The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-08-08 00:00:00

io a hntorons torte,
I thank./ on the part
. for the honepr the
done them. e ielt
• ih • contested

engagnd i.
looking

help
being

remark,

that a
Roman
Nn, and
COiDel

barro,

Studland.

been

eontrthated by the lite lamented Doreetshire antiquaries:4
Mr. Sydenhani, to the A rchwologia (vol. xxx.
P.p. 327-338) Akerman p. 6. Whatever few secrete
can be elasited'from them, Mr. C. Warne will no doubt
reveal in the forthcoming work "The Celtic tumuli of
Dorset." On one point only can I venture to throw
r, that whereas a few years since it was
my admixture could be detected of British
interments, both my on-secretary, Mr,
myself (more recently) have discovered
'amongst the coarse unbaked pottery of the
lye tribe. If oceatirao should Stet daring
shall be glad to exhibit and explain as
the discovery in question. Probably one
Celtic relics in Dorsetabire is the stone-
lw called the Agglestone standingon the
clland. Though generally deemed toise in
....en apparently rendered more conspicuous by
—.vial manipulation at its base, and with the not nu
-
probable object of rendering it moveable as a Logan or
rocking done. The Cerise Giant, too, a gigantic figure
carved upon the chalk hillside, though dire necessity has
compelled us to exclude him from the programme (for
alas I he lies remote from railways), is still worthy of •
' visit; and whatever his precise age may be, incontest-
ably claims the honour of being our oldest inhabitant.*
A few isolated stones also, which toay hate been here-
tofore Oblesits of worship, and are still the subject of
mush nonsensical folk-lore, as well as cromlechs, Ito.
are scattered here and there in the neighbourhood, and
are referred to in the little printed Eat of objects of
interest. We have nothing to teach respecting them,
but much to learn, and miserly anticipate the light
which our learned guests may be enabled to throw upon
them. An old friend of mine, claims them rather
as the property of geology than of archeology,
but I am inclined to think that, like the Aggiestone,
they may have often been converted to religious uses,
and thus handed over from the one scienoe to the other.
A few flint weapons and rode gold ornaments have been
occasionally found amongst us, as the pages of the
Aronsiologioal Journals testify; but they are certainly
not so frequent as might be expected. Sorne splendid
specimens of the latter were dug up in 1849 at Beer-
hackett, and exhibited by their owner, the late Earl
Digby (v. vii. 64), but, I grieve to say, they have since
unacoonntably disappeared, and no trace of them can be
diseovered, It is no*, however, high time that I should
pus on to the historic period, and here we possess in
Donsetshire abundant proofs of Romeo ocbtlpation. Thb
least practised eye would at onob pereeibe that we ere
assembled At this nitranot at the angle of the main vim
of a Roman stative camp. Its vellum surrounds the
town, now planted with trees, in some places in the fosse,
in others in the debated and crumbled asset. At one
point, a little to the left of the western gate, the remains
of a rough stone Bernie wall may be seen. Within 100
yards of this spot • tessellated pavement, some of which
is preserved in the chapel of the gaol, has been
exhumed within the last few years. In fact it is
scarcely possible to dig in any part of the area of 80
acres included within the vellum, which ims not been
much disturbed, without finding Roman pottery, Or
coins, or pavement, or ornaments, or implements, of
one kind or another. Some fine specimens of these will
be exhibited, no doubt, in our museum: and I would
Invite the apeejal attention of the members to some very
remarkable relics deposited in the County Mnsem by
the ker. H. Moule containing, among other interest-
ing things, certain ; ornaments formed of Kimmeridge
coal, and proving, if proof were wanting, that the
theory first, I believe, formed by Mr. J. Sydenham, but
now generally adopted, that the so-called coal Money
was merely the refuse of the lathe.
