3 g 4 [Proc. B.N.F.C. 



CARRICKFERGUS. 



On Saturday, the 27 th August, a party of members and 

 friends visited Carrickfergus. The party, which was conducted 

 by the President (Mr. R. J. Welch, M.R.I. A.), travelled by 

 the 1-50 p.m. train to Carrickfergus, and on their arrival 

 visited the Castle, to which they were admitted by kind per- 

 mission of the authorities. After inspecting the entrance and 

 the portcullis, the}' ascended the tower, visiting the armoury. 

 From the top of the tower a fine view was obtained of the lough 

 and its encircling hills. Leaving the tower, the outposts and the 

 tiny chapel were visited. The Castle, which was built by Hugh 

 de Lacy, stands on a basaltic dyke on the shore. It has had an 

 unbroken line of military occupation since its foundation, and has 

 been the scene of many historic events. The Castle had more 

 than an antiquarian interest for the party on the occasion of this 

 visit. Several snails were observed climbing its walls, including 

 Agriolimax a^restis, Limax arborum, Helix aspersa, and Pupa 

 cylindracea ; and the botanists collected fine specimens of 

 Parietaria officinalis. 



The party next visited the Church of St. Nicholas, through 

 which they were most courteously conducted by Dr. Brierly. The 

 church is an interesting example of how a great church by 

 successive alterations may be changed to a smaller and debased 

 structure. Fragments of its former beauties were shown to the 

 visitors in the Norman columns which have been recently 

 discovered built into the walls of the nave, the work of restoration 

 having been most admirably done by Mr. S. P. Close, A.R.H.A., 

 architect. The stones brought from Woodburn Abbey by Mr. 

 F. J. Bigger, M.R.I.A., were also examined. After being photo- 

 graphed, the party proceeded to the stone on which William III. 

 is said to have landed in 1690 to commence his operations against 

 James II. 



