258 Mr. J. C. Laiiglands on Old Beivich. 



having been purchased by him from one of the heirs of Eliab 

 Harvey — Montagu Bui-goyne, Esq., and his wife (daughter of 

 the above). In 1804 it was again sold to Will. Sadlier Bruere, 

 Esq. ; his name appears in 



1808 to 1829— Wm. Sadlier Bruere, Esq., for lands in Old and 

 New Bewick. 



1830 — Addison John Cresswell Baker, Esq., for do. 



To 1839-1840, and to present time, A. J. Baker Cresswell, 

 Esq., for do. 



The numerous changes which have taken place in the 

 ownership since the suppression of the monastery are strik- 

 ing. Given in capite by Henry VIII., and not thriving with 

 the receiver, it soon reverted to the crown. Twice again 

 bestowed by Edward VI. and Elizabeth, it has gone on 

 changing from one possessor to another. Those who are 

 familiar with Sir Henry Spelman's work, may be apt to 

 think with him, that wealth in this instance also has failed 

 to avert from the possessors the consequence of holding pro- 

 perty once dedicated to the church. 



I shall not attempt to discuss the question of the origin of 

 the camps which you have seen to-day. They belong to the 

 Ancient British period, and have been the work of a numer- 

 ous and poAverful race, and in the age in which they were 

 constructed must have been deemed inpregnable. The burial- 

 places have been ably described by the Rev. William Green- 

 well, in his paper, published in our last year's Transactions. 

 Mr. Tate's valuable paper, in the preceeding year's Transac- 

 tions, has told all that is yet known of the peculiar markings, 

 which this people have left on the rocks in the vicinity of the 

 camps. Let us hope, that since attention has been so widely 

 attracted to them, the true meaning (whether religious or 

 sepulchral) of the symbols may be unfolded. The sculptures 

 which you have seen to-day were probably the first of the 

 kind that were noticed. The following description is from 

 Mr. Tate's paper : — " This stone is of an irregular quad- 

 rangular shape, 10 feet by 8 feet, sloping northward, and 

 rising where highest 4^ feet above the ground. Originally 

 rough and uneven on its surface, it has been further deeply 

 hollowed and furrowed, especially on its southern aspect, by 

 the play of the elements. Evidence it gives of the durability 

 of the coarse gritty siliceous moorland sandstones of North- 

 umberland ; standing so high above the ground, it has not 

 like other sculptured rocks had the protection of a growth of 

 peat; and yet, though it has endured the wasting influence 



