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Full text of "Proceedings"

William Miles Barnes, B.A. 




DORSET IMTQR&Ii HISTORY 



AND 



FIELD MB 



EDITED BY 



HENRY SYMONDS. 



VOLUME XXXVII. 



Dorchester : 

PRINTED AT THE "DORSET COUNTY CHRONICLE" OFFICE 

1916 



in, 



DA 
70 



v.37 




S84731 



CONTENTS. 



List of Officers of the Club since the Inauguration 

Rules of the Club 

List of Officers and Committees 

List of Members 

List of New Members elected since the Publication of Vol. 
XXXVI. 

Publications of the Club ; Societies and Institutions in Corres- 
pondence with the Field Club 

THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CLTJB from May, 1915, to May, 1916 
FIRST WINTER MEETING 
SECOND WINTER MEETING 
ANNTJAL MEETING 

The Hon. Treasurer's Statement of the Club's Receipts and 
Expenditure . . . . 

The Hon. Secretary's Account 

Club Notes 



PAGE 
v. 

vi. 
xi. 

xii. 

xxiv. 

XXV. 

xxvi. 

xxyi. 

xxxii. 

xxxvii. 

xlii. 
xliii. 
xliv. 



Anniversary Address of the President . . . . . . 1 

" The Man in the Wall " at Wimborne Minster, by the Rev. Canon 

J. M. J. Fletcher, M.A., R.D. .. .. .. 26 

List of Dorset Barrows opened by Mr. E. Cunnington, or described 

by him, compiled by Captain John E. Acland, F.S.A. . . 40 

The Stratigraphical Distribution of the Inferior-Oolite Vertebrates 
of the Cotteswold Hills and the Bath -Burton Bradstock 
district, by L. Richardson, F.R.S.E., F.G.S. .. .. 48 

Sundry Folk-lore Reminiscences relating to Man and Beast in 

Dorset and the neighbouring Counties, by E. A. Rawlence 66 

The Silk Industry in Wessex : 

I. The Throwing-mills at Sherborne and their Owners 66 

II. Domestic Economics in the Eighteenth Century, 

by Henry Symonds, F.S.A. .. .. 85 

Australian Trees and Shrubs, by Sir Daniel Morris, K.C.M.G., 

M.A., D.Sc., D.C.L., F.L.S. .. .. .. 94 

In Memoriam, the late Henry Colley March, M.D., F.S.A., by 

Nelson Moore Richardson, B.A. .. .. .. 116 

In Memoriam, the late Rev. Wm. Miles Barnes, B.A., by Nelson 

Moore Richardson, B.A. .. .. .. 121 

Ancient Memorial Brasses of Dorset, by W. de C. Prideaux, F.S.A. 124 

Edge-Tools in Early Britain, by the Rev. Wm. Barnes, B.D. 

(Edited by Captain J. E. Acland, F.S.A.) . . . . 133 

Phonological Report on first appearances of Birds, Insects, &c., 
and first flowering of Plants in Dorset during 1915, by 
W. Parkinson Curtis, F.E.S. .. .. .. 137 

Notes on some Dorset Land Shells, by E. W. Swanton . . . . 194 

Returns of Rainfall in Dorset in 1915, by the R^v. H. H. Tilney 

Bassett, R.D. .. .. .. .. 198 

Pre-Saxon Civilization in Dorset, by Ellen E. Woodhouse . . 210 

Old Portland, by thp Rev. Herbert Pentin, M. A. . . . . 228 

Index to Volume XXXVII., by H. Pouncy .. .. 254 



IV. 

INDEX TO PLATES AND ENGRAVINGS. 



PAGE OK TO 
FACE PAGE. 

Rev. William Miles Barnes, B.A. . . . . Frontispiece 

A Doctor's Practice, 1623 .. .. .. .. xxxiii. 

An*hony Ettrick's Tomb . . . . . . . . 36 

Indenture securing payment for a burial plot in the Minster . . 37 

Dr. Colley March, M.D., F.S.A. .. .. .. 116 

THE ANCIENT MEMORIAL BRASSES OF DORSET 

Margaret Mohun .. . .. .. 125 



Francis Mohun 
Maximilian Mohun 
FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS 
The Tree Creeper 
The Greater Spotted Woodpecker 
The Nightjar or Goatsucker 
The Kestrel 
Plans of Flight of Bird . . 



