Horace B. Woodward — A Ramble Across the Mendips. 489 



fluenced their formation, as in the one case it would exercise a con- 

 servative agency, and in the other assist the removal of the strata.' 



Leaving Cheddar, we pass near to Draycot, a village famous for its 

 stone, the Dolomitic Conglomerate, which is now largely used in 

 building (as in the railway arches of the Cheddar valley line), also 

 for gate posts, etc. We here pass remnants of the old forest of 

 Mendip, which in ancient times was well stocked with deer. 



Somersetshire at one time had four other great forests — that of 

 Selwood, near Frome ; Neroche, near Ilminster ; North Petherton, 

 near Bridgewater ; and Exmoor, on the borders of West Somerset 

 and Devon. Of the first three little else but the name remains. 

 On Exmoor the deer is still hunted. 



We now arrive at Wookey Hole,, one of the largest caverns in 

 England, being only second to one at Castleton, in Derbyshire. 

 Indeed it is only its size that renders it worth a visit ; there are no 

 stalactites to see, as in the beautiful cavern of Cheddar. Wookey 

 Hole is one of the sources of the Axe, which flows by Axbridge. 

 The waters contain many frogs and also eels. 



Near to Wookey Hole is the famous bone cavern described by 

 Mr. Boyd Dawkins, which contained remains of the Mammalia which 

 inhabited the district in Post-Tertiary times. The Mendip Caverns 

 have yielded bones and teeth of Elephant, Ehinoceros, Tiger, Hygena, 

 Bear, Wild Boar, Horse, Ox, Deer, and Hare. 



The Ebber rocks, a ravine in the Mountain Limestone near 

 Wookey, are well worth a visit, as they are very picturesque, although 

 not so grand as Cheddar. 



Wells has certainly many charms, for the scenery is very fine ; 

 while the Cathedral and the fine perpendicular tower of St. Cuthbert's 

 will attract the attention of all visitors. It is within an easy distance 

 of Glastonbury, to which we now direct our attention. 



All know the tradition of Joseph of Arimathaea and eleven others, 

 who sailed to Britain, and after travelling for many a day through 

 gloomy forests and boggy swamps, at last reached the point now 

 called Weary-all-Hill, and there, overcome with fatigue, Joseph 

 stuck his staff — his apostolic rod — in the earth, which forthwith 

 budded, blossomed, and filled the air with sweet odours. Shortly 

 afterwards, so the tale runs, according to the Eev. J. Williamson, 

 they erected a chapel in honour of the Virgin Mary. This they 

 built of twisted alder, and formed the lowly roof of rushes from the 

 surrounding morass. More substantial buildings followed in early 

 British and Saxon times, where the first Abbot presided a.d. 415. 

 Of these, however, no trace remains. On the same site was erected 

 the great Abbey, whose ruined nave we now look upon ; whose 

 transept, choir, and the adjoining chapels can be traced out from the 

 fragmentary arches and profusely sculptured pillars, which yet still 

 stand in imposing grandeur, and whose beautiful chapel, dedicated 

 to St. Joseph, is the most perfect portion that is left to us. Com- 

 menced in the east, in a transition Norman style, in the twelfth 

 century, it was carried on towards the west in the same style until 

 1 See H. B. W., Proc. Somerset Arch, and Nat. Hist. Soc, 1874. 



