354 



The Fifty-first General Meeting. 



to be of alder wood, found during the drainage works then in 

 progress. After wandering over the roof and enjoying the views 

 therefrom, Mr. Bouverie having said a few words of thanks to 

 Lord Bath for all his kindness, the party left for SHE A EW A TEE, 

 where, in a delightfully cool tent, among the trees close to the 

 beautiful lake, a sumptuous lunch given by the Local Committee 

 awaited them, to which one hundred and six Members and their 

 friends sat down. 



At 2 o'clock the brakes started again for MAIDEN BEADLEY, 

 the first point to be visited being, by kind permission of Mr. 

 Compton, the PEIOEY FAEM, where ME. SCANES read his notes 

 on the origin and history of the Leper Hospital and Priory. The 

 interesting range of buildings — now stables and cow-houses — was 

 inspected, but unfortunately no one present was able to throw any 

 light on their original purpose. It is much to be wished that 

 Mr. Brakspear or some other expert on monastic houses should 

 examine and describe these buildings. 



Returning to the village, Mr. Scanes exhibited a portion of his 

 collection of local fossils in the school, and read a paper on the 

 geology of the district. Unhappily time had run short and this 

 item of the programme was unavoidably too much hurried over. 

 As they walked on through the village many of the Members 

 visited the fine old house, now " Walton's General Stores," and 

 formerly " The New Inn." Much admiration was expressed for 

 its spacious and imposing oak staircase, and the fine stone mantel- 

 piece and remains of interesting plaster friezes in the rooms upstairs. 



At THE CHUECH the Vicar, THE EEV. E. CHAMBEELAINE, 

 gave an account of the building, and Mr. Scanes drew attention to 

 a curious incised slab now lying in the churchyard (having been 

 turned out of the Church at the restoration), the device on which 

 is worn and difficult to make out. 



From the churchyard the Members passed on to BEADLEY 

 HOUSE, where THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF SOMEESET 

 entertained them at tea most hospitably, afterwards showing the 

 various objects of interest in the house, including a number of fine 

 deeds with great seals attached to them, and the three contemporary 