ETC. 



126 
126 

146 

159 
172 
178 

185 



OLD PORTLAND 

I. General View of Weymouth and Portland . . 229 

II. Rufus Castle .. .. .. .. 230 

III. The Ruins of Old S. Andrew's Church .. 233 

IV. The Pre-Reformntion Chapel .. .. 238 
V. The Tudor Castle ("Portland Castle") .. 240 

VI. Stone-Quarrying .. .. .. 240 

VII. The Old Method of drawing the stone down the 

hill .. .. .. .. 242 

VIII. The Jacobean House ("Girt House ") .. 243 

IX. The Old Lighthouses at the Bill . . . . 244 

X. Easton .. .. .. .. 244 

XI. The Clerk's House . . . . . . 245 

XII. The Verne and Fortune's Well . . . . 246 

XIII. Fortune's Well from the Verne Yeates . . 246 

XIV. A Pastoral Scene at Southwell .. .. 247 
XV. Pennsylvania Castle . . . . . . 248 

XVI. The Snaring of the "Snalter" .. .. 251 

XVII. The Common and Chesilton . . . . 252 

XVIII. The Royal Portland Legion . . . . 252 



V. 



Ube Borset 
Natural ibfston? anfc Hntiquarian ffielfc Club. 



INAUGUBATKD MARCH 26TH, 1875. 



Presidents : 

1875-1902 J. C. Hansel- Pleydell, Esq., B.A., F.G.S., F.L.S. 
1902-1904 The Lord Eustace Cecil, F.R.G.S. 
1904 * Nelson M. Richardson, Esq., B.A. 

Vice -Presidents : 

1875-1882 The Rev. H. H. Wood, M.A., F.G.S. 
1875-1884 Professor James Buckman, F.S.A., F.G.S., F.L.S. 
1880-1900 The Rev. Canon Sir Talbot Baker, Bart., M.A. 
1880-1900 General Pitt-Rivers, F.R.S. 

1880-1917* The Rev. O. Pickard-Cambridge, M.A., F.R.S., F.Z.S. 
1885 * The Earl of Moray, M.A., F.S.A. Scot., F.G.S. 

1892-1904 Nelson M. Richardson, Esq., B.A. 

1904~ 19 2 } * The Lord Eustace Cecil > F.R.G.S. 

1900-1909 W. H. Hudleston, Esq., M.A., F.R.S., F.G.S., F.L.S., Past Pres. 

Geol. Society. 

1900-1904 Vaughan Cornish, Esq., D.Sc., F.C.S., F.R.G.S. 
1900 * Captain G. R. Elwes. 

1902-1916* H. Colley March, Esq., M.D., F.S.A. 
1904 * The Rev. Herbert Pentin, M.A. 

1904-1916* The Rev. W. Miles Barnes, B.A. 
1904 * The Rev. Canon J. C. M. Mansel- Pleydell, M.A. 

1904-1908 R. Bosworth Smith, Esq., M.A. 

1908-1909 Henry Storks Eaton, Esq., M.A., Past Pres. Roy. Met. Society. 
1909 *The Rev. Canon C. H. Mayo, M.A., Dorset Editor of " Somerset 

and Dorset Notes and Queries." 

1909 * E. R. Sykes, Esq., B.A., F.Z.S., Past Pres. Malacological Society. 

1911-1912 The Rev. C. W. H. Dicker, R.D. 

1912 * Alfred Pope, Esq., F.S.A. 

1913 * Henry Symonds, Esq., F.S.A. 
1913 * His Honour J. S. Udal, F.S.A. 

1915 * Captain John E. Acland. M.A., F.S.A. 

1916 Sir Dauiel Morris, K.C.M.G., D.Sc., D.C.L., F.L.S. 

Hon. Secretaries : 

1875-1884 Professor James Buckman, F.S.A., F.G.S., F.L.S. 
1885-1892 The Earl of Moray, M.A., F.S.A. Scot., F.G.S. 
1892-1902 Nelson M. Richardson, Esq., B.A. 
1902-1904 H. Colley March, Esq., M.D., F.S.A. 
1904 * The Rev. Herbert Pentin, M.A. 

Hon. Treasurers : 

1875-1882 The Rev. H. H. Wood, M.A., F.G.S. 
1882-1900 The Rev. O. Pickard-Cambridge, M.A., F.R.S., F.Z.S. 
1901-1910 Captain G. R. Elwes. 