The Amphitheat e (commonly called Mambury Rings).
• short distance outside the Southern Porte., speaks for
itself. Though I can fitid no authority for Hutchins's
statement that Agricola encouraged the Briton. to build
amphitheatres, in order to introduce luxuries, and to
'often the fierce and rough temper of the population,
I can quite understand the Roman Imperator, whoever
he was, availing himself of the obvious capacity
of the Britons for constructing earth-works,
In order to probide icereatidn both, (dr the
Conquerors and the conquered: We shall see do
Wednesday that its ditnensietti are for beyond what they
might at aria appear. Dr. Stukeley's calculation
was that it would contain very nearly 13,000 spectators.
Poundbnry, also, at a few hundred yards from the
, Western Ports, though the old notion that it was the
Pomeriuni of Durnovaria, seems thoroughly unten-
able, bears, to my eyes, very decided marks of
Roman Work-manship. To my surprise I find
that Mr: Warne, in his map and index which
have only just been put into my hands, claims it
as a Danish camp. Until he justifies this Opinion by
adequate proors I venture to reserve my own. Cer-
tainly I do not presume to contradict him, but Camden's
statement that it was the camp of Sumo, 1002,
would appear to rest on no very solid foundation'
and there could be no greet prebability that the Danish
rovers would have had time or opportunity to
construct so extensive a camp at such a distance
from the sea, the base of their warlike operations.
We owe the preservation of both these
last mentioned monuments of antiquity to the
interference of zealous archseologiets. A few years ago
they both were threatened by the ruthless railway
maniacs; but Mr. C. Warne himself was the main
Instrument for persuading them to spare the former,' and
the late respected A. D. Troyte sulicessf ally led the
forlorn hope in behalf of the latter.
Teselated pavvements at Weymouth, Sherborne,
Dewlish, Rampisham, Wynford, and elsewhere, are
strongly indicative of a long and peaceful possession
of the district. Mr. Bingham here referred to the
beautiful Fnunpton pavements, uncovered in 1793, and
a description of which was published by the erainent
antiquary Lysons, with engravings by Englehert. Be
especially adverted to the Christian itionogratu which is
?bond in them amidst heathen emblems. He also spoke
Of tbb Roman encampment in the British earthwork at
Hod-hill. The Roman stations in Dorsetehire appear to
have been Londiwis, or Lyme; Carca Arisa, Char-
month ; Dare ovaries, Dorchester ; Viadogladitt,
Wimborne; C/avinient, Wqpillpouth • Morionium,
eleim ; 80/re/neaten, Poole; and nernium, Here.
be Via Iceniana seems to have ran throng.h the
county from Woodyates, passing by Dorchester, to
Bridport ; with • braneh from Dorsihetter to the Frisse
way at lachalis or Ileheeter, and another to Crewkerne.
I knob net it whit precise period we are to fix the date
of Air. Millais' noble picture, in this year's
exhibition, where the grim British wife so un-
willingly relinquishes her Roman husband on
the chalky shores of Dorset, but there is no doubt that
it formed no inconsiderable portion of the dominions of
the kings of Wessex; that Aldhelm,one of the brightest
lights of the middle ages, was consecrated first Bishop
of Sherborne c. 705; that King Beortric was buried
at Wareham c. 784; that the elder brothers of
King Alfred, rings Ethelbalcl ind Ethelberk
*ere buried at Sherborne, and Ethelred, the next
brother and successor, at Wimborne • and that King
Edward, the martyr, was sasassinaied by his step-
mother, Elf rids, a 978, at Codes Gate, or Corte Castle,
During much of this period our shores seem to hetet
been peculiarly exposed to the incuslicins of the Danes;
and we read of them it Port, supposed to be Portland,
at Cbermonth, Wareham, and Swauwioh, where 120 of
the barques were wrecked. It is, however, somewhat
remarkable that we appear to have amongst na few anti-
quities which can be accurately referred either to Saxon
or Danish types. The great majority of our place names
