The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-09-20 00:00:00

BRITISH ARCHAOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION.

NEWBORT, Wednesday.
The members of this association, joined by • number
of the local gentry having a taste for archwology, began
yesterday moniing the series of excursions which hal
been arranged for the week. The neighbourhood
abounds with objects of historic interest, and it will
require from six to seven hours each day to get through
the programme before the assembling of the Congress in
the hall in the evening. Archowlogy hes found many
votaries in the ladies, and wine of them have evineed
considerable acquaintance with localities and events
which occupy a conspicuous position in the history of
the town and its environs.
The excursionists were ready by ten o'clock, and the
cavalcade of open and close carriages, char-a-banes, and
other vehicles quite utonislied the quiet inhabitsnta of
Newbury, many of whom could scarcely imagine that
their town and neighbourhood would ever have been
visited by such • number of celebrated antiquarians and
archaeologists as are now temporarily wjouening here.
The first place visited was Wash-common, about a
mile from the town, where two battles were fought
during the civil wars of Charles I. More than two
centuries ago, this month, the first enfagement took
place, the King commanding the Royalists in person,
and the Earl of Essex the Parliamentary forces. The
excursionists next proceeded to the park of the Countess
of Craven, at Hempstead, where ate some mounds of
interest in relation to former struggles. Avington, a
parish about six miles south-west of the town, was
afterward* reached, and the church and vicarage were
greatly admired. The former, in the interior, is • very
curious specimen of Saxon architecture. As the
weather changed to rain and hail, with • bitterly cold
wind, the cavalcade made for Shaw-house, the residence
of Mr. Henry Richard Eyre, who gave all • cordial
welcome and invited them to partake of his hospitality.
The encampment at Speen and Speen church could not
oe reached. AS the weather would not admit of the
party travelling any longer.
In the evening the Congress was again held under the
presideecy of the Earl of Caniarvon. A paper on the
legends of Wayland Smith, prepared by that celebrated
antiquary Mr. Thomas Wright, was read. This was
succeeded by one from Mr. Pettigrew on the death of
Lady Amy Itobsart, at Cutunor, in CEO. Mr. Pettigrew
sought to show that most of what had hitherto been
written in reference to this subject bore wore the ch.-
nett r of fiction and romance than real historical truth,
and that Ashmole had so far imbibed the prejudices of
the people that he asserted all as facts withont being
careful to tent their accuracy. He read the letters
which peened between Lord 'Robert 1/udley and his
cousin Blount, with other extracts from ancient docu-
ments, and argued from them all that the death of
Lady Dudley was an accident, and that Lord Robert
had not incited any person to poison her, nor, in fact.
WAS poison admiiiistered to her. A careful review of
the whole facts, he stated, hail led him to the belief that
no murder had been perpetrated, and be rejoiced in
taking • step to rescue the character of Dudley from
the stigma of having been connected with the commis-
sion of so foul a crime. Mr. Blundell did not Aquila.
thin in the views of Mr. l'ettigrew, and regarded the
letters which passed between Dudley and Blount as
being what, in his profession, were technically called
" showable," and made too much of a case. They
proved more of the guilt than the innocence of Dudley.
The sentiments expressed by Mr. Blundell were warmly
' approved by the yisitors, while a small portion only

