156 REPORT OP FIELD MEETINGS 



It was noticed that the Castle stands on a rocky eminence of 

 triangular ground which slopes steeply down to two small 

 streams-^the Castle and Mill Becks — which unite and flow 

 through a winding woodland course to the river Irthing. To 

 complete the defence of the Castle a moat has been con- 

 structed on the south side or base of the triangular ground. 



The visitors were greatly interested in the contents of the 

 Great Hall, especially in the pieces of armour, old tapestry, 

 portraits of Belted Will and his wife, Catherine Parr (sixth 

 and last wife of Henry VHI.) who was a Howard, Mary 

 Queen of Scots, Earl of Surrey of Flodden Field fame and 

 Charles I. The immense fire-place of the Hall took much 

 attention and was the cause of several jocular remarks. 

 Several rooms were afterwards visited, including the Guard 

 Room, Warder's Gallery containing several pieces of cabinet 

 work, and Lord Howard's Tower, where a massive iron door 

 prevented the flames during the fire of 1844 from reaching 

 Belted Will's rooms. 



On leaving the Castle the party entered the dene -running 

 northwards, and proceeded by a neat mossy footpath, through 

 some very fine sylvan scenery, following the course of the 

 stream. It took the botanical section of the visitors a very 

 considerable time to accomplish this portion of the ramble, 

 as there was so much pertaining to plant life to notice. 

 Amongst the trees, which were greatly admired, were the Ash, 

 Oak, Beech, Larch, Sycamore, Birch, Holly, Elm, and Yew, 

 while the undergrowth of Hazel, Woodbine, White and Black 

 Thorn, overhanging and fringing the rippling beck, pleased 

 the eye at every turn. Then there were the wild flowers to 

 look at. These included the Water Avens, Herb Bennet, 

 Garlic Mustard, Wild Strawberry, Tormentil, Sweet Woodruff, 

 Foxglove, Dog Rose,- Guelder Rose, Yellow Pimpernel, Wood 

 Forget-me-not, Bugle, Golden Saxifrage, Red Campion, 

 Spotted Orchis, Wall Pellitory, Goldilocks, and Ramsons. 

 The ornithologists had opportunities of seeing or hearing the 

 Blackbird, Song Thrush, Missel Thrush, Cuckoo, Cushat, 

 Carrion Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Wood Wren, Bullfinch, Green- 