as well as our dialect are unmistakeably Saxon, and to
this extent the people have left their impress upon the
district; but of Danish relies I know none • and it is very
rare, I imagine, that either in our batrotie or elle/there
any of their Mut Sr ilevoniq or ornainents dome
tight, *bleb ere generally ascribed elsewhere to the
Anglo-Saton period. In this age, hOwever, most of our
greet monasteries were founded. King Cenwalh, who
died A.D.' 672, is said to have been a benefactor to
,Sherhorne. Cuthborh, sister to King Ina, built the
monetary at Wirnborne A.D. 718 (Anglo-Saxon
Chronicle). King Alfred founded the Bens.
dictine Nttnery at Shaston is 888; King Athelstanthe
Benedictine Monastery at Milton about 933- Ethelmar,.
Earl of Devon, that at Cerise c. 987 ; and Oro, the
Houe-cerle (or Acetates.) of King Canute,
.that at
Abbotabury a 1026. Mr. Hingham hare deseribed some
most saleable Original cherteris, signed by Edgar, Canute,
and Bp'. Dtarreten, relating to this Oro or Oroy, now
in Loft lichester's posseseion. Dorsetshire wags favourite
hnntingittound of some of our Norman kluge especially
of King John, who afforested large tracts of the County,
and constantly abated and halted at Dorchester,
Poorstock, Bure,Gillits,gham, Corfe Capford, and other
plums. The two Norman castles, bode and Sherborne,
of which any considerable remains exist,we shall have an
opportunity of seeing. Their fate wae somewhat similar
—both of them having been gallantly defended during
the civil wars by high-spirited ladies, sad both of them
doomed to destruction by the came inexorable
eonquerors. The rev, gentleman then remarked thee
there were monastic remains at Cerise and Abbotsbnry ,
worthy of examination and as to lihurchesi the three i
fined were at Sherbet-he, Winiltorise, and Miltono
though there Were others scattered throughout the
county. Ile then mentioued the remarkable fort it
lifelbury Bubb, also several houses, lash as Melburn:
Hudford, Parnham, the Grange, Nt'raxall, Lulworth
Castle, &A. He said Dors t had been • Laud Debatable
in the Civil War, and was the scene of Monmouth's
Rebellion. He then passed to mention the ancient
worthies of the minty, quoting from Fuller, who
Speaking of &take°, tails him that great &wittier, thoagh
little man; also the Harlot Bedford, the founder of the•
House of Russell l; and Sir K. Bingham the great war-
rior Of Ellisbeth's time, who was specially appointed to •
make provision for resistance to the Armada,
Mid whom Puller styles fortis tarts felts. Also the
topographer Coker, vicar of Tinoleton ; and especially
Hutchins, who was born in the neighbourhood of Dor-
chester, his father being cerate of Bradford revere°,
and Hutchine himself becoming curate of Milton Abbas,'
and tither in the Grammar School there, eventually ob.
Mining the living of Melcombe Horsey (the same now
held by the rev, lecturer), afterwards that of Wareham.
He mentioned other celebrities also, referred to a stone
perpendicular cross, still to be seen at Stalbridge, and
concluded by remarking that the president was now sit-
ting in Judge Jeffrey's chair.
THZ ANTIQUARIAN ATTRACTIONS OF DORCHISTIR.
party was then formed to inspect the town,and pro.
led upon their mission, under the able guidance of
Rev. C, W. Bingham. Entering the bounty gaol,
went into the prison dispel to view • tessellated
...cement that is placed in front of the pulpit, which
Was found some years ago near its present site. Prom
thence they walked to St. Peterba ohnreh, where the
Rev. C. W. Bingham pointed out its principal &stuns,
directing attention to the two cross-legged knights rest-
ing in two windows of the aisles, weaponed, helmeted,
and dressed in casts of mail; the monument, in the
cinque canto style, at the east end of the north aisle, to
the memory of Sir John Williams,
knight' the finely.
sculptured white Marble monument to Lord Holies, at
the west end of the north aisle, and a brass dated 10a.
The rev. gentleman alto remarked that the church was
a good *penmen of the perpend' t style, Mr. Pres-
-n mid the shureh was of the
; the tow-

