REPORT OF THE MEETINGS FOR 1897 155 



Hall. Some fine trees in the grounds were inspected ; one silver 

 fir is said to be 300 years old, and measures 1 2 feet in circum- 

 ference 6 feet from the ground. 



The party having resumed their seat in the carriages, and 

 time pressing, the drive was continued by "Silver Love," so 

 called because in the early part of last century a number of 

 Roman coins and silver vessels were found by the workmen 

 engaged in making a trench for a new hedge. Many of the 

 silver vessels were broken, and with the coins sold. A few 

 of the articles found were secured by the Swinburnes, and sent 

 to the British Museum The drive led past Kirkharle, formerly 

 the residence of the family of Loraine, now in the possession of 

 G. Anderson, Esq., who resides at Little Harle Tower. The 

 beautiful church of Kirkharle, lately restored by Mr Anderson, 

 under the plans of W. S. Hicks, architect, was visited, and 

 then Kirkwhelpington was reached. Much time had been lost 

 on the way, for shortly after leaving Morpeth, it was all too 

 evident that the horses were tired to begin with, and quite 

 unfit for the journey. An excellent dinner here awaited the 

 members, quickly served at the Board by the well-known host 

 and shorthorn breeder, Mr Robert Harrett, for many years 

 bailiff to the Duke of Northumberland. Time was now 

 pressing, and only a hurried visit could be made to the Church, 

 on which a short paper was read by the President. Before the 

 homeward journey was resumed, Mr Harrett paraded his 

 splendid young bull, Duke of Kirklevington, by New Year's 

 Gift. The latter animal was originally purchased from Her 

 Majesty the Q-ueen for 1000 guineas by Lord Faversham. 



The return to Morpeth was made by Wallington and Scots 

 Gap, several of the members joining the tiain at this point, the 

 rest travelling quietly down the valley of the Wansbeck, 

 through Hartburn, with Angerton on the right, Meldon, the 

 Dj'ke Neuk, Thropton (one of the few villages in Northumber- 

 land derived from Thorp), and so by Mitford and Newminster, 

 to the point of starting. Beautiful weather helped to make the 

 drive altogether enjoyable, except for the one drawback of 

 being indifferently horsed. 



