60 



Wilts Obituary. 



accidental damage to the edge when this ponderous vessel was set down. The 

 height is 15iu., the greatest width 14in., the bevel is 4in. wide, whilst the 

 diameter of the real foot is 3in. only. 



Some time ago a photograph of the vessel was shown to an eminent 

 authority at the British Museum, who gave his opinion that it was of a date 

 between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries ; passing out of the building the 

 writer met the chief of the department, and repeating the question as to date, 

 was at once answered, " Oh, say the fourteenth century." Further enquiry on 

 this point may, therefore, be considered unnecessary. 



It is probable that the use of this big pitcher was to fetch water for the use 

 of the Church — for filling the font, or for other purposes connected with the 

 services in the olden time. When found the mouth of it was covered with a 

 rude circular saucer of unglazed ware, which, with the vessel itself, is preserved 

 in the Society's Museum. It was through the friendly influence of the Rev. 

 J. Sturton, chairman of the restoration committee, that the specimen was secured 

 for the Society's Collection. 1 



Alfred Morrison, f.r.g.s., j.p., and d.l. for Wilts, of Fonthiii 



House. Born April 28th, 1821, died Dec. 22nd, 1897, aged 78. Buried at 

 Fonthiii Gilford. Married a daughter of Rev. R. S. C. Chermside, 

 Rector of Wilton, and leaves two sons : — Hugh, who succeeds to the Fonthiii 

 property, bom 1873, married 1892, Lady Sophia Castalia Mary, 2nd daughter 

 of the 2nd Earl Granville ; Archibald, lieutenant in the 2nd Life Guards ; 

 and two daughters, Katherine and Dorothy. Mr. Morrison, in addition to 

 his Wiltshire and Dorsetshire estates, owned considerable property in Wales, 

 and was the proprietor of the whole of the island of Islay. He served the 

 office of High Sheriff of Wilts, but beyond this took no part in county 

 matters. Mr. Morrison expended his great wealth upon the collections for 

 which he was famous throughout Europe. In this way he is said to have 

 spent more than a million sterling on the treasures housed at Fonthiii and 

 16, Carlton House Terrace. Pictures he never bought largely, but his 

 collection of engraved portraits could probably not be matched by any other 



1 The Society is indebted to Mr. W. Cunnington for the gift of the block 

 illustrating this note. 



W. Cunnington. 



