37 



striking, also a tulip tree 80 feet high just coming into flower, and 

 an Oriental plane tree, probably one of the finest in the neighbour- 

 hood. In the garden near the house a rose garden, and a rockery 

 with interesting rock plants were much admired. The large party 

 were most hospitably entertained at tea on the terrace in front of 

 the house by Mr. and Mrs. Hargreaves, and then drove back to 

 Brockenhurst and returned home by 7.16 tram. 



Old Sarum ^ visit to this interesting spot was made on 19th 



July, by a large number of members, arriving 

 about noon at Salisbury by train from Bournemouth, then driving 

 to Old Sarum. Col. Hawley, f.s.a., with J. L. Hammond, Esq., 

 who were in charge of the works, conducted the party over the 

 various parts of the old Norman Castle disclosed by the excavations, 

 the Treasury, the Guarderobe Tower with its remarkable pits, the 

 great Tower and its blocked postern and the Gatehouse which had 

 evidently been a first line of defence of great strength. The 

 formidable character of this fortress of Norman times is shown by its 

 position on the natural hill strengthened by the chalk having been 

 deeply cut and thrown up to form a very steep escarpment. After 

 crossing the site of the great Norman Cathedral a portion of the 

 original city wall was seen in situ. A number of articles discovered 

 during excavation were exhibited in the small temporary museum, 

 and though these date from the nth Century, it is believed that 

 Saxon, Roman, and Celtic relics lie at a greater depth, sufficiently 

 tempting for further research. The party drove back to Salisbury 

 and were conducted over the hall of John Haile, a merchant burgess 

 of Salisbury, and after tea at Sutton's returned to Bournemouth by 

 the 4.54 train. 



Portland This excursion to Portland took place on 9th 



August. The party, consisting of 22 members 

 arrived about 10.15 at Portland Station and were there met by F. 

 J. Barnes, Esq., proprietor of some large quarries, who took them by 

 motor train to Easton in the centre of the Island. After giving a 

 sketch of the history of Portland, Mr. Barnes led the party through 

 the public garden to Pennsylvania Cottage, and there, during, lunch, 

 told many interesting details of the customs and laws of Portland 

 relating to marriage and land tenure. Proceeding along the cliffs, 

 various points of interest including the prison were described. At 

 St. Peter's Church, built and decorated by convicts, the Verger, an 

 old warder, gave some information of interest. Mr. Barnes then 

 conducted the party to the ''Devil's Hole," one of his quarries, 

 where he showed the machinery for cutting and shaping the stone, 

 and explained the methods of working and the geology of the strata. 

 During tea in the garden of the George Inn, two " Reeve Staves" 

 were shown and their use in connection with rent collection 

 explained. On the way back to the station, by the courtesy of the 

 Commanding Officer, the party were allowed to pass through the 

 " Verne Fort " from which they enjoyed a very beautiful view of the 