were in favour of the views ennunctiated by Mr. Petti-
grew.
This morning the excursionista started off to visit the
mice famous Roman city of Sachester. The Congress
will assemble again in the evening, when other papers
will be read.
An expedition was made yesterday by a good number
r :
of archasologista to the churehes of Greentiain and ,
Brinipton, ir the latter of which perishes it is reported
that the Knights Tempters had • preceptors,. The :
cavalcade afterwards proceeded to Silehester, to inspect
the boundary marks of the Roman station which once
existed in that city. A paper of greet value and in-
terest on this military station was read at this place by
the Rte. Beale Poste. Alderinaaton-house was after-
wards reached, and the visitors were most hospitably
entertained by Mr. Higford Burr. In this mansion
were collections of antique objects and psintinge, the in-
spection of which afforded much gratification to the ex-
: cursionista. A visit was made to Thatchain Church,
: which has undergone complete renovation in the last
I year or two, and the party returned to the head-quarters
of the assuciation, the Pelican Hotel, Speeehmelend.
There was the usual meeting in the evening in the
Townhall, presided over by Mr. Pettigrew. The }ter.
J. Adaina read • paper on the Roman encampment et
Sperm. He said that the writer of an article on Roman
roads and stations in Berkshire had stated that, although
there were several undoubted Roman towns in Berk-
shire, the site of one only had been ascertained, and
that only with very great difficulty. That town was
known by the name of Spins, and was supposed to have
stood somewhere between Newbury and Speen, and
covered part of the site of the town. That Newbury
sprang from the ruins of an older town its name no
doubt indicated, and that Spline stood at no great dis-
tance from Newbury did not admit of a question; but
whether Spins, was ever of sufficient importance to be
designated a Roman town, or whether it was merely a
inilit.ire station were points which had not yet been
made clear. Mr. Adams went into history to show that
Speen was a Roman station of some importance. A
considerable number of Roman coins had been found
there, frftments of pottery, tiles, and tesselated pave-
ments. The most interesting discovery of all, however,
was on part of the site of the railway station at New-
bury, where, in removing about 100 square yards of
gravel, the workmen came upon what was clearly a
Roman cemetery. More than a hundred skeletons were
f.sund, some beautiful specimens of red ware as perfect
a. modern china, and other objects of curiosity. This
paper was followed by the resisting of the notices of a
nap of archeological remains in Berkshire and Hamp-
shire, drawn up by Mr. B. Woodward.
Tim expedition to-slay wrist° Orinisbury Camp and a
number of other places. It was almost dark when the
party returned to the town.
Friday.
_ . . .

At HI o'clock the members of the Association:and
about 400 interested in the proceedings, went to High-
clere Castle, the seat of the Earl of Cimarron. Among
the visitors were the Countess of Portsmouth, Sir
Richard Bethel!, M.P., the Right Hon. J. W. Mow-
bray, M.P., Mr. Walter, M.P., Mr. Alderman Cubitt,
M.P., Sir Joshua Wahnsley, Hon. P. P. Bouverie, M.P„
Mir R. G. Throckmorton, &c. They first stopped at
Beacon-hill, where Mr. Irving made some observations
with regard to the Roman encampment, and then pro-
ceeded to the castle, where they were received by the
Earl of Carnal-von. A splendid luncheon was served in
the new hall, and a military band was stationed on the
lawn. The buildings and beautiful grounds were then
inspected, and the lovely and picturesque views of the
surrounding neighbourhood greatly admired ,• indeed,
more charming landscapes it would be difficult to con-
ceive, and if the students in &ethnology did not meet
with objects which they were more particularly in
search of, they were amply compensated by the lovely
scenery. When the company were leaving they all
assembled in a circle in front of the castle, and Mr.
Pettigrew, in handsome terms, moved a vote of thanks
to his Lordship. The Earl of Carnsrvon, in returning
thanks, spoke of the usefulness of the society, and said
the people in the neighbourhood were greatly indebted
to them for coming into that locality and giving them
the benefit of their great architectural knowledge. His
Lordship said that lie wished he was like some of those
fabulous giants of old, who had several voioes and as
many heads, so that lie might have been better able to
dispense his hospitality. Several rounds of applause
followed his Lordship's remarks.
The Association then proceeded to Reading, where
they were received by the Mayor (Mr. C. J. Andrews)
and Corporation. His Worship expressed his gratifica-
tion in meeting the Association, and said he should be
most happy to afford them every facility in visiting the
different places of interest. The churches of St. Law-
rence and St. Mary were then visited, and the tine old
Abbey ruins. They next proceeded to Mr. Hounslow's
house, in Minster-street, to inspect the room where
Queen Elizabeth slept, and whose coat of arms still
remains in the panel. The Queen was accustomed to
visit St. Lawrence's church in state, and the aisles
used to be strewed with rushes. The stall occupied by
Her Majesty was removed when the chancel was
restored. . . . .

They afterwards assembled in the Townhall, where
Mr. Pettigrew read a paper on "The Antiquities of
Reading." The Association then returned to Newbury.