Report of Meetings for 1885. By Jas. Hardy. 49 



the old inhabitants, pretty widely separated, for holding sturdily 

 the upper hill country. 



We next visited two earthen-walled circles near the under 

 road, of considerable size. They have the character of sheep- 

 stells, and I take them to have given name to the "Stell-ende," 

 which in 1549 had to be watched "with two men nightly of the 

 inhabitors of Mykle Tosson." Burgh, or Brough British Camp 

 is now all ploughed over and laid down in old grass, but the 

 outlines of its ramparts are still traceable. The well that sup- 

 plied the camp is outside, at the point of the eastern descent, but 

 convenient for watering cattle ; and there is a long hollow entry 

 from the well in the direction of the rising mound that the old 

 indwellers had selected for fortification. From the summit we 

 look down on Wolfershield and Little Tosson, and witness the 

 various preparations for turnip-making. Byehill-Spittal was 

 pointed out, now called Allerdene, which is a survival of the 

 original name. In 5 Edw. III., 1330-31, Bobert de Heppale 

 had half of the advowson of the hospital of St Leonard of Alri- 

 bourn. (Abbrev. Bot. Orig. ii., p. 61.). 



We passed through Great Tosson, and examined the great 

 square grey peel tower in the centre. The ashlers of the lower 

 part of the walls have been quarried for buildings, and the sand- 

 stone slates of the under row have been partly removed. The 

 slates had been pinned with sheep-shank bones, as some of those 

 on the village houses are still. AVhere we measured the wall it 

 was 6 feet thick. There had been a turret-stair in one angle. 

 There are three farm-houses ; one of them was that in the 1 8th 

 century, which was occupied by the Donkins, where the famous 

 marriage feast at which so many victuals and so much drink were 

 consumed, and so many guests and musicians attended, was cele- 

 brated. There was also a bailiff's house. 



The old trees about the place, that add to its attractions from 

 the distance, are of ash and sycamore. We pass Tosson Mill, 

 and then the Ancroft farm on our left— a triangular field bought 

 by Queen Anne's bounty fund for the benefit of that parish. In 

 the lane young Whinchats fly before us, resting on the grey 

 willows. Larks were visible, and Swallows, Sand-Martins, and 

 Martins were skimming the road-sides and the surface of the river. 

 Flowering primroses still lingered here, and brooklime in the 

 plashes, with tansy on the hedge-bank. As we approached the 

 town, young Wheat-ears that had recently left the nest, were 



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