172 president's addeess. 



ADDRESS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE TYNESIDE 

 NATURALISTS' EIELD CLUB. 



BEAD FOB THE PBESIDENT, THE REV. ARTHUB WATTS, F.G.S., F.B.G.S., 

 AT THE FORTY-NINTH ANNIVERSARY, HELD IN THE COMMITTEE 

 ROOM OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY ON 5th DAY MAY, 1896. 



Ladies and Gentlemen, — It is my honour, a second time, to 

 render you a Presidential Address ; and that honour is to me 

 enhanced by the fact that it is given at the beginning of the 

 Jubilee year of this Club's existence ; the first of what, we all 

 trust, will prove a series of Jubilees, for the love of nature and 

 of nature's God should never die out in the human race. 



My first duty is to speak of our Club's work in 1895. We 

 held six Field Meetings and a week's meeting of the Museums' 

 Association. At all of the former I was present, and at most of 

 the latter, so can speak of direct knowledge. 



First Meeting, Thursday, 23rd May. A good beginning ; four- 

 teen present, all meaning business; and a glorious day. Little 

 delay at Morpeth before off up Wansbeck Yalley to Angerton in 

 the hands of two splendid guides in Mr. Egdell and Mr. W. 

 Davidson, head master of Morpeth Grammar School. To the 

 latter we owe much, but can owe no more, as he was, a few 

 months later, called hence. Ere reaching Angerton Station we 

 passed the site of an ancient lake, extending once from Meldon 

 to Middleton. A long mile, and we were at Bolam ; at least all 

 that remains of its once Castle, Rectory, Church, inn, "and 

 200 slated houses" (how many thatched is not on record), with 

 its weekly market and yearly fair. A better deserted village 

 England cannot shoAv. Except liord Decie's House, the Rectory 

 and Church, all is gone save a few walls, two doorways, and a 

 few earthworks. The low towered Saxon Church of St. Andrew 

 was seen to advantage under the guidance of the genial Incum- 

 bent, the Rev. R. E. Thomas, who indicated the xith., xivth., 

 and later centuried features. The fine views northward were 

 enjoyed from the nicely-kept churchyard. 