'RESg AND

, Disrnoveris.
I through the I

JOIENT

mid ince of the tiotorious lodge. ,Tigving along to the
garden of Kra. Stone, the, Walks, the portY
viewed the remains of tho wall.toi flint and unnewn
stone that at one period crowned the Roman vellum
The Rev. C. W. Bingham remarked that no doubt
Dorchester was the site of the Roman town
Durnevaria, and originally surrounded by earthworks.
The wall now being examined was pronounced to be
deeldedly Roman by a great authority—Mr. Roche
Susille, The gompany then walked along our boulevards
to die bottom of SWAM-street, where our cicerone
Obserted Shoat prohablg stood the Preterian gate of
rim/aria Making our way to Wollaston Yield,
-rough the kindness of the Mayor anal Corporation of the
Imo, a section of the earthworks of the Roman vellum
was exposed to view. The Rev. C. W. Bingham remarked
that some years ago a number of .keletons were found
there, which were popularly believed to be Roman, but
he woe of opinion that they were the remeine of
criminals that had been executed on Gallows-hill.
Lastly, a visit was paid to the church of Fordington St.
George. Here was pointed out a curious holy-water
stoup, which was considered to be quite unique, the
medieval pulpit, and the peculiar tile paving in front
of the same, presenting the original arrangement of the
paving aslaid down in the medieval age. Mr. Freeman,
whd iiroonsidered to be one of the best authorities on the
subject, said that the totter of the church, like that of
St. Peter's, was a very good specie:let Of the West of
England type. He then dilated on the character at
the windows and the tracery, and directed attention to
the peculiarity of the turret and the pannelling of the
windows. Mr. Parker made some remarks upon the
figures of St. George and the Dragon, which are rudely
sculptured in stone in the tympanum of the south porch.
He observed that the figures had been stated to be a
representation of St. George at the siege of Antioch,
but he quoted front an Italian work, which showed that
the same figures were found in Syrian churches
300 years before the date of Norman work, and
he was of opinion that the legend was brought from
Syri• by the Crusaders, and that finding • church dedi-
tatted to Sr. George, they amlpinted upon it the effiges of
St. George and the Dragon. Eta thought that the hardness
of the stone in which the work was done gave it a more
archaic appearance than was warranted by its age, and
he attributed it to the period of about 160 or 1180.

ANCIENT BOWL
In the elening, at 9 p.m„ a meeting of the section of
Architecture was held, when Mr. J. H. Perigee
read an excellent paper on Ancient Rome, Sir S.
Boileau, Bart., preeided. The lecturer's discourse had
chief reference to the early ChriAtiAn churches at Rome.
lie mentioned some that were originally Pagan etnples,
but had eubsequently leen efinseerated to Christian
worship, indicating with considerable minuteness the
main features of the Pantheon. The small burial
chapels in the Catacombs, none of which would hold
250 people, he did not believe were used for con-
gregational worship, nor as refuges from persecution,
or at least only for a few hours, but chiefly for burial
purposes, and perhaps, occasionally for teaching. He
then referred to the churches made in louses, and re-
marked that many of the great basilican of Constantine
were primarily the halls in palaces. The church of St.
John Lateran was one of the oldest of these. The
monastic churches comprised another class, whose plan
was that of the basilica, taken from the halls of justice.
The primitive churches all had their altars at the west
end, which being low did not interfere with turning to
the east during worship, as the pries; could look over it;
it was a custon he considered (*oval with Christian
worship itself. The church of Pudentiana was one of
the earlitst churches consecrated, about the years 160
or 160. It had been built over end over again, but the
lower part he believed was a portion of one of the
earliest Christian churches. The architecture of this and
several other churches he considered showed the decay
of art from the fourth to the tenth century. The walls
of Rome, he remarked, were very remarkable.
They were upwards of ten miles in length, an‘yrhere
they remained in their original state were 60 fee high,
with two tiers, ono above another—Mr. Gilbert Smith
inqnired if there were any stone benches in the chapels
Of the Catacombs, whidh milpit have been used for
placing coffins upon prior to interment f—Mr. Parker
said no, but there were small seats, which might have
been temporarily used by teachers. The early churches
of Rome, he proceeded, had been modernised from time
to time, but an examination of their exteriors developed
their whole history. The alteration that bad taken
place in the level of the city was traditionally said to
have been caused by the burning of Rome by foreign
soldiers, but be attributed it to the overflowing of the
Tiber and to an earthquake. After referring to the
campaniles, and also the mosaic* and frescoes, be ob.
served that in Rome everything after the fifth century
was called Todqrn and derpsed; and gasp some instances
Of the des niction of seteral fine old structiires
archit.ectk.—Mr. Gilbert Smith said he asked the question
he did because in Wales the porches of churches were
often used as mortuary chapels, and there were stone
benches on which the coffins could beeplaced prior to in-
terment.—Mr. E. A. Freeman asked if in the wend
century there were churches standing up in a state to
be consecrated. What was the evidence 7—Mr. Parker
said his authority was the Annals of Byronins, and the
archeological features confirmed the same.—Mr.
Freeman did not think much reliance could be placed
em a writer upon the subject who lived in the 16th or
17th centnry.—The Chairman thotight Mr. Parker did
not mean to say that the place was actually consecrated;
but that it was used as a church.—After a brief dis-
cussion as to the time when Pagan art in Rome was at
its height, a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr.
Parker, and on a motion of Colonel Start a similar
compliment was paid to the Chairman.
11113ETI

