The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-19 00:00:00

British Archeological Association.

LEBDS, Oct. 16.
The weather yesterday was very unfavourable for excur-
sions, but a large party, nevertheless, led by the President,
Lord Houghton, went to Wakefield, and thence to Ponte-
fract. At the railway station, at Wakefield, they were met
by the mayor and corporation, and the, party thus strength-
ened visited, in the first instance, the chapel of Edward
IV., built on the bridge over the Calder, which at that

point spreads out into a wide stream. The chapel was
built by Edward IV., on the site of a former one, in

memory of his father, Richard, Duke of York, and
those of his party who fell in the battle of Wakefield.

It is, or rather was, a fine specimen of richly de-

corated Gothic architecture. It is somewhat remark-

able that, exposed as it is to observation, awl, seem-
ingly, inviting assault, it should have been suffered to re-

main almost uninjured by the devastations of civil war
and of religious fanaticism, which destroyed so many of the
Norman castles and ecclesiastical buildings in this county.
About 50 years ago time seemed to have been the only

ravager, but even then it was covered in and habitable ;
the occupant of the ancient chapel being an old woman

who was renowned for her cheesecakes throughout the
juvenile world of Wakefield. It was afterwards converted

into a warehouse, and received much damage, and in 1847
it was thoroughly " restored"—so thoroughly, indeed, that
the only remaining portion of the original building is
small fragment near the old altar. The work of restoration,
however, requires to be repeated, for the Caen stone em-
ployed is fast crumbling away. The chapel is ten yards
long and about eight in width, and is supported on sterlings
projecting from the centre of the eastern side of the bridge.
The party passed along Kirkgate to inspect some ancient
wooden houses in that street, and a short paper was read.
giving an historical description of the buildings, which are
supposed to have been erected in the time of Queen Elizabeth.
The fine old parish church was next visited, the spire of
which is one of the highest in the kingdom, and has recently
been restored. The chancel, erected in the reign of Henry
IV. by `ir John Pilkington, particularly attracted attention.
The members proceeded from the church to the Town Hall,
where their official reception by the corporation took place.
The MAYOR made a speech expressing his gratification
at receiving the members of the Archreological Association
in Wakefield, under the presidency of Lord Houghton, to
whom he addressed some compliments on his distinguished
literary attainments, and thanked him for the readiness be
had shown on all occasions to assist the educational efforts
of the town.

