II 



284 The Porty- Second General Meeting. 



arranged, so that there was no undue hurry ; Castle Combe was 

 looking its Lest ; the deep combes and steep hill-sides of the country 

 about West Kington and North Wraxall, so unlike the rest of 

 Wiltshire, was a surprise to many who had never seen this corner 

 of the county before ; the Churches displayed a considerable variety 

 of architecture ; and the old houses were exceptionally numerous i! 

 and interesting. 



At the evening meeting, at 8. 30, there was again a somewhat 

 small attendance — twenty-eight being presentwhenMit.C.H. Talbot p 

 read his paper on " Eecent Discoveries at Lacock Abbey," which I 

 was admirably illustrated by a beautiful series of photographs taken j 

 by Mr. Sidney Brakspear — so that the whole work of discovering j 

 and unblocking the chapter-house door and windows, &c, &c, went 1 

 on step by step before the eyes of the andience ; and the loving [ 

 care with which the owner of Lacock Abbey treats the building | 

 was abundantly manifested. 



At the conclusion Mr. H. E. Medlicott, who presided — thel 

 President having left during the afternoon — moved a very hearty j 

 vote of thanks to the Local Committee for the very kind way in j 

 which the Society had been received at Corsham, and especially tot 

 Mr. II. Brakspear, the Local Secretary, upon whom the whole! 

 brunt of the arrangements had fallen; to Mr. Lowndes for his? 

 hospitality and also for the many other ways in which he had taken J 

 much trouble to make the Meeting a success ; and to Sir J. Dickson ; 

 Poynder, Bart., M.P., for his kindness in lending a break and pair 1 

 of horses to the Society both on Wednesday and Thursday, and for 

 the hospitality offered to the Members at Hartham on Wednesday 

 afternoon. Mr. Bell seconded the vote of thanks ; which was> 

 responded to by Mr. Mayo and Mr. Brakspear, on behalf of thei 

 Local Committee. 



FRIDAY, AUGUST 2nd. 



Leaving the Town Hall at 9.15 the first stoppage was at LACOCK, j 

 where the grand fourteenth century BARN of the Abbey was in- • 

 spected before the party moved on to the CHURCH. Here Mr. |j 

 Talbot read some notes on the building and afterwards showed ' 



