Second Bay, Thursday, August 3rd. 



21 



ground on the banks of the Avon : and that in Easton Grey wood 

 close by — commonly known as " White Walls Wood/'' is said to 

 exist a mound on which stood the Roman Prsetorium. The spot is 

 prolific in the yield of Roman coins, pottery, and other relics of its 

 ancient occupants : indeed, it is quite a common occurrence for agri- 

 cultural labourers to turn up specimens of Roman workmanship, when 

 engaged in tilling the soil. The next place visited was Easton 

 Grey, whose Church completely re-built in 1836, though prettily 

 situated, offered no attraction to archaeologists. Pinckney Park, the 

 property of Mr. Cresswell, was the next halting-place, and here the 

 occupier, Mr. Barker, very kindly conducted the numerous visitors 

 over the house, where various objects of interest, including some 

 curious old prints, were inspected. Sherston Magna detained our 

 excursionists longer, for in the first place luncheon was prepared in 

 the school -room here, and was heartily appreciated : and then 

 Sherston claims to have been a place of some importance before the 

 Norman conquest, and there is little doubt that it was the Sceorstane 

 of the Saxon Chronicle, where a battle was fought in 1016, between 

 King Edmund Ironside, and his Danish competitor Canute. The 

 Church is an ancient and spacious edifice, with a central tower, sur- 

 mounted by an open parapet and pinnacles. Over the porch, which 

 is ornamented with a sculptured figure on the exterior, is a room in 

 which, according to tradition, the Saxon King, Edmund, slept the 

 night before the battle of Sherston. The sculptured figure alluded 

 to above, was popularly supposed to be that of a hero, known as 

 " Rattlebones," who distinguished himself in the fight against the 

 Danes, but this view was not accepted by the archaeologists. Canon 

 Jones gave it as his opinion that it once formed one of the four 

 figures of a Church cross, from whence it had been removed to its 

 present site. He should not be surprised if it was a representa- 

 tion of our Blessed Lord, with the book of law in His hand, as the 

 Judge, and the hand raised in pronouncing the benediction. Canon 

 Jones also gave, by request, an impromptu description of the main 

 features of the Church, which he remarked, was an old Norman 

 edifice, of which the best portions were to be seen in the central tower, 

 chancel and nave. He had not the slightest doubt that the whole 



