182 Congress of British Archaeological Association at Devizes. 



The Mayor proposed a vote of thanks to the Noble Earl for 

 presiding-, and for his delivery of the introductory address, which 

 was carried with applause. 



At 8 o'clock the annual dinner took place at the Bear Hotel, 

 the President of the Meeting 1 in the chair, when the usual loyal 

 and complimentary toasts terminated the first day's proceedings. 



TUESDAY, AUGUST 17th. 



The archaeologists, to the number of about one hundred, left 

 Devizes at 9, a.m., and halted first at Potterne Church, where 

 they were met by the Vicar (The Ven. Archdeacon Buchanan) who 

 conducted them round his handsome Church, and where Mr. Loftus 

 Brock pointed out the most interesting features and again called 

 attention to the cruciform shape, this being another instance, and a 

 very excellent specimen of the style of old Wiltshire Churches, so 

 many of which are of similar design. The massive square tower, 

 with its elegant exterior tracery, and splendid arches, was much 

 admired ; and a good deal of attention was directed to the old font, 

 which was found buried beneath the one now in use while the ex- 

 cavations were being made on the restoration of the Church a few 

 years ago. The font is circular in form, very massive, and it is 

 conjectured that it belonged to an early Saxon Church supposed to 

 have existed in another part of the parish, where traces of early in- 

 terments are to be found. 



The party then briefly inspected the old gabled " Church House/'' 

 and more leisurely examined the fine old " Porch House/' so carefully 

 restored by Mr. Richmond, R.A. Here at the summons of the 

 President, the Rev. H. A. Olivier, whose father was for many 

 years lord of the manor of Potterne, and to whom the old 

 house once belonged, gave its history, so far as it was known, and 

 exhibited a drawing of the place as it was in his time : and the 

 Rev. A. C. Smith made some remarks on its admirable restoration 

 by Mr. Richmond, pointing out the true archseological spirit he 

 had shown in retaining all that was capable of being preserved, and 

 in restoring by copying as much as possible from undoubted original 

 work. From the Porch House the party drove to Eastwell House, 