1910-1915 The Rev. Canon J. C. M. Mansel-Pleydell, M.A. 
1915 * Captain John E. Acland, M.A., F.S.A. 

Hon. Editors: 

1875-1884 Professor James Buckman, F.S.A., F.G.S., F.L.S. 
1885-1892 The Earl of Moray, M.A., F.S.A. Scot., F.G.S. 
1892-1901 Nelson M. Richardson, Esq., B.A. 
1901-1906 The Rev. W. Miles Barnes, B.A. 
1906-1909 The Rev. Herbert Pentin, M.A. 
1909-1912 The Rev. C. W. H. Dicker, R.D. 
1912 * Henry Symonds, Esq., F.S.A. 

* The asterisk indicates the present officials of the Club. 



VI. 



THE DORSET NATURE HISTORY AND ANTIQUARIAN 
FIELD CLUB. 



OBJECT AND CONSTITUTION. 

1. The Club shall be called The Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian 
Field Club, and shall have for a short title The Dorset Field Club. 

The object of the Club is to promote and encourage an interest in the study of 
the Physical Sciences and Archaeology generally, especially the Natural History of 
the County of Dorset and its Antiquities, Prehistoric records, and Ethnology. It 
shall use its influence to prevent, as far as possible, the extirpation of rare plants 
and animals, and to promote the preservation of the Antiquities of the County. 

2. The Club shall consist of (i.) three Officers, President, Honorary Secretary, 
and Honorary Treasurer, who shall be elected annually, and shall form the 
Executive body for its management ; (ii.) Vice -Presidents, of whom the 
Honorary Secretary and Treasurer shall be two, ex officio ; (iii.) The Honorary 
Editor of the Annual Volume of Proceedings ; (iv.) Ordinary Members ; (v.) 
Honorary Members. The President, Vice-Presidents, and Editor shall form a 
Council to decide questions referred to them by the Executive and to elect 
Honorary Members. The Editor shall be nominated by one of the incoming 
Executive and elected at the Annual Meeting. 

There may also be one or more Honorary Assistant Secretaries, who shall be 
nominated by the Honorary Secretary, seconded by the President or Treasurer, 
and elected by the Members at the Annual Meeting. 

Members may be appointed by the remaining Officers to fill interim vacancies 
in the Executive Body until the following Annual Meeting. 

The number of the Club shall be limited to 400, power being reserved to the 
Council to select from the list of candidates persons, whose membership they may 
consider to be advantageous to the interests of the Club, to be additional 
Members. 

PBESIDENT AND VICE-PEESIDENTS. 

3. The President shall take the chair at all Meetings, and have an original and 
a casting vote on all questions before the Meeting. In addition to the two 
ex-officio Vice-Presidents, at least three others shall be nominated by the President, 
or, in his absence, by the Chairman, and elected at the Annual Meeting. 



Vll. 



HON. SECEETAEY. 



4. The Secretary shall perform all the usual secretarial work ; cause a 
programme of each Meeting to be sent to every Member seven days at least 
before such Meeting ; make all preparations for carrying out Meetings and, with 
or without the help of a paid Assistant Secretary or others, conduct all Field 
Meetings. On any question arising between the Secretary (or Acting Secretary) 
and a Member at a Field Meeting, the decision of the Secretary shall be final. 

The Secretary shall receive from each Member his or her share of the day's 
expenses, and thereout defray all incidental costs and charges of the Meeting, 
rendering an account of the same before the Annual Meeting to the Treasurer ; 
any surplus of such collection shall form part of the General Fund, and any 
deficit be defrayed out of that Fund. 

HON. TEEASTJBEB. 

5. The Treasurer shall keep an account of Subscriptions and all other moneys 
of the Club received and of all Disbursements, rendering at the Annual General 
Meeting a balance sheet of the same, as well as a general statement of the Club's 
finances. He shall send copies of the Annual Volume of Proceedings for each 
year to Ordinary Members who have paid their subscriptions for that year (as 
nearly as may be possible, in the order of such payment), to Honorary Members, 
and to such Societies and individuals as the Club may, from time to time, appoint 
to receive them. He shall also furnish a list at each Annual Meeting, containing 
the names of all Members in arrear, with the amount of their indebtedness to the 
Club. He shall also give notice of their election to all New Members. 

