REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR 1915. 
Vll 
old Lecture Theatre, where tea is prepared, has been furnished 
with housemaids’ cupboards and sink, also racks for crockery, 
and arrangements have been made for a monthly cleaning of all the 
windows. 
Miss Baines, who for the last 36 years has acted as gate keeper 
at the lodge, has retired on a pension equal to her previous salary 
and continues to occupy the home to which she is so attached. 
Her connection with the Philosophical Society dates from her 
birth as her father was not only the resident caretaker, but also 
sub-curator of the Museum and gardens. Miss Baines was born 
in the Museum which at that time included the residence of her 
parents, and has many interesting recollections of the doings and 
developments of the Society. 
The Architectural Museum has been much appreciated both by 
our members and visitors. During the past year the vestibule 
adjoining has been fitted up with cases, in which the very inter¬ 
esting collection of mediaeval tiles from St. Mary’s and other 
Abbeys are now exhibited. The fire-place of the Monks’ Warming 
Plouse has received considerable attention. The entrance to it 
hitherto, if not actually dangerous, was certainly unattractive and 
inconvenient. Under the careful supervision of Mr. Harvey Brook, 
one of our Curators of Archaeology, steps have now been carried 
down to the old floor level and the floor laid with red tiles which 
shew up the beautifully carved bases of the fire-place jambs and 
the stone curb of the hearth. Show cases have been fixed in the 
gallery, on the north side of the old Lecture Theatre, and to 
these have been removed and arranged in order of date selections 
from our almost unrivalled collection of Prehistoric Roman and 
Mediaeval pottery. These had previously been in the upper room 
of the Hospitium, where the light is poor, and their beauty and 
interest was difficult to appreciate. 
The Botanical Garden has been re-stocked with a collection 
of plants arranged under the skilled supervision of Mr. H. J. 
Wilkinson, our Curator of Botany. Further work would have 
been done but our second gardener, who had been placed at Mr. 
Wilkinson’s disposal for the purpose, was called away, first by ill- 
health, and then by military duty on the outbreak of the war. 
The Bowling Green has been much improved and a heavy 
roller purchased, and in consequence play has been enjoyed by 
our members all through the past summer to an extent never 
before realized. 
