teesident's addeess. 243 



hot-houses were to the visitors sources of much pleasure, filled 

 as they were with choice exotic flowers and fruit. 



The views from the high grounds embraced the valley of the 

 Tyne from Heddon Banks to IN'ewcastle, and a considerable ex- 

 tent of the tributary Derwent vale. The sweet grassy slopes, 

 extending from the mansion down to the beeches bordering the 

 lower Derwent, showed a rich pasturage of the most delicate 

 vernal green, to which roaming herds of cattle and of Pallow Deer 

 added life and interest. 



The rain had ceased, and the sun shone out brightly, so that 

 our members could thoroughly enjoy the many charms of the 

 place, and the wonder was that so near to the smoke of a large 

 town such a beautiful place could so long have remained un- 

 visited. Yery soon, however, fresh gathering black clouds driven 

 by the south-west wind warned the party not to linger, and be- 

 fore they could reach the shelter of Mr. Battensby's cottage, at 

 Hag Hill, the storm burst upon them ; short, however, was its 

 duration, and they were soon enabled, in clear and sunny air, to 

 proceed by way of the sulphur spring, most appreciated in its 

 immediate neighbourhoood, but worthy of wider fame, to "Win- 

 laton Mill. Thence they rambled on to Scar Bank, where, from 

 the lofty abrupt edge of a precipitous bank, they saw at their 

 feet an amphitheatre of verdant haugh land, encircled by the 

 Derwent, at the foot of wooded heights ; beyond this was the 

 viaduct of the Consett Railway spanning the valley, and the 

 celebrated woods and house of Gibsidc. 



On returning to Winlaton Mill, they witnessed, with the cor- 

 dial permission of the proprietors, in the works of Messrs. Gr. 

 Miller and Co., the interesting processes of the re-working up 

 of scrap iron, and rolling it into long rods, for the manufacture 

 of bolts, horse shoes, etc. 



On their arrival eleven members only of the party sat down 

 to a liomely but substantial dinner and tea at ' ' The Golden 

 Lion," where, owing to the disappearance before dinner of the 

 majority of the party, nineteen dinners had to be paid for by the 

 Secretary out of the funds of the Club. 