Dn Wednesday morning, at ten o'clock, a meeting of
the history section took place, Sir S. Bdileam Bart.,
presiding. The Rev. W. Bertula, 8.D., of Came, read
a paper on Ancient Dorset, taking up the time at whioh
the Saxon English and British were meeting in Weasex,
and, therefore, in Dorset. He remarked that the
Romans in their itineraries and other writings on
Britain took the names of places and men from British
lip 4, and then moulded them into a Latin shape, so as
to fit them to their linguage and their utterance: giving
eeveral instances. Be then traced the etymology of the
bounty name horn the Britidt Dttrtigneis through the
Saxon Domsretta to the modern Dorset, and thdt of the
county town from the British Dwrinwyr through the
Roman Durnovaria to Dorchester, and show d that the
people were called Darotriges and also Mormi, or
people of the little water, which little water be believed
to be Pool water reaching up to Wareham, a place of
great note in early Saxon times. Pool water he
thought to have been the Dwrin, from which Dorset
took its name. Wareham he held was shown to have
been • British residenoe by some inscribed stones found
In St; Mary's Church in that town. It must also, he re-
marked, have been known to the Roman* as early as
Dorchester; and, been taken by them es their Dorset
haven, yet they did not call it • water' ,but totik it
Only as a Wareham; "mound inalestire;" It would be
interesting to dud how the Rbnisns reached DOrchester,
whether they ever landed at Wareham (then the Dorset
port) or whether they marched down from Kent or
London. He then instanced the Roman stations
in the county. The early history of Dorset was
bound in with that of the settlement of Wessex,
under Cerdic and Ginnie in the year 496. The
first settlers landed in Hampshire and within about six
years, in 501, others seemed to have taken a footing at
Portsmouth, where, the Saxon chronicle said, was slain
a young British man of high nobility. He held that we
had another account of the battle of Portsmouth, and
of the d'ath of the young British man, in a poem of
LlyWarch lifl, theßritish bard. From Portsmouth the
Saxons slowly spread wiiiitward. It seemed that the
upper Axe, (Esk,) and the Parret, was for along time the
understood boundary between the Saxon English settlers
and the British. He held that the Saxons and Britons
were much mingled in Dorset, and that ethnologist'
were right in their opinion that. Dorset men had much
Celtic biped.: pro_Of of this commingling he showed
that there were Saxon laws of King Ins, bearing
especially upoo the British, who dwelt among their
Saxon conquerors in Dorset about 180 years after the
befiintfing of the settletnent of Wessex. Another
evidence Of this was the natiies of outlying places,
which he held were more or less trustiforthy as they
were taken upon wider or niirrOwer grdunds of epgeoh-
lore. He held that "ford" in the many names of places
in Dorset was a British word, meaning • road, and
elaborately illustrated the signification of several other
British words.-1 vote of thanks wins accorded to the
learned lecturor.
SHEBBORNE ABBEY CHURCH.

The Rev. Professor WILLIS read a paper on Sherborne
Abbey church. In the outset he intimated that he should
bring forward documentary evidence regarding the church
, Which, he said, was • splendid etample of the different
architectural stylee. It had an undoubted Norman
tnner; Nor Man. transepts;. • fine perpendicular nave,
with deliurated Wincitiws j a /formals porch, with • front
containing a melange of all the changes and additions
and ending by a perpendicular window. There wee
this pecebittity dis gn Shr AMIN; at,
the west end were the remaicapta long wall, evidently
the side *ll of church, authMibing antiquaries to the
belief tbrel_a pariah church stood adjoining the st,
structVe, indeed klutchingt in an ancient map, a,
the re more dietint d Marked them as "
of a Nun* alturele," wing Rada it must have
Moth Perfect 11i his thine. He then Mid the dirsi
mentary evidence was a disptite betoken the monke and
the laity whioh led to the building of the present per-
pendieular. church, Hutchings gives another document
from the record of Bishop Neville, Bishop of Salisbury.
This wag a mere abstract, and somewhat unintelligible,
and he had, therefore, obtained a sight of the document,
of able& be read an abstract. It was an ordinance
made by Neville, Bishop of Salisbury "between the
Abbott and Convent of Sherborne and the parishioners,
dated January 1438." It related to the well-known
quarrel beteeen the monks and the laity, respecting the
administration of baptism and the ringing of bells.
[The Professor, during_ the discourse, made frequent
reference to • diagram.] The Makin? went on to say he
visited the town of Sherborne, clearing to lie informed I
of the matter, and after investigation ordered the new '
parochial baptiental coat to be removed out of the church,
and the Monastery font to be restored to its pristine I
site add. uses. In this document the evince word
" clecktint'l ocearred In reference-to an korelogismN or •
clock. The Professor showed the monks had been
tampering with a door so as to inconvenience the
parishioners, allowing that they (the monks) were as
much to blame as the parishioners, a fact that
had never been brought out before. They were
given a twelvemonth to enlarge the door, bat
the new parochial font was ordered to be forthwith
removed. There was no doubt the monastery
chancel served as the paroohial church, but the monks
wishing to get rid of the parishioners built them another
°buret, ,but still kept he baptism to themselves on ao-
count of this eraohimente. Re then quoted Leland in
reference to ha ooption•noe of the quarrel between the
' - and the townsmen, which ended in St. fdary'e
being set en fire and destroyed; here, however,
was mistaken, for • document still in existence
'on not that Use church was destroyed. but that
0011111 W nt lank
restored'
contra,'
next

