Excursion on Thursday, August \§tli. 



147 



it was merely the site of a pleasaunce and a fishpond in the monks' 

 garden. It is most probably that of a Saxon thane's house or castle, 

 of timber- work on the earthen ramparts. In the absence of the 

 owner (Sir Gabriel Goldney, Bart., M.P.) his son, Mr. Prior 

 Goldney, courteously received the company and entertained them 

 with refreshments : he also delighted the archaeologists with the 

 assurance that neither his father nor he had any intention to restore 

 the Priory ; their only efforts would be to preserve it. 



Re-joining the carriages at the foot of Bradenstoke Hill at 

 Dauntsey, the party now had a long drive to Malmesbury, where 

 they were most sumptuously entertained at luncheon by Mr. 

 Walter Powell, M.P., and presided over by their host. Mr. 

 "Wright, in the absence of the President, tendered the thanks of 

 the Association to their kind entertainer, and Mr. Powell, in reply, 

 commended the ancient Abbey to their careful examination, which 

 magnificent structure (the historian told them) once covered, 

 with its surroundings, no less than five-and-forty acres of ground, 

 and rivalled in architectural beauty the nave of Winchester, the 

 choir of York, the spire of Salisbury, and the majestic towers of 

 Lincoln. Mr. Brock also gave expression to the gratitude of the 

 Association to Sir Gabriel Goldney, for his hospitality at Braden- 

 stoke, which was acknowledged by Mr. F. Goldney. 



The Market Cross was first visited. It is a Late Perpendicular 

 structure, very similar to those at Salisbury and Chichester, and is 

 a stone canopy borne upon eight pillars. A deeply- moulded flying 

 buttress rises from each pier, clear of the richly-groined roof, the 

 light ribs being drawn into a cluster by a wide string-band sup- 

 porting a large pinnacle and ogee finial. This pinnacle bears traces 

 of sculptured figures, and — on the west face — of a crucifix : but the 

 faces of the work are much abraded by the weather, and perhaps 

 rough treatment, for most of the bosses have been broken from the 

 groined vault. It was erected for the shelter of the market-folk in 

 1490. Passing through a large stone archway into the churchyard, 

 the grand south facade of the Abbey Church was seen in all its 

 beauty. Of the original cruciform structure — once, like Ely, adorned 

 by a lofty central spire, and another at the west end — but two- thirds, 



