to welcome 

 your co-partners and yourself when the Field Club came to us last 

 Midsummer. 



The neighbourhood has, to begin with, not a few reminders of 

 the old inhabitants in the shape of cromlechs, stone-circles, and 

 barrows. One of these last was opened lately at New Barn, and 

 contained several interments of persons differing in age, and 

 apparently also in the period of their burial. Most of these had 

 been laid in cists of flag-stone set on end; and in some instances the 

 interments were curiously huddled together, as if the burials had 

 been effected without due regard to the former occupants of the 

 tomb. Several urns of rude construction were found in fragments 

 close beneath the turf around the barrow, only one being sufficiently 



* These Notes have been kindly sent at our request, and we are much pleased with 

 them, as they call to mind a most pleasant day, much of which was spent in ex- 

 amining antiquities specially exposed for us by Mr. Penny's kind exertions : and for 

 these latter and the Notes upon them the Editor begs to tender his heartiest thanks. 