rti,iicnin that act f otnhee obturidrsnegi t;
121.1
all the ancient symbols and marks had Wenso pe ly
aaPriPd rt4ea iot '
osnely if
it had,
j
preserved, that the different architectural changes d
neoswt Iseof tr e
the
be molt distinctly traced. He then entered into a
- wof the restoration of the Church, which coo-
Jed in 1849, and WU much indebted to the magni-
nit contribution of Earl Digby, who engsged to
able whatever sum was subscribed by the public
,enerally. The restoration of the chancel was else due
to the singular munificence of Mr. Wingfield Digby.—
Mr. A.. B. Hoproposed a vote of thanks to the Pro:
tenor in an elegant speech, which was received witll
, amlaniation.— r. E. A, Freeman then made some
reinarki on churshes similar in arrangement What el
Sherborne —The Professor then entered into some
details as to how. Sherbortie Chorch passed into the
bands of the parishioner, at the Reformation, having
been sold by the King for that purpose.
005r5 OAeTLIL ..................... .
Mr. Thomas BOND, F.S.A., read • paper on Code
Coale. Whether, said the leeturer, Corfe is regarded
in association with some striking events in history, or
as a specimen of medieval military architecture, - or
simply as a picturesque object, it is alike equally inter-
eating. The earliest notice of the spot was in an Anglo-
burn charter of the year 948, In 981 Code was the
swine of the murder of King Edward the martyr, end
the lecturer gave the legend of the deed and its results
at length. The castle of Code assumed the shape of the
remarkable ' hill on the germ* of which it was
built. It formed an irregular triangle, the apex
of whioh was connected by it patrow isthmus with
the high ground,sen which the folio ef Code stands:
The isthmus had been cut through by artigeial Meanie
and the ditch thus formed was epanned by a itately
bridge of archon leading to the principal entrance of tin
fortress. The eagle contained • base court of consider-
able extent, a second and athird ward, and two or three
other courts. It had four gates. The ground plan of
the great tower was originally rectangular and nearly
square, but a wing war subs.quently attached to its
southern face. Only the south side and parts of the
east and west tides of the keep are standing, and large
MIURA of prostrate walls lie in confusion around.
Having more minutely described the keep, be observed .
that the masonry was of the usual Norinen ohs, eater. .
He wale disposed to think the castle was built by
William the Conqueror, but invited the Inetitute
critically to examine its features that • safe
conclusion might be arrived at on the subject.
He then quoted documentary evidence in support
of his theory as to the (bee of the structure.
In the reign of King John considerable sumo
Of alone* *ere laid out both on the tower
and cattle itself,and the beg frequently visited the place,
especially in the last year of his life. Its strength as a
fortrees induced him at one time to keep his truant%
and hie regalia there, and he also used it as a state
prison. Twenty-four nobles concerned in the insurrection
by his nephew, Arthur, Duke pt Brittany, Were; save
two, it was said, there starved to deatb. King John
caused Prince Arthur to be murdered, lied sent his eister,
the beautiful Princess Eleanor; prisoner to Corfe, where
she remained for seversi years, and in the subsequent
reign was removed to Bristol, where she died after • ween.
some captivity of 40 years. The unfortunate Princes,' had
as fellow-prisoners at Corfe Castle, two daughters at
William, King of Scotland, who were hostages. The
three princesses had many indulgences and were main-
tained in a style becoming their exalted rank. Besides
the keep, the castle had four other towers, of whioh
fragment' only now remain. Eastward of the great
tower are remains of a great hall. Adjoining the
hall at the north end there appeared to have been*.
small apartment, which possibly might have been an
oratory. Extensive works were carried on here towards
the middle and close of the reign of Henry ILL Near
the east end of the peas of King John_ there is a semi.
