1 62 report of field meetings 



Fifth Field Meeting at Middleton-one-Row on the 

 13TH September 



Owing to an urgent and unexpected professional claim on 

 my attention just as I was preparing to leave home, I was 

 unable to be present and participate in the enjoyment of this 

 appointment. The following account is therefore based on a 

 very full and excellent press notice of the meeting which 

 appeared a few days afterwards. On arriving at Darlington 

 station it was ascertained that there was about an hour to 

 wait before the train left for Dinsdale, so the party utilised 

 the interval by a visit to the public park through which the 

 river Skerne flows. A large boulder of Shap granite took the 

 attention of the visitors immediately after entering the grounds. 

 It had been conveyed from the bed of the Tees at Winston, 

 near Gainford, where it had been deposited during the glacial 

 times. The collection of aquatic birds, swimming and diving 

 in the stream, was of a very entertaining nature. Tall and 

 stately trees added immensely to the attractions and 

 picturesqueness of the park. Some time was spent in in- 

 specting the flower beds, which were still in full bloom. 

 Returning to Darlington station, the party entrained for Dins- 

 dale. On detraining the visitors at once proceeded through 

 the hamlet of Middleton St. George on to Middleton-one- 

 Row, a long straggling village once quite famous as a sort of 

 minature Harrogate owing to the discovery of a mineral spring 

 of sulphurous waters, which drew crowds of sufferers of 

 internal derangements. Here on the ridge of grassy slopes 

 of the river's banks, the houses with their neat kept gardens 

 and embowerments of creepers have a quaint and pretty 

 appearance. Then beyond there was a good view of the 

 tortuous windings of the Tees and the grass and arable lands 

 of its valleys. 



The party now proceeded by a very fine woodland walk up 

 the river, where many autumn blooms were noticed. Amongst 

 them may be mentioned the Wood Scabious, Golden Rod, 

 Nipplewort, Knapweed, Ragwort, Harebell, Foxglove, Wound- 



