MIDLAND UNION OF NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETIES. 249 
the central tower. This chamber is 5ft. 9in. by 8ft. 2Jin., and 
has traces of steps both on the eastern and western sides, the 
latter being somewhat worn and broken away, whilst the edges 
of the former are still clean and sharp. The passage leading 
from this chamber goes first at right angles to it, and, after a 
short distance (some 5ft.), turns sharp at an angle of a little 
more than 45deg. to the north-west, and then again to the 
west, and comes to an abrupt termination. Here there are in¬ 
dications of an arch. The passage at the end near the steps is 
2ft. lOfin. in width, but becomes narrower after it turns, and 
at its western extremity is only 1ft. 9Jin. in width. The 
ground beyond this has been excavated for the foundation of 
the new north-western pier, and it is certain, therefore, that 
the passage does not extend further in that direction ; but 
just there were discovered two leaden pipes, of 2in. lead, 
running westward, which, it is conjectured, were used for 
conveying water from an old well just outside the church. 
The entrance to this passage was unquestionably by the steps 
above mentioned. Unless, therefore, the passage was made 
for access to the pipes, we can only conclude that it was 
intended to be the approach to some subterranean building, 
the construction of which was afterwards abandoned, and the 
unfinished arch at the end of the passage westward may 
favour this view as well as the other. At the first angle of 
this zigzag passage, counting from the entrance, there are 
some indications of another passage to the north-east. The 
masonry, however, comes almost immediately to an abrupt 
termination. Otherwise in this direction we might have 
expected to find the conduit which is said to have brought the 
water from a well at the foot of Tout Hill to the Cathedral 
(Paley). The chamber through which the entrance lies, it has 
been conjectured, was intended as a place of security for the 
treasure of the church, but this does not seem to me 
to be probable. The chamber is somewhat larger than the 
passage, merely because here was the entrance. The descent 
to it was by stone steps. On the eastern side there are in¬ 
dications of a complete staircase. On the other side there 
is no evidence of more than two steps, and these have been 
partly broken away. It is plain that they originally extended 
across the recess, and there was doubtless a double flight of 
steps. On the floor, where the steps are broken away, 
several fragments of iron were found. These might support 
the theory of a chest having been kept there for relics, or 
that of a dungeon or place of penance for refractory monks, 
suggested by Gun ton, were it not so evident that this 
was only the entrance. A skull and some other human 
