Thursday, August 7 th. 145 



archaeologists, attended by several private carriages, increasing the 

 number to about ninety, started from the Town Hall on the ex- 

 cursion to Fonthill, Knoyle, and Wardour. Skirting " King's 

 Settle/' but not halting there, the archaeologists first visited "Castle 

 Rings," a large circular camp, probably of British origin, though 

 afterwards occupied by the Romans and Saxons, surrounded by a 

 deep ditch and high bank, now unfortunately hidden by a thick 

 growth of bushes and underwood. Here the Rev. W. F. Shout, 

 Rector of Donhead St. Mary, met the party, and exhibited a flint 

 scraper and several other flint implements and flakes which had 

 been found in that immediate locality. The next halt was at an 

 excavation just made by Mr. Benett Stanford on what some con- 

 jectured to be a barrow, and certainly the ashes disclosed and a 

 piece of rough walling betokened the probable existence of a cairn, 

 but nothing decisive could be pronounced upon it without farther 

 examination with the spade. A pretty drive down the hill brought 

 the excursionists to Tisbury Church, where they were met by the 

 Vicar, the Rev. F. E. Hutchinson, who most courteously con- 

 ducted them over the building, pointed out the chief objects of 

 interest there, especially the roofs of the nave and aisles, and then 

 led the way to the vicarage, where many treasures of antiquity were 

 displayed, more especially a very early edition of Shakspeare's Plays, 

 a rare family tree, &c, Sec. Light refreshments were also provided 

 by the hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson. After thanking 

 their kind entertainers, the archaeologists drove to Fonthill Abbey, 

 the remains of the famous and most costly seat of the eccentric but 

 clever author of "Vathek," now the property of Sir Michael 

 Shaw-Stewart. Next to the beautiful seat of Mr. Alfred Morrison, 

 at Fonthill Gifford, where the owner kindly welcomed the party, 

 and threw open for their inspection his extraordinary collection of 

 Oriental china, as well as the artistic treasures of priceless value, for 

 which Fonthill is renowned. Then by Berwick St. Leonard and 

 Hindon, once a town of considerable repute in Wiltshire, now a 

 humble and very retired village, to Knoyle House, where the 

 archaeologists were splendidly entertained at luncheon by Mr. and 

 Mrs. Alfred Seymour, and where again art-treasures of no common 



