SELnORXE SOCIETY XOTICES 
179 
Pyrford Church next claimed attention — one of the most picturesquely situated 
churches in the country — dating from about 1150 A.i)., originally a purely 
Norman structure, built of a ferruginous Tertiary conglomerate, the dressed stone 
inside the church being of hard chalk, and still showing the marks of the Norman 
masons’ axes. The want of foundations caused the walls at the west end to 
squatter outwards, and in Early English times massive buttresses of dressed 
.Sarsen stone “ doggers,” from the local Bagshot Sands, were built, to prevent 
further mischief to the walls. The chalice and paten, dated 1570, are traditionally 
said to be the gift of (jueen Elizabeth. Whether this is so or not they are 
both interesting and beautiful. In the porch of the Church are displayed the 
Selborne Society “ Don’ts.” IIow necessary these are was demonstrated by 
the strict enclosure of Newark Abbey by the late tenant of Homewood Farm, 
whose cattle and horses were lamed by the ’.\rries and ’Arriets who made “ cock- 
shies ” of the bottles in which they brought their liquid refreshments, and left 
the remains of this, their intellectual pastime, on the ground; to misquote 
Herodotus, “ the beginning of many woes to the Greeks and to the barbarians.” 
In consequence of these exhilarating, but unwise, amusements, no one can now get 
to this entrancing spot, in the midst of those seven streams of which old Aubrey 
speaks, without permission and payment. The ruins are those of a priory of 
Black Canons of the Order of Augustine, founded by Ruald de Calva and Beatrix 
de Sandes [= Send], his wife, in a place called Aldebury, in the parish of Send, 
and dedicated to the Virgin and St. Thomas of Canterbury. It was called Newark, 
Newstead, New Place, and de Novo Loco-juxta-Guildford. It was built in the 
reign of Richard I., not earlier than 1171, but before 1204. The Bishops of 
Winchester also enriched it, and so it was said to be the foundation of the 
Bishops of Winchester. It absorbed, not to use a stronger word, the revenues 
of some eleven parishes and chapelries, and at the Dissolution was worth 
^250 IIS. lid. clear. The last prior, Richard Lippiscombe, resigned the priory 
into the hands of Henry VIII., and received a pension of ^^40 per annum. 
large, partially dressed block of Sarsen stone, on which a rude cross has been 
engraved, has been moved into the enclosed ruins ; it is evidently a gravestone, 
of uncertain date. All the dressed stone has disappeared, and the ruins (it is 
said) were, about a century ago, to have been demolished for road-metal, but, 
as with Rochester Castle, the materials were worth less than the labour would 
cost. To this lucky accident in both cases we owe the preservation of their ruins 
and the picturesqueness they fortunately still lend to the landscapes they adorn. 
There being no place of refreshment in Pyrford, the present Vicar, Rev. F. J. 
Osborne, kindly placed the Parish Room at the use of the party, and Mrs. Napper 
arranged tea, which was thoroughly enjoyed after the hot live-mile walk, and a 
pleasant afternoon was concluded with the usual votes of thanks. 
Saturday, July ii. — Selbornians and their friends, under the able leadership 
of Mr. Wilfred Mark Webb, had perfect weather for their walk from West 
Drayton to Iver. One of the great advantages of this ramble is the small amount 
of road which has to be traversed, nearly the whole of the route being through 
meadowland, which on this occasion was looking extremely beautiful. A large 
number of wild flowers were collected, and although none of them were particu- 
larly rare they made a very pietty and interesting assortment. Water-plants 
on the banks of the River Colne were abundant and greatly admired. The 
quaint church in the pretty village of Iver was visited ; and, as the day was clear, 
the energetic members who climbed to the top of the tower were rewarde.I 
by a fine view of the surrounding country. Mr. William Lawrence kindly gave 
a demonstration on bell-ringing. 
Tea was provided at the Thorney Weir Fishery, after which the walk along 
the river-side was continued, and when train lime drew near many members ot 
the party felt most reluctant to leave the Bucks meadows for town. 
FORTHCOMING- EVENTS. 
Cou.NciL AND Committee Meetincs. 
Monday, Se[>Umber 21. — General Purposes at 5.30. 
7 'uesday, September 22. — Council Meeting at 5.30. 