OEDINAET MEMBEES. 

6. Ordinary Members are entitled to be present and take part in the Club's 
proceedings at all Meetings, and to receive the published "Proceedings" of the 
Club, when issued, for the year for which their subscription has been paid. 

7. Every candidate for admission shall be nominated in writing by one 
Member and seconded by another, to both of whom he must be personally known. 
He may be proposed at any Meeting, and his name shall appear in the programme 
of the first following Meeting at which a Ballot is held, when he shall be elected 
by ballot, one black ball in sis to exclude. Twelve Members shall form a 
quorum for the purpose of election. A Ballot shall be held at the Annual and 
Winter Meetings, and may be held at any other Meeting, should the Executive 
so decide, notice being given in the programme. In the event of the number of 
vacancies being less than the number of candidates at four successive Meetings, 
the names of any candidates proposed at the first of such Meetings who have not 
been elected at one of them shall be withdrawn, and shall not be eligible to be 
again proposed for election for at least a year after such withdrawal. Provided 
that if at any Meeting there shall be no vacancies available, it shall not be counted 
in estimating the above named four Meetings. 



Vlll. 

8. The Annual Subscription shall be 10s., which shall become due and 
payable in advance on the 1st of January in each year. Subscriptions paid on 
election after September in each year shall be considered as subscriptions for the 
following year, unless otherwise agreed upon by such Member and the Treasurer. 
Every Member shall pay immediately after his election the sum of ten shillings as 
Entrance Fee, in addition to his first Annual Subscription. 

9. No person elected a Member shall be entitled to exercise any privilege as 
such until he has paid his Entrance Fee and first Subscription, and no Member 
shall be entitled to receive a copy of the "Proceedings" for any year until his 
Subscription for that year has been paid. 

10. A registered letter shall be sent by the Hon. Treasurer to any Member 
whose Subscription is in arrear at the date of any Annual Meeting, demanding 
payment within 28 days, failing which he shall cease to be a Member of the Club, 
but shall, nevertheless, be liable for the arrears then due. 

11. Members desiring to leave the Club shall give notice of the same in 
writing to the Treasurer (or Secretary), but, unless such notice is given before the 
end of January in any year, they shall be liable to pay the Annual Subscription 
due to the Club on and after January 1st in that year. 

HONOBABY MEMBERS. 

12. Honorary Members shall consist of persons eminent for scientific or 
natural history attainments, and shall be elected by the Council. They pay no 
subscription, and have all the privileges of Ordinary Members, except voting. 

MEETINGS. 

13. The Annual General Meeting shall be held as near the first week in May 
as may be convenient ; to receive the outgoing President's Address (if any) and 
the Treasurer's financial report ; to elect the Officers and Editor for the ensuing 
year ; to determine the number (which shall usually be three or four), dates, and 
places of Field Meetings during the ensuing summer, and for general purposes. 

14. Two Winter Meetings shall usually be held in or about the months of 
December and February for the exhibition of Objects of Interest (to which not 
more than one hour of the time before the reading of the Papers shall be 
devoted), for the reading and discussion of Papers, and for general purposes. 

The Dates and Places of the Winter and Annual Meetings shall be decided by 
the Executive. 

15. A Member may bring Friends to the Meetings subject to the following 
restrictions : Xo person (except the husband, wife, or child of a Member), may 
attend the Meeting unaccompanied by the Member introducing him, unless such 
Member be prevented from attending by illness, and no Member may take with 
him to a Field Meeting more than one Friend, whose name and address must be 
submitted to the Hon. Secretary and approved by him or the Executive. 

The above restrictions do not apply to the Executive or to the Acting Secretary 
at the Meeting. 



IX. 

16. Members must give due notice (with, prepayment of expenses) to the Hon. 
Secretary of their intention to be present, with or without a Friend, at any 
Field Meeting, in return for which the Secretary shall send to the Member a card 
of admission to the Meeting, to be produced when required. Any Member who, 
having given such notice, fails to attend, will be liable only for any expenses 
actually incurred on his account, and any balance will be returned to him on 
application. The sum of Is., or such other amount as the Hon. Secretary may 
consider necessary, shall be charged to each person attending a Field Meeting, for 
Incidental Expenses. 

