30 keport of Meetings for 1887: By J. Hardy. 



marked it growing. I have also a creeping plant with a single 

 terminal flower, now in seed, growing in only one hedge, which 

 I do not know. Epipacth \latij'olia\ is common in the woods." 



After leaving the Priory where a pleasant hour had been spent, 

 several of the members thinking it was the proper ceremonial to 

 undergo, and that it was the remains of a monkish cellar, groped 

 their way through the vaulted stoke-hole of the old vinery of the 

 disused garden adjoining the house. It had not the effect of the 

 cave of Trophonius, for those who underwent the ordeal, issued 

 merrier than when they entered. In ascending the bank adjoin- 

 ing, a white variety of Ajuga reptans was gathered, and there 

 were sprinklings of Fox-glove and Wood-ruff. The green plat- 

 form on the height presented traces of foundations of buildings, 

 but so indefinite that no opinion could be formed of their design. 

 The platform is fully described and mapped in McLauchlan's 

 " Survey of Eastern Watling Street." No Eoman remains have 

 ever been found upon it. A silver spoon had once turned up. 

 There is a tradition that it was formerly a market place. The 

 view up the Coquet presents the outskirts of Rothbury Forest as 

 visible from Cragside ; the thickets of old oak trees on the south- 

 side above Brenckburn ; and the Blackburn on the north, a 

 favourite resort of foxes; and beyond, the Cragside, Simonside, 

 and the peaks of the Tosson and Harbottle hills. 



Resuming the carriages, the very distinct pavement of Watling 

 Street was crossed, and Brenckburn High House passed. We 

 turned to the left between woods of goodly trees, and then by a 

 slanting road (Rothbury lane), we ascended towards Long Frani- 

 lington. The soil hereabouts was rather indifferent. At length 

 we came into a broad road with spacious margins, bounded on 

 the west side with a high raised boundary bank, topped by a 

 thorn hedge, intertwined with wild roses suspended in long rich 

 garlands, and numerous hazel bushes, reminding us of similar 

 remains of native trees on the Roman wall near Chesters 

 (Brunton and Tower Taye), and Gilsland (Poltross Burn and 

 Willowford). Stachys Betonica, a plant frequent here in old 

 pastures, began to manifest itself on the hedge banks, Then 

 the hedges were set wider back, and a green border next the 

 road appeared to be the Roman Watling Street. This used to 

 be the great camping place for gypsies. None of the land 

 owners can claim these entries. Here the two Long Framlington 

 fairs or trystes were held — where numerous lambs and other 



