4 2 



Passing in the distance an existing military camp, Bere Regis 

 was next reached. The village is supposed to be identical with the 

 Xbernium of the Romans. King John had a favourite hunting box 

 here, in the Forest of Purbeck, and a letter from him is extant in 

 which he enjoins the sheriff of those days to establish a kitchen at 

 Bere. An inspection was made of Bere Regis Church, which is of 

 great beauty and interest. The principal feature is the roof, of dark 

 wood, ornamented with most curious figures, richly carved and 

 painted to represent, undoubtedly, actual mediaeval costumes, 

 although the figures themselves are supposed to stand for the 

 Apostles. The figures are curious as being more or less horizontal, 

 with face downwards. The roof, tower, and bells were the gift of 

 Cardinal Morton, minister of Henry VII. The architecture, gener- 

 ally, is Perpendicular, the very fine font being Trans. Norman. 

 The " Turberville Window " is very interesting, containing no less 

 than 20 shields or coats of arms, in most of which the lion rampant, 

 gules, predominates, being the emblem of the Turbervilles. 



Proceeding on their way, the party next inspected the beautiful 

 Church of Puddletown, in which the two most striking features are 

 the black Jacobean, or rather Carolean, pulpit, and the gallery, 

 dating from 1634. The Athelhampton chapel contains many 

 monuments to members of the Martyn or Martin family. One 

 handsome recumbent figure, carved in alabaster, is remarkable for 

 the minute and exact representations of all the details of a con- 

 temporary set of knight's armour. 



After tea, taken in Dorchester, Mr. Pouncy kindly took the 

 party a little tour round the town, pointing out the chief points of 

 historical interest, some of which were connected with Judge 

 Jeffreys, of " Bloody Assizes" celebrity. 



Excursion to This to °k place on Wednesday, August 18th, and 

 Romsey, * n s P^ e of a somewhat unfavourable day, many 



members took part in it. The ancient Abbey 

 Church of S. Mary and S. Ethelneda was visited. In the absence 

 of the vicar, the party was conducted by the Rev. M. R. West, m.a., 

 and his able descriptions of the Abbey and its historical associations 

 were much appreciated by the members present, who, at the con- 

 clusion, accorded him their heartiest thanks. 



The first authentic mention of the Abbey occurs in 967, in the 

 reign of King Edgar, during that time of peace which followed 

 upon King Alfred's victory over the Danes. There was shown, 

 under a trap door in the floor opposite the pulpit, the apsidal east 

 end of a large church — evidently the foundation of the Saxon 

 building of King Edgar's time. Other evidences of Saxon work, 

 the carving at the east end of the South Aisle, and the Saxon Rood, 

 were also seen. To outline the history of the Abbey would occupy 

 too much space, suffice it to say that the original abbey was 

 destroyed by the Danes, led by Sweyn, in 994. There is no record 

 of the rebuilding of the Abbey, but in 11 20 there is a record of the 



