246 ANNUAL EXCUESION. 



heads as capitals at the four corners. Foliage and interlaced 

 work, &c., appearing on the bowl. A rector of the church many 

 years ago entirely spoilt the interior of the church by causing 

 the pillars and arches to be removed, and a flat ceiling introduced. 

 This caused the building to resemble a modern town-hall. The 

 present rector, Canon Thornton, has had new pillars and arches 

 constructed, and he pointed out, on the day of the visit, an 

 interesting piece of carved stopping near the base of one of the 

 piers, part of the ancient work. He also called attention to the 

 modern oak lectern, of eagle-form, which was excellently carved 

 by the son of a farmer in the parish, named William Robins, 

 who had never received any instruction in the art. 



Luncheon followed, and then all wended their way, with the 

 Hector, to the Rock, the most famous of the group, rearing its 

 hoary head above the waste of moorland. It is surmounted by a 

 hermit's cell and chapel, which, thanks to Viscount Falmouth, 

 are being preserved and, by means of iron ladders, made accessi- 

 ble without risk of life and limb, or continued damage to the 

 ruins. Some portions of the hermitage, &c., are cut out of the 

 solid rock, and in the walling and some parts of its facings the 

 ancient lime-cement is the admiration of all who witness its 

 adhesive qualities and extreme hardness. Ly son's (Magna 

 Brit.) figures the tracery which in his time remained in the east 

 window. It was of the Decorated period. 



The rock itself consists of a white sparry quartz mixed with 

 black schorl, and is known as trap-rock. It is of volcanic origin. 

 The Rev. W. lago, who had previously explained some of the 

 points of interest visited earlier in the day, here gave some par- 

 ticulars relating to this remarkable spot, — the wild legends of 

 Tregagle, and the historical allusions to Roche Manor, the church, 

 and the old chapelries, their dedications, &g. Grreat confusion, he 

 said, prevailed in the old records and in the writings of those 

 who, in modern times, have endeavoured to reconcile varying 

 statements. This had arisen, partly, from the mixing of the 

 terms descriptive of the Rock, and of others referring indepen- 

 dently to the name of a mediaeval saint, St. Roche. 



The Rock gave name to the locality, and its Cornish equiva- 

 lent Carrick entered into the territorial allusions, and into the 