17. The Executive may at any time call a Special General Meeting of the 
Members upon their own initiative or upon a written requisition (signed by Eight 
Members) being sent to the Honorary Secretary. Any proposition to be submitted 
shall be stated in the Notice, which shall be sent to each Member of the Club not 
later than seven days before the Meeting. 

PAPEES. 

18. Notice shall be given to the Secretary, a convenient time before each 
Meeting, of any motion to be made or any Paper or communication desired to be 
read, with its title and a short sketch of its scope or contents. The insertion of 
these in the Programme is subject to the consent of the Executive. 

19. The Publications of the Club shall be in the hands of the Executive, who 
shall appoint annually Three or more Ordinary Members to form with them and 
the Editor a Publication Committee for the purpose of deciding upon the contents 
of the Annual Volume. These contents shall consist of original papers and 
communications written for the Club, and either read, or accepted as read, at a 
General Meeting ; also of the Secretary's Reports of Meetings, the Treasurer's 
Financial Statement and Balance Sheet, a list to date of all Members of the Club, 
and of those elected in the Current or previous year, with the names of their 
proposers and seconders. The Annual Volume shall be edited by the Editor 
subject to the direction of the Publication Committee. 

20. Twenty -five copies of his paper shall be presented to each author whose 
communication shall appear in the volume as a separate article, on notice being 
given by him to the Publisher to that effect. 

THE AFFILIATION OF SOCIETIES AND LIBRARIES TO THE CLUB. 

21. Any Natural History or Antiquarian Society in the County may be 
affiliated to the Dorset Field Club on payment of an annual fee of Ten Shillings, 
in return for which the annual volume of the Proceedings of the Field Club shall 
be sent to such Society. 

Every affiliated Society shall send the programme of its Meetings to the Hon. 
Secretary of the Field Club, and shall also report any discoveries of exceptional 
interest. And the Field Club shall send its programme to the Hon. Secretary of 
each affiliated Society. 



X. 

The Members of the Field Club shall not be eligible, ipso facto, to attend any 
Meetings of affiliated Societies, and the Members of any affiliated Society shall 
not be eligible, ipso facto, to attend any Meetings of the Field Club. But any 
Member of an affiliated Society shall be eligible to read a paper or make an 
exhibit at the Winter Meetings of the Field Club at Dorchester. 

Any Public Library, or Club or School or College Library, in England or 
elsewhere, may be affiliated to the Dorset Field Club on payment of an annual 
fee of Ten Shillings, in return for which the annual volume of the Proceedings of 
the Field Club shall be sent to such Library. 

SECTIONAL COMMITTEES. 

22. Small Committees may be appointed at the Annual General Meeting to 
report to the Club any interesting facts or discoveries relating to the various 
sections which they represent ; and the Committee of each section may elect one 
of their Members as a Corresponding Secretary. 

NEW ETJLES. 

23. No alteration in or addition to these Rules shall be made except with the 
consent of a majority of three-fourths of the Members present at the Annual 
General Meeting, full notice of the proposed alteration or addition having been 
given both in the current Programme and in that of the previous Meeting. 



XI. 

Dorset 
IRatural HMston? ant) Hntiquarian jfielfc Club, 

INAUGURATED MARCH 26th, 1875. 

President : 
NELSON M. RICHARDSON, ESQ., B.A. 

Vice- Presidents : 

THE LOED EUSTACE CECIL, F.R.G.S. (Past President}. 

THE REV. HERBERT PENTIN, M.A. (Hon. Secretary). 

CAPTAIN JOHN E. ACLAND, M.A., F.S.A. (Hon. Treasurer}. 

HENRY SYMONDS, ESQ., F.S.A. (Hon. Editor). 

CAPTAIN G. R. EL WES, J.P. 

THE REV. CANON J. C. M. HANSEL -PLEYDELL, M.A. 
THE REV. CANON MAYO, M.A. (Dorset Editor of "Somerset and Dorset Notes 

and Queries"). 

SIE DANIEL MORRIS, K.C.M.G., D.Sc., D.C.L., F.L.S. 
THE EARL OF MORAY, M.A., F.S.A. Scot., F.G.S. 

ALFRED POPE, ESQ., F.S.A. 

E. R. SYKES, Esq., B.A., F.Z.S. (Past Pres. Malacological Society). 
His HONOUR J. S. UDAL, F.S.A. 

Executive Body : 

NELSON M. RICHARDSON, Esq., B.A. (President}. 