cylindrical tower, having upon its exterior face • coat of
arms sculptured in bold sorbet and • shield held up by
two human hands. These, he conjectured, indicated
that the tower was built in 1296. In the rebellion it
Simon de Montfort against Henry 111., Code Castle
was delivered up to the herons and testy retained it for
five yeare. Needy the whole of the base mart appeared
to have been erected by Edward I. The entrance got*.
way he attributed to the year 1280. Edward I. was
temporarily imprisoned bete in 1326, before being con-
veyed to Berkeley Castle, where he met his tragical sod
cruel fate. In the 11th of Henry IV:, John de Bias.
fort, first Earl of Somerset, had a grant of the castle,
Tbe lecturer then traced its history to the year 1031 i,
when the castle and manor of Code came into
possession of Sir John Bankes, Lord Chief Jus-
tice of England, and ancestor of Henry John
Percival Bankee, Faq., of Kingston Lacey, the,
present owner. He then related the history of
the gallant defence of the Cattle by Lady Banks'
in 18143, when it was beeeiged by the Parliamentary.,
forces. It was one of the last places in England that
held out kir Charles I. In 1045 the castle was agkin
besieged by the Parlismentery forces tinder Colonel
Bingham, and was Captured through treachery. By thi
orders of Parliament it Wee reduced to the shapeless-
but picturesque ruin that now recoidus.—The lecialser
was cordially thanked for his paper.
MICUBSION TO MAIDNN OADTLL
ON Wednesday afternoon, at three o'cloolr, • large
party of ladies and gentlemen assembled at the Town.
ball, preparatory to proceeding on an afternoon's exam-
skis, to view the British and Roman remains and other
objects of antiquarian intermit in the neighbourhood of
Dorchester. Carriages having arrived, the prospecting
party introduced themselves into them, or mounted
upon the top of them as best se they Might, and • move
was made in the direction of Maiden Castle. Passing
Napier's almshouse, and noting by the way the "dainty
arcade" Mr. Bereaford Hope remarked am he entered
the town, we proceeded along the Weymouth road, ad-
' miring the graceful avenue of trees and the visitors to
Durnovafis remarking the extent of the immolated
Ford ington geld.
A halt was made at the ameldtheette called Member,
Rings. The arena of this earthwork brainiest elliptical,
and is enclosed save on the north aide whete there is
an opening, by. • mound about 30 feet high. The Voir
having coaled the rather steep ascent to the mound, in
which operatiod the Mies especially distinguished
themselves by their clever climbing, the Rev. C. W.
Bingham remarked that they had now arrived at the
old amphitheatre called Mambury, or Matimbury Rings.
He believed that there were very many theories about
the name, and he gentered to hate a little theory of his
own-, it would not, however,. et all suit his good friend
the Bey. W. Barnes for it had nething to do with
British names. He oeaid not help thinking that the
former part of the name " fdambury" was derived trete
minus. He had no doubt whatever himself that this
place was constructed under the superintendence of the
Romans for the purpose, as he remarked on Tuesday,
of affording amusement both to the Roman army and
the conquered people of Durnowaria It was possible,
therefore, that plays were acted in this amphitbeetre,
acid eterybody knew that memo meant • stage player.
(Laughter;) He bad never brombed the theory bdorm
and he Was read,. po have it knocked down at a
monlent's notice. [A gentleman remarked that Mr.
B. Hope had first auggeafed the same explained
tion. Mr. Hope said he was afraid that he had got it
but • few minutes before from the Rev, (I.: Ir,
I Bingham, which that gentleman oorroborated.l He b- '
lieved that everybody, who knew anything about tbe
matter, most be satisfied that the pima was established
under Roman superintendence. There was no sort at
appearance about it to indicate that it was a Cal*
struoture. The outer wail, he imagined, had beep
greatly delebrated by time, and there had been •
beautiful (1) milestone put up by the ToWn Council el
the borough. (Laughter.) No doubt the area *as
