400 Anniversary Addj^ess. 



Much interest was taken in the collection of British antiqui- 

 ties kept in the Postern tower, containing sepulchral urns, 

 stone and bronze weipons and implements, and various orna- 

 ments belonging to the ancient British period ; Roman altars, 

 mural tablets, and a Saxon cross. The party were indebted 

 to Major Holland, Dr. Bruce, and Mr. Tate for explanations 

 of the various objects examined. 



The gardens were then visited. These were all altered by- 

 Duke Algernon, and are now laid out in the Italian style ; 

 the style of Ribbon bordering being principally adopted. 

 There was an abundant show of scarlet geraniums, calceolarias, 

 lobelias, zinnias, &c. 



The party then wended their way up the side of the Aln, 

 through the beautiful Dairy grounds to Alnwick Abbey, 

 which was founded by Eustace Fitz John in 1147 ; but the 

 original building has been entirely destroyed, and there now 

 remains only a fine gateway tower, which had been erected 

 in the fifteenth century. A walk of about a mile along the 

 river side through the sylvan shades of the park brought the 

 party to Holn Priory, which was placed in 1240 on this site, 

 because, so says a legend, the adjoining hill resembled Mount 

 Carmel. It was founded for the Carmelite friars, and en- 

 dowed by William and John de Vescy. The ruins are of some 

 extent, and Mr. Tate pointed out the particular parts, the use 

 of which could be identified — the entrance tower — the guest- 

 hall and chapel — the kitchen — the dormitories — the chapter- 

 house — the cloisters — the sacristy — and the great church, re- 

 markable for its length, and for a slab on the floor incised 

 with a Tau cross. The party ascended to the summit of a 

 tower, erected by Henry the fourth Earl of Northumberland, 

 in 1488, as a place of refuge for the brethren when hard pressed 

 by Scottish marauders ; and they enjoyed a picturesque view 

 of the narrow valley of the Aln, and of the rugged hill 

 of Brislaw ; for it is here that the river cuts through the 

 central hill-land of Northumberland. On the walls of this 

 Priory several interesting plants are naturalized, some of them 

 having been introduced at first, it may be, by the old friars ; 

 viz.; — Euphorbia Esula, Valeriana rubra^ Aralis hirsuta, 