The Rev. HERBERT PENTIN, M.A. (Hon. Secretary), St. Peter's Vicarage, Portland 

Captain JOHN E. ACLAND, M.A., F.S.A. (Hon. Treasurer), Wollaston 

House, Dorchester. 

Hon. Editor: 
HENRY SYMONDS, Esq., F.S.A., Roundham, Bridport. 

Publication Committee: 

The EXECUTIVE, The HON. EDITOR, H. B. MIDDLETON, Esq., 
Dr. COLLEY MARCH, aud E. R. SYKES, Esq. 

Sectional Committees : 
Dorset Photographic Survey 



The MEMBERS of the EXECUTIVE 

BODY ex officio 
C. J. CORNISH BROWNE, Esq. 
Colonel and Mrs. W. D. DICKSON 

(Hon. Directors) 
The Rev. S. E. V. FILLEUL, M.A. 



Dr. E. K. LE FLEMING 
C. H. MATE, Esq. 
A. D. MOULLIN, Esq. 
Miss HILDA POPE 
The Rev. J. RIDLEY 



Earthworks 



Captain J. E. ACLAND (Chairman) 
CHAS. S. PBIDEAUX, Esq. (Corres- 
ponding Secretary) 
The PRESIDENT 
F. E. ABBOTT, Esq. 
J. G. N. CLIFT. Esq. 
The Rev. W. O. COCKRAFT, B.A. 



H. LE JEUNE, Esq. 

Lieut. -Colonel F. G. L. MAINWARINO 

VERE L. OLIVER, Esq. 

ALFRED POPE, Esq., F.S.A. 

W. DE C. PRIDEAUX, Esq., F.S.A. 

The Rev. W. RHYDDERCH 

Miss E. E. WOODHOUSE 



Numismatic 



H. SYMONDS, Esq., F.S.A. (Corres- 
ponding Secretary) 
Captain JOHN E. ACLAND, F.S.A. 
Captain G. R. ELWES 
Lieut.-Colonel F. G. L. MAINWARING 



Canon J. C. M. MANSEL-PLEYDELL, 

M.A. 

W. DE C. PRIDEAUX, Esq., F.S.A. 
H. F. RAYMOND, Esq. 



Restored Churches 



The Rev. A. C. ALMACK, M.A. 

(Corresponding Secretary) 
J. ALLNER, Esq., A.R.I.B.A. 
R. BARROW, Esq. 
H. W. CRICKMAY, Esq. 
The Rev. JAMES CROSS, M.A. 
Rev. Canon FLETCHER, M.A., R.D. 



G. W. FLOYER, Esq. 

The Rev. H. HAWKINS 

R. HINE, Esq. 

The Rev. Canon MAYO, M.A. 

W. B. WIIDMAN, Esq., M.A. 

The Rev. A. C. WOODHOUSE 



Xll. 



of 

OF THE 

JflaturaJ Sjtstorp anfc 
CJutu 



FOB THE YEAR 1916. 



Honorary Members: 

Year of 

Election. (The initials " O.M." signify " Original Member.") 

O.M. W. CAEBUTHEES, Esq., Ph.D., F.E.S., F.G.S., F.L.S., British Museum 

(Nat. Hist.), South Kensington. 
1889 A. M. WAILIS, Esq., 29, Mallams, Portland. 
1900 A. SMITH WOODWAED, Esq., LL.D., F.E.S., F.G.S., British Museum (Nat. 

Hist.), South Kensington, London. 
1904 Sir WM. THISELTON DYER, K.C.M.G., C.I.E., LL.D., Sc.D., Ph.D., 

F.E.S., The Ferns, Witcombe, Gloucester. 
1904jr Sir FEEDEKICK TEEVES, Bart., G.C.V.O., C.B., LL.D., Thatched House 

Lodge, Richmond Park, Kingston- on -Thames. 
1908 THOMAS HAEDY, Esq., O.M., D. Litt., LL.D., Max Gate, Dorchester. 



Members : 

1903 The Most Hon. the Marquis of 

Salisbury, M.A., C.B. The Manor House, Cranborne 

1903 The Most Hon. the Marchioness 

of Salisbury The Manor House, Cranborne 

O.M. The Eight Hon. the Earl of 

Moray, M.A., F.S.A. Scot., 

F.G.S. ( Vice- President) Kinfauns Castle, Perth, N.B 

1911 The Eight Hon. the Earl of 

Ilchester Melbury, Dorchester 



Xlll. 



