Beport of Meetings for 1880, by James Hardy. 247 



The door studded with large-headed nails, which admits to 

 the grounds of the hall, came from the old or West Hall. The 

 trees here are very stately and well-grown, especially the elms, 

 Spanish chestnuts, ashes, and beeches. There is a fine line of 

 hollies, which present the deceptive appearance of a raised bank, 

 that shelter the northern aspect of the house. In the verandah, 

 is an upper mill-stone or quern of trachyte, 14 inches in diameter, 

 apparently Eoman, and said to be from the vicinity ; there were 

 other mill-stones present ; and a white freestone excavated like 

 a cup, which may have been a holy water vat from one of the 

 chapels. Stone querns are said to be rather numerous about 

 Belford, being found here and there in cultivating the fields. 

 The entrance hall is ornamented in part with curiosities and 

 cases of stuffed birds. The pair of bronze spurs discovered in 

 one of the moats of old Belford Castle (now West Hall farm- 

 house), accompanied with human bones, of which the account by 

 the late Eev. J. D, Clark is contained in the Club's Proceedings, 

 vol. iv., p. 89, are preserved here. It is said that in another 

 place, some perfect teeth, along with knives and armour were 

 obtained. A part of the bird collection is local. A woodcock 

 was pointed out, with white wings, which had been shot by one 

 of the family at Blaydon, in December, 1879 ; also there were a 

 couple of Pallas' Sand Grouse {Syrrhaptes paradoxus) from the 

 coast near North Sunderland ; and a pale-coloured mule pheasant, 

 between the common and a Bohemian, that had strayed from 

 Eslington, and been shot on the Belford estate. Among the 

 paintings in the drawing and sitting rooms, are a couple of Mor- 

 land's, several sea views by Carmichael ; and two excellent views 

 by Eichardson of Holy Island Priory and Bamburgh Castle. 



The Eev. W. Atkinson Clark now headed the party to traverse 

 the grounds. Two very large hornbeams, which had become 

 ample trees, drew attention ; and also a grand American elm. 

 Some of the beeches have spirally-twisted stems, which is 

 attributed to the wind. Near the turret pond were two trees of 

 Quercus Ilex, which are considered to be the finest in the North 

 of England. Those at Howick HaU, seen last year, appeared 

 not to be far, if at all behind them. In this pond, a sort of 

 ** Dismal Swamp," amidst water coloured like ink, some water 

 lilies grew. The Myrica Gale from the upper moors had been 

 planted near it. 



