196 
PROCEEDINGS COTTESWOLD CLUB 
1917 
Under the direction of Mr J. W. Gray, the Ring and other ])rehistoric 
remains on the western face of the lull were inspected, and eventually the 
site of the ancient British Village was reached. This is a little to the south 
of the Golf Club House, and was originally a flat platform apparently originally 
made to the south of the hill. The many prehistoi'ic traces Icit, ])oint, 
Mr Gray considers, to a considerable population having dwelt in the Village. 
The Pre-Roman interments were so numerous in the ground between Ben’s 
Tump and the Racing Stables that the spot became known to the quarrymen 
as “ the graveyard.” One of the interments was that of a woman who had 
been buried in a crouching position, the bones of a child being found in close, 
contact. As the excavation proceeded several other bodies were exposed 
indicating, as did the black earth markings of the old surface of the Village, 
as well as other objects found, that the platform was part of the site of an 
ancient British settlement. The pits were of various shapes and sizes, the 
smallest about one foot in diameter and about 18 inches in depth, others being 
two or three feet in diameter. One, probably a pit dwelling, was 9 ft. long 
and 3 ft. wide, with a stone bench at the bottom. These pits contained 
burnt clay and basket work, suggesting a wattle and daub covering. Among 
other things found in them were the antler of a red deer, bearing marks of 
a saw. There are various opinions as to the uses to which the pits were 
applied. The smaller ones may have been used for cooking purposes, or as 
pottery kilns, and one of the reasons why this site was chosen for the village 
was probably the fact that a bed of clay is close by, and also a sprmg that has 
never been known to run dry. It may fairly be inferred from the informa- 
tion obtained that this was the settlement of a Celtic tribe, which possessed 
the domestic animals, such as ox, sheep, horse and pig. Roman coins have 
been found in some quarry rubble about two feet above the old floor of the 
village. 
The detailed evidences of this ancient occupation have been recorded 
in the Proceedings (xv., 49-67) by Messrs. Gray, Brewer, and others. 
Mr and Mrs Charles Bailey had kindly extended an invitation to tea 
at ” Haymesgarth,” and after the long day on the Common their hospitality 
proved welcome. On a former occasion Mr Bailey was able to exhibit his 
Herbarium, but shortly before the present visit the entire collection had been 
removed to its permanent home in Manchester University, to which it has 
been presented. By this gift, Mr Bailey completes the work of a lifetime, 
and Manchester is enriched by the finest private herbarium in Great Britain. 
The following announcement appeared in the Manchester Guardian of 30th 
March, 1917 : — 
“ It was reported on Wednesday to the Manchester University Council 
that Mr Charles Bailey, formerly connected with the firm of Messrs. Ralli 
Brothers in Manchester, had offered to present his magnificent herbarium of 
British and foreign plants to the University. 
“ The acquisition 01 this superb collection, added to the existing her- 
barium of the Manchester Museum, and more particularly to the large and 
