Anniversary Address. 225 



as floating on the leaf of a water lily, with a branch of palm 

 in her right hand ; and also many Roman altars, on several 

 of which the name of Coventina occurs, and a beautiful 

 sculptured stone representing three water nymphs ; along 

 with vases, rings, brooches, &c, all of which are carefully 

 preserved by Mr Clayton. An exhaustive paper on the sub- 

 ject of the different inscriptions, &c, was read by him to the 

 Newcastle Society of Antiquaries, in December last. 



It has been supposed, that these coins, among which those 

 of Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius are 

 among the most common, were thrown into the sacred well 

 as votive offerings to the goddess ; on the other hand it has 

 also been thought that they with the altars, &c, may have 

 been placed there for concealment on some sudden alarm. 

 The well itself, which was not. visited by the party, is built 

 of solid masonry, and is said by Mr Clayton to have measured 

 8 feet 6 inches hj 7 feet 9 inches, and to have been a little 

 over 7 feet in depth. 



All those present having been conducted through the 

 house, and enjoyed a view all too rapid of its treasures inside 

 and out, and the President in name of the Club, thanked Mr 

 Clayton for the great treat he had afforded them — Dr Bruce 

 now led the party westward in the line of the wall, a portion 

 of which was pointed out in a plantation near the house. 

 This was continued along the public road for some distance, 

 being at intervals very distinctly traceable, forming as it does 

 now part of the roadway. This is part of the military road 

 constructed by General Wade. At Walwick, " General Wade's 

 tree" was pointed out by the roadside — a wide spreading 

 Scotch Elm, under which the great road-maker took shelter 

 during a thunderstorm. Continuing along the road and still 

 along the line of wall, the top of Tomertay hill was reached, 

 from which a fine view of what remains of the wall and 

 vallum was obtained, stretching away westward. Passing 

 on, on our right a fine piece of the wall was seen, which had 

 been cleared from its overlaying mound of earth and turf ; 

 in this portion of the wall, the remains of one of the small 



