S48 Anniversary Address. 



considerable support from the legend to which. I have just 

 referred* 



It is perhaps premature to be speculating on the origin 

 of the building before all its parts have been accurately ex- 

 amined and described, and until every source of informa- 

 tion as to its original shape and dimensions has been 

 exhausted. There are two features in the building which are 

 very peculiar — viz., cells in the middle of the thick wall sur- 

 rounding the central building; — and square holes in the 

 interior court. On the occasion of our visit, a gentleman 

 was present, who said that he remembered visiting the place 

 about the year 1811, and at that time, the thick wall was 

 about eight or ten feet high, and that two of the cells in the 

 wall were covered at the top by one stone overlapping another. 

 The square holes in the interior court, I see no notice taken 

 of by Mr. Turnbull or any other writer. 



Mr. R. Chambers in his paper suggested that if the interior 

 court were trenched a few feet, there would probably be 

 found weapons or other articles which had been left by the 

 primitive occupants, and he strongly urged, that at all 

 events an attempt should be made to clear the place of rub- 

 bish, and means taken to preserve with scrupulous care all 

 that remained of this singular building. These views being 

 participated in by those members of the club who visited the 

 place last August, the subject was brought before the meet- 

 ing of the club held shortly afterwards at Alnwick, when it 

 was resolved to appoint a Committee to attend to the matter, 

 and raise a special fund by subscriptions. It is to be hoped 

 that such a Committee will do important service in not only 

 preserving this curious and unique relic from further mutila- 

 tion, but in ascertaining some additional information which 

 will throw light on its origin. 



Our Secretary in his minute of our meeting, mentions, that 

 after YfQ had examined this ancient structure, we ascended to 



* Dr. Leyden says, " The red Etin is still a popular character in Scotland ; 

 and according to the "vulgar etymology, his name is always represented as an 

 insatiable gormandiser on red or raw flesh." 