much deeper formerly than at the present time. Dr.
I Stukeley, he believed, had broached this idea—the
opening at the north side being the entrance to the
amphitheatre, on the ppposite side were the cavesi,
from which issued the hearts: He did not think that
he could listen with any patience to anybody who called
the amphitheatre • Celtic work.
At this juncture • smart shower of rainfall, tied tin
party took refuge in the carriages, and proceeded
onwards for about half a mile along the main
road, and then diverged to the eastward to
visit the ancient villa of Herringetone. Here
the party was greoefully received by the present
other E.' tie. Williams, Wm, and walking through the
principal part of the house, whieh has been wily
modernined,e,.tered the drawing-toorn, which is enriched
with oak carving and fuheished a la Louis @atom.
Here Mr. Thomas Bond, of Tyneharet, addtessed the
pany. He remarked that the origin of the wane
Winterborne fierringstone waa from a tartan stream,
whioh also gave names to several villages in Dorset,
They knew very little with exactness concerning the
place till the tune of Henry 111. It belonged to Sit
Henry Besueliamp, of the great Somerset family, who
were the chief lords of the plan. Under them the
abbette of Bilidoe were the mune lords of the manor a ,
Herriegstrne. In the 27th of Henry ILI, he believed,
ein exobange was made between the sbbette and Phillet•
(Herring, the latter giving tome land at Chidden.'
Herring. He , then came to live at this place, &edit'
continued in the Herring family for several generates" .
In the time of Edward 111 royal license was granted
1,0 Sir Walter Herring to improve the place and enclose'
. with a stone wall It was no doubt a Mansion house
one the time of Henry 111. Time Herrings were a
lorman family, coming from Reran& in Normandy,
, and they were feudatories to the Earl of Warwick in
I the time Of Henry IL They raided at Chaldon Herring,
, all they cepa:lto this plaw, where they continued till the ,
I reign of Richall I/, when the elder branch of the 1
' family became extinct, cad the heiress Married a I
certain Robert Fovant: Shortly afterwards it
by some 'lOOlllll pet yfit dif*OverWile -4")'e44111
Fifiol, who eentialledlea possession of the place,
. misty per, •Wheliele century, when it was pare ,
.by the kneestrere ofthe present owner. Although 1
manor *entered into the family of Williams originally
by purebase, sebeeqttently they became co-heirs and
represeditheimithir &WV. who Widths same for so ,
, beg • a,peried. -bireWeiter Herrin heel tweeteele to '
ohs of which he gave Berringetone , and, the ether
Cheadle r ~:4* a solseqneetwe' 4 (*.Joke
Williams, , ' aartingeteno, 'needed el,
aaheirsee ilk TioCallo f:041479,4,1
____wil°
drool eke_ last heiress o time masons ....
. miner -house was refelfelTtitehins to have
kbe .the 13th (century by Siward. But Hutchins knew
very. little about mrnitectaro, and the loot was that
the Siwarda had nothing to do with it. The room they
were in and probably the greater part of the original
bowie was built by Sir John Williams in thallium of
James I. It was in the form of • quadrangle, had a
court-yard, • prieste chapel were services was done, and
• burial chapel The quadesagle was -subsequently
destioyed, and now that ball was the only portion ye
-
mauling of the old building. lie directed attention
to the arms of the Willlamses in the varying of
the roof, similar to those in St. Peter's ohnreh,
—Mr. Parker said be thought they might congratidate
the owner of the hall for having so well preserved a fine
Jamhain ceiling, which architects were ~ too
(candid destroying. The coiling wag a rem,
one Of the latter part of the reign of James
pointed out, amongst the grotesque ileum up
inner roof the letters CtP.' and the arms of time
74110, showing that it mote have bon said
mern he had natal. Having noticed i
.peantinge, and other °bevies al interim
retired from Me mansion.
;dement ride of ' about • mile, during whi
ei visitors were charmed byiageenety of 1
-early leen upoo this mu bought us
and Tesroeuse ,
_, Werke
_

generlY

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