1902 The Eight Hon. the Earl of 

Shaftesbury, K.C.V.O. 
1884 The Right Hon. Lord Eustace 
Cecil, F.R.G.S. (Vice-President) 

1903 The Right Hon. Lady Eustace 

Cecil 

1904 The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop 

of Durham, D.D. 

1892 The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop 

of Worcester, D.D., F.S.A. 
1912 The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop 

of Salisbury, D.D. 
1889 The Right Hon. Lord Digby 
1907 The Right Hon. Lord Wynford 
1907 The Right Hon. Lady Wynford 
1910 Abbott, F. E., Esq. 

1893 Acland, Captain John E., M.A., 

F.S.A. ( Vice-President and Hon. 
Treasurer) 
1892 Acton, Rev. Edward, B.A. 

1907 Allner, Mrs. George 

1908 Almack, Rev. A. C., M.A. 

1906 Atkins, F. T., Esq., M.R.C.S., 

L.R.C.P. Edin. 

1907 Atkinson, George T., Esq., M.A. 
1902 Baker, Sir Randolf L., Bart., 

M.P. 

1912 Baker, Rev. E. W., B.A. 
1906 Bankes, Mrs. 

1912 Bankes, Jerome N., Esq., F.S.A. 
1902 Barkworth, Edmund, Esq. 

1904 Barlow, Major C. M. 

1894 Barnes, Mrs. John lies 

1917 Barrett, W. E. Cowdell, Esq., 

M.A., LL.M. 
1906 Barrow, Richard, Esq. 

1895 Bartelot, Rev. R. Grosvenor, M.A. 

1904 Baskett, Mrs. S. R. 

1913 Bassett, Rev. H. H. Tilney, R.D. 

(Hon. Editor of the Dorset 
Rainfall Jleports) 
1910 Baxter, Lieut. -Colonel W. H. 



St. Giles. Wimborne 

Lytchett Heath, Poole 

Lytchett Heath, Poole 

Auckland Castle, Bishop's Auckland 

Hartlebury Castle, Kidderminster 

The Palace, Salisbury 
Minterne, Dorchester 
Wannwell House, Dorchester 
Warmwell House, Dorchester 
Shortwood, Christchurch, Hants 



Wollaston House, Dorchester 
Wolverton Rectory, Basingstoke 
National Provincial Bank, Sturminster 

Newton 
The Rectory, Blandford St. Mary 

Cathay, Alumhurst Road , Bournemouth 
Durlston Court, Swanage 

Ranston, Blandford 

The Rectory, Witchampton 

Kingston Lacy, Wimborne 

63, Redcliffe Gardens, London, S. W. 

Hillymead, Seaton 

Southcot, Charminster 

Blandford 

The Cottage, Weymouth 

Sorrento House, Sandecotes, Parkstone 

Fordington St. George Vicarage, 

Dorchester 
Evershot 



Whitchurch Vicarage, Blandford 
The Wilderness, Sherborne 



XIV. 



1910 Baxter, Mrs. W. H. 

1917 Beament, W. O., Esq., B.A. 

1888 Beckford, F. J., Esq. 

1908 Benett-Stanford, Major J., 

F.R.G.S., F.Z.S. 

1910 Blackett, Rev. J. C., B.A. 

1917 Blathwayt, Rev. F. L., M.A., 

M.B.O.TJ. 

1903 Bond, Gerald Denis, Esq. 

1906 Bond, Nigel de M., Esq., M.A. 
1903 Bond, Wm. Ralph G., Esq. 
1910 Bond, F. Bligh, Esq., F.R.I.B.A. 
1913 Bone, Clement G., Esq., M.A. 

1889 Bower, H. Syndercombe, Esq. 

1900 Bower, Rev. Charles H. S., 

M.A. 

1898 Brandreth, Rev. F. W., M.A. 

1901 Brennand, John, Esq. 

1895 Brymer, Rev. J. G., M.A. 

1907 Bulfin, Ignatius, Esq., B.A. 

1900 Bullen, Colonel John Bullen 

Byrnes 

1907 Bury, Mrs. Henry 
1905 Busk, W. G., Esq. 

1905 Busk, Mrs. W. G