XXY1 
PROCEEDINGS, 
Great Gaddesden Church was first visited. It was built towards 
the close of the thirteenth century, and for many generations has 
been the burial-place of the Halsey family, a chapel for that 
purpose having been built on the north side of the chancel, about 
the year 1730, by Henshaw Halsey, Esq., nearly a century after 
the date of the earliest monument to any member of the family 
(1637). The oldest monument in the church is, however, of a much 
earlier date (1506), a brass on the floor, part only remaining, 
inscribed: “Hie jacent Will’m’s Croke et Alicia filia Will’mi 
ffaryngton militis uxor dicti Will’mi qui quide’ prefatus Will’in’s 
Croke obiit xxix die me’sis Octobris, anno d’ni M° quingentesimo 
sexto.” 
Crossing the hill, Nettleden Church was visited for the first 
time by the Society since the parish of Hettleden was transferred 
from Buckinghamshire to Hertfordshire. 
The “sunken way” to Erithsden was then taken by the 
walkers, while the cyclists went round by the foot of the hill, and 
on the hillside under Erithsden Copse a picnic tea was very 
kindly provided by Mrs. Crossman, of Berkhamsted. 
Eield Meeting, 6th July, 1901. 
BERKHAMSTED. 
The place of meeting was Berkhamsted Castle, and Mr. Edward 
Mawley, of Berkhamsted, acted as director. The party at this 
and also at the previous field meeting numbered about thirty. 
After a stroll around the Castle grounds, Mr. Hopkinson gave 
a brief history of the stronghold. In the early British period 
its history is a matter of conjecture, although it is known that 
Berkhamsted was then a position of some importance; during the 
Homan occupation of Britain the Akeman Street passed through 
Berkhamsted; and to Saxon times the great mound, and probably 
the ditches, may be dated. The definite history of the Castle does 
not, he said, commence until the time of William the Conqueror, 
who occupied it after the battle of Hastings, and its history as 
a stronghold ends about the close of the fifteenth century, when 
it began to fall into decay. 
Proceeding to the Common, a portion of the ancient British 
earthwork known as Grime’s Dyke was inspected. Another 
portion of it can be seen on the opposite side of the valley, and 
a similar earthwork perhaps once continuous with it may be traced 
here and there across the country for many miles. 
The principal object of the meeting was, however, the inspection 
of Mr. Mawlev’s meteorological observatory, which is one of the 
most complete in this country, and of his fine collection of roses. 
On arrival at Hosebank, Mr. and Mrs. Mawley hospitably enter¬ 
tained the party at tea, after which a tour of the garden was 
made, Mr. Mawley explaining the construction and use of several 
of his meteorological instruments, and Mrs. Mawley gathering for 
