XX. 



the site of an extensive "fault," which runs 12 or 14 miles westerly 

 towards Abbotsbury, and is of consi<leralle geological interest. The 

 route lay by Herringstone House to Culliford Tree, where the carriages 

 were left to be met again later in the afternoon, and a path was taken 

 along the old British Ridgway Road westwards, until a patch of old 

 Tertiary Sands and Gravel was reached. From here a magnificent view 

 of the country was obtained. The day, which had been misty and 

 inclined to rain, had now cleared up, and the sun shone brightly. 

 Northwards and eastwards the heath districts of Wareham and Moreton 

 lying on the Tertiary beds were visible with the wide spreading chalk 

 downs beyond. Standing on the edge of the escarpment and looking 

 southwards, a second minor escarpment parallel to the first was visible, 

 formed of the harder beds of Kimmeridge clay. The steep coombe- 

 shaped valleys are a feature of this district, having on their sides in 

 places, and particularly near Bincombe, several terraces clearly cut and 

 parallel to each other, the indications of the previous state of cultivation 

 of the soil. Here the Secretary read a paper on the Ridgway Fault, 

 which will be found at page 55 of the present volume. At 4.15 the 

 carriages were rejoined, and on reaching Dorchester the party were 

 entertained at tea by the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Wright. 



A MEETING was held on Thursday, June 28th, the rendezvous being 

 the New Inn, Cerne Abbas. At 11.30, the hour fixed, the weather 

 looked very unfavourable and threatening, and doubts were expressed 

 whether the contingent from Dorchester, who had a drive of 7 8 miles 

 to reach the place of meeting, would arrive. However, the day improved 

 as it wore on and by luncheon time fully 60 persons were numbered in 

 the party, and 30 were present at 7.30 p.m., to hear the Rev. C. H. 

 Mayo's amusing extracts from the Parish Register in the Vicarage 

 Garden at Buckland Newton. 



The meeting commenced in the large room of the New Inn by the 

 Secretary reading, with a view to giving a sketch of the history and 

 antiquities of Cerne, a resume, drawn from Hutchins' History of Dorset, 

 and other sources. Since Hutchins' History can be easily consulted, it is 

 needless to refer to more than one or two points here. Cerne derives its 

 name from the river on which it stands the Char which gives its name 

 to Charminster, Nether Cerne, and Minteme (Monk Cerne). The history 

 of Cerne is naturally bound up with the Abbey, which originally existed 

 here. William of Malmesbury states that the Abbey was originally 

 founded by St. Augustine, but it is very doubtful if St. Augustine ever 

 went so far west as Cerne. The more likely account of the foundation of 



