NOV., 1891. MIDLAND UNION OF NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETIES. 249 
Mr. Claughton and the Earl of Dudley for the pleasure they 
had afforded the party by opening and illuminating these 
caverns. Mr. Claughton briefly replied, saying that he was 
only doing what the Earl of Dudley himself would have been 
delighted to do if he had been in the neighbourhood. 
While the speaking was going on, a figure could be dimly 
discerned moving about the innermost recesses of the cavern 
away behind that heap of “fragments of an earlier world,” 
which constituted the “ throne” of the “ King of Siluria.” 
“Now, Addenbrooke,” said Mr. Claughton, after Mr. Hodgson 
had finished. “ Fire away,” shouted Mr. Addenbrooke, and anon 
the dim figure stood revealed amidst a blaze of coloured light, 
which threw its reflection on sloping roof and rugged wall. 
As these coloured lights died down at one point they flamed 
out at another, and the culmination was reached when the 
deep hollow against the further side of the opening became 
suddenly suffused with a rich ruddy glow, kindled by a man 
hitherto invisible on a raft in the canal. These temporary 
illuminations over, the party retraced their steps, but stopped 
at a large opening near the place of exit, to give, on the 
motion of Mr. John Amphlett, three hearty cheers, as expres¬ 
sive of their good wishes, for the future health and happiness 
of Lord and Lady Dudley. All then sought the open air, 
highly delighted with their visit to what Professor Lapworth 
on a recent occasion happily described as “ the interior of an 
old coral reef which stretched eastward as far as St. Peters¬ 
burg.” 
THE PRIORY AND WREN’S NEST. 
From the caverns the party proceeded to the Priory to 
inspect the mouldering remnants of what was once an 
important religious house. Its existence was due to the 
piety of Gervase Paganel, Lord of Dudley, who founded it in 
order to give effect to an intention of his father, which the 
intervention of death prevented his carrying into effect. The 
foundation dates from the year 1161 ; and it was an appanage 
of the greater monastery of St. Milburga of Wenlock. A 
Bull of Pope Lucius III., confirming the monks in their 
possessions and privileges, is in the muniment room at 
Himley. The Priory was dissolved in 1540, and so put an 
end to the provision in a deed, dated 1470, which the Rev. 
J. Hodgson stated he had seen, in which one Thomas 
Hodgetts provided an endowment to keep a candle burning 
for ever before the altar in the church. “ There have been 
many showers since then,” Mr. Hodgson remarked, “ and 
I’m afraid the candle has gone out.” At the beginning of 
the century the ruins were much more extensive than tliev 
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