S EL BORNE SOCIETY NOTICES 
'39 
EXCURSIONS. 
Saturday , May 19. — A party of twenty-five Selbornians met Mr. W. Percival 
Westell, F.R.H.S., M.B.O. U., at Berkhamsted Station, and a move was at once 
made for the Castle grounds, where, in the past, so many stirring historical scenes 
have been enacted. The walls of the castle are still to be seen from the delight- 
ful circular walk which runs round the grounds. The partly double, partly triple 
moats are to-day still visible, and here and there between the ash and beech trees 
one sees a mass of ivy-covered wall, such fragments being all that remains of the 
famous fortress. William the Conqueror occupied Berkhamsted soon after the 
Battle of Hastings, and the castle is mentioned in Domesday. As a royal castle 
it was granted to Thomas a Becket when Chancellor, and to Isabella, wife of 
King John. The favourite, Piers Gaveston, resided here, and Chaucer was at 
one time clerk of the works. The party of Selbornians sat under the grateful 
shade of the trees while Mr. Westell imparted this and other information, and 
steps were then directed towards Berkhamsted Common, where the glories of 
the golden gorse and the voices and presence of summer and resident birds lent 
beauty and animation to the scene. Ashridge Park was then entered, and, as 
avenue after avenue of stately beeches was traversed, nothing but admiration was 
expressed as to the sylvan beauty of Earl Brownlow’s demesne. Groups of red 
and fallow deer were noticed through the trees, and after a walk of six miles 
the party emerged into the open country, and suddenly found the delightful 
little village of Aldbury snugly nestling in the valley. After a steep descent over 
some chalk hills, where the gentian loves to grow, the village was reached, and 
the welcome sign of “ The Greyhound ” came into view. Here tea was taken, 
and the party then visited the old stocks and whipping post still standing in a 
splendid state of preservation in the village street ; watched the swallows and 
martins and swifts ; admired the trees towering on the high ground towards the 
monument erected in 1832 in memory of the Marquis of Bridgewater, known 
as “ the father of British inland navigation”; and pictured in their minds some 
of the scenes in Mrs. Humphrey Ward’s book, “ Marcella,” this famous authoress 
having a house in this old-world spot. After an hour or so in and around 
Aldbury a start was made for Tring Station. This ramble opened up a new 
district for the Society, and those who availed themselves of it were unanimous in 
expressing the great interest which it afforded. 
Saturday, May 26. — In consequence of a very wet morning only a very small 
party assembled at Leatherhead Station. The walk, however, was greatly 
enjoyed by those who, under the guidance of Mr. A. B. Wilkinson, ventured to 
explore the beautiful country, the rain fortunately keeping off during the after 
noon. Amongst the places of interest visited were the old Mill Pond at Fetcham, 
the beautiful little church belonging to the same village, and afterw'ards those at 
Great and Little Bookham, the former rich in its old brasses and inscriptions, 
and the latter overshadowed by its historical Yew tree. The best thanks of 
those present are due to Mr. H. Adkins, of The Tyrells, for so kindly entertain- 
ing the party at tea, and also to the Misses Soxley, who acted as guides to the 
interesting little church at Little Bookham. 
Saturday , June 9. — Favoured by the same delightful weather as last year, a 
party of thirty-four joined Mr. Miihlberg’s ramble to Roundabout and Pelts 
Wood. The singing of the many birds — now in their very best song — was one of 
the pleasures of the afternoon. Specially noticeable was the Blackcap, whilst 
several other species were also distinguished by the party. Many plants were 
collected, amongst them being Orchis l atifolia , the Marsh Orchis, Habenaria 
bifolia , Butterfly Orchis, and Lisle/a ovala, the Tway-blade. A piece of water 
gave opportunity for the study of pond-life, and a good many specimens were 
brought to light and kindly named for the party by Mrs. Douglas Wilson. Tea 
was taken at Mrs. Dabner’s, and after tea the party visited the Chislehurst Caves, 
so interesting, not only from the geologist’s point of view, but also from that of 
the archtcologist and naturalist, extending as they do some fifteen miles under 
Chislehurst, and remaining still, in spite of the efforts that have been made to 
elucidate their history, a puzzle to men of science. The two specimens of 
Ichthyosaurus embedded in the chalk — one of them 22 feet long and nearly 
perfect —are of the very highest scientific value and interest ; the guide asserts 
them to be the only two specimens in England. 
