268 Report of Meetings for 1880, by James Hardy. 



gently rising hill country of Denton Fell, backed by the darker 

 beatb-clad height of Tindale Fell. Owing to the haze the dis- 

 tant Skiddaw and Saddleback (or Blencathara) were invisible ; 

 but they can be seen with a clear atmosphere. The opposite 

 hill-sides appeared to be boggy, and were at this season of a 

 rusty green. The brighter portions were those that had been 

 mowed for hay. Many indications of old cultivation were 

 apparent, but corn-growing had been abandoned in favour of 

 pasture. The small white-washed farm-steadings were thinly 

 scattered in their loneliness far away near the moor edges. Some 

 of them had been the patrimony of Statesmen, who had mort- 

 gaged their little properties till they were ruined. 



When we rose next morning the country was wrapt in mist, 

 and although the sun partially dispelled it, the grass was loaded 

 with moisture. Three companies were formed, one walking and 

 another driving to Birdoswald, to await Dr Bruce's arrival, who 

 had kindly undertaken the direction of the day's excursion. A 

 third company commenced their study of the Eoman Wall, a 

 mile more to the east, near the Eailway Station, to whom the 

 Eev. Adam Wright, vicar of Gilsland, acted as cicerone. The 

 members of the Club were greatly indebted during their stay to 

 this gentleman's courtesy ; and he kindly arranged this part of 

 the walk. To him I owe a sketch of what we saw when tracing 

 the Wall here : — 



''The first place visited by the Club was Mumps Hall. The 

 members assembled here at ten o'clock in the morning of the 

 29th September. This is the 'Mumps Ha' ' of ' Guy Mannering.' 

 As the name means Beggar's Hall, it was probably given at the 

 time when the house did not bear a good character. Here the 

 members inspected the external appearance of the once famous 

 hostelry. The house has recently been enlarged. The ancient 

 portion of the walls is yet traceable, and the work of restoration 

 brought into view the small old windows with their mullions 

 and iron bars ; and a secret passage was discovered leading 

 from the kitchen to the attic. The' entrance was in a closet at 

 the right side of the fire-place, and the chimney was so built as 

 to serve the purpose of a staircase." [In the loft or attic frag- 

 ments of what had been the dead bones of a child or children 

 were discovered.] " Below Mumps Hall, and on the west side of 

 the Poltross, which is sometimes called the Powtross Burn, is 