the association, for their kind reception,
Lord HOUGHTON thanked the corporation, on behalf o
and expressed
their regret that they could not remain longer there. The
wealth, the credit, and the position of his family, he added,
were mainly owing, not only to their residence in Wake-
field, but to the honest trade they pursued there in old times
—(applause)—and in which they contributed much, he be-
lieved, to the prosperity of the borough. That was an origin
of which no Englishman should ever be ashamed, of which,
indeed, every Englishman ought to be proud. (Hear, hear.)
It was from the commercial classes that justly sprang the
best portion of their nobility, and it was thus that all classes
in England,from the highest to the lowest, were always in-
timately connected; and a man felt, when elevated to any
other class, that he lost nothing of the privileges of the class
from which he was elevated. (Cheers.)
the bridge, and, after the exhibition of some
Mr. WILSON then read a paper on the ancient chapel on
antiquarian
relics, the party left Wakefield by the railway train for
Pomfret, by which name, under the correction of the Pre-
sident of the Archaeological Association, the borough he re-
presented must now be known. They first visited the Old
Hall, supposed to have been commenced in the reign of
Elizabeth, as a residence for the Harewood family, but it
was never completed, and it remains a fine premature ruin,
which attracts much observation. After a short visit to the
church the party repaired to the castle. The ancient
glories of Pomfret Castle are most incorrectly symbolised
to the present generation by the representation of its gates,
with a dove perched on the top, impressed on that most
refined of all preparations of liquorice, " Pomfret c ikes."
The gates there shown bear no resemblance to any part
of the remaining structure, and the bird of peace is a
most unfitted emblem of the deeds of murder and bloodshed
perpetrated within its walls. Lord Houghton directed at-
tention to those portions of the building which have most
historical interest, and the Rev. Mr. Hartshorne pointed out
the chief architectural features, though there are now few
remains of the once famous fortress. It stands on a high
hill, and the most perfect parts that are visible are the walls
of the keep, which, being of extraordinary thickness, have
best withstood the ravages of the destroyers who have
worked its ruin. The whole area occupied by the castle
was seven acres, and it is now chiefly used for growing
liquorice, for which purpose the great depth of soil renders
it peculiarly suitable. The archasological objects of the
excursion having been completed, the members proceeded
to the Town Hall,
where a sumptuous collation had been
provided by the corporation. The Mayor presided, sup-
ported:by Houghton and Dr. Leo (ex-president).
After the usual loyal toasts had been drunk,
The MAYOR, in eulogistic terms, proposed the health of
"Lord Houghton, the President," who had been the repre-
sentative of that borough for 25 years, and whom, although
he had been elevated to the peerage, they could still recog-
nise as a neighbour and friend, (Cheers.)
Lord HOUGHTON, who was warmly cheered, observed
that, during the long period he had been associated with
that borough, he had witnessed many interesting scenes in
that hall. There he was first elected a member of Parlia-
ment, now about a quarter of a century ago. Since that
time therehad been great mutations of empires and great
historical events in the world ; they had seen the fall of
Ministries, changes of Governments, deaths of good raen
in whom they were all interested, the loss of many friends,'
and many other things had occurred which were beyond
their circuit to inquire into. During that period he had
seen in that hall many different assemblies, met for different
objects, but hitherto no such event had occurred as the
arrival of a literary and philosophical society in that town,
to be entertained by the m ayons and
corporation. (Hear,
hear.) He was sorry the elements had not been propitious,
but he should be glad if anything had happened to obli-
terate the memory of the darkness and damp, and that they
would carry away with them some warm feeling towards
the borough of Pontefract, for no WWII in England was
mere worthy of the attention of such a society as that most
ancient borough. (Hear.) Archaeology, instead of making
the best of everything, now made the worst of everything,
' and the oppenness of Mr. Hartshorne's statement had very
much diminished the personal respect he had for him,
(Laughter,) He thought he might have concealed the fact
that there were larger castles than that of Pontefract, but
he told it with an archaeological love of truth which might
be very virtuous but was rather discreditable. (Laughter.)
There might have been fortresses greater than theirs, but
they would all agree with him that there was hardly one
that had gone over so varied a space in British history,
or which illustrated in such a singular manner the
' changes of our constitution, our manners, our habits,
our religion, and our laws. (Applause.) In conclusion
the noble lord proposed the health of his predecessor in
that office, Dr, Lee, who, he said, was an antiquary of
great repute in the south of England. (Cheers.)
Dr. LEE returned his grateful thanks for the compliment,
and referred with satisfaction to the change of public opinion
respecting archaeological pursuits. Formerly people re-
garded them with suspicion, but now they were welcomed
by corporations and civic authorities wherever they went.
They felt greatly obliged to the Lord Mayor and corpora-
tion of Pontefract for their kindly reeception, and ho begged
to propose their healths. (Cheers.)
The MAYOR having briefly responded,
Mr. PHILLIPPS proposed " The Borough Members," Mr.
WATERHOUSE returned thanks, honourably defending the
corporation from the censure which the noble president had
despite highly
cast upon them in his inaugural address respecting their
plait
othf
ni)FengoculhingYtealloicfLaifi:cithea_setr, castle,and notwh iteoh theh ebosraoidtllghbe, longed to the
Some other complimentary toasts and speeches Were pro-
posed
untoward3lijiding,tshtea
vt ea
roifo
tis the
parts weather.
of
w
t2esededsand responded to, and the party returned by train to
gratified with the proceedings of the day
evening meeting Mr. G. Huts read a paper "On
Abbey," which was illustrated by a large ground
etheee
To give snore extended interest to the subject, he exhibited
guiehecl Cistercian the
same
scale,
of several other `l44iii-
ich he explained.
ral of those in mormstie establishments, including seve-
ral
than Ireland, which we
the English re all of much smaller di-
mensionsfollowed by a discussion,monasteries
in . The paper was
Hartshorne, Mr Planche,Winch Mr T. Wright, Mr
took part. Mr O'Catlaghad, and Mr Roberta
Mr. O'CALLAGHAN, the local honorary
read a paper describing an ancientsecretary, then
Giggleswick; in this county, which ie. canoe
discovered at
co
of the Philosophical Society of Leeds now in the Museum
he canoe was dis-
covered in May last, by a workman who was employed in
draining Jan], close to the margin of a drained
lake that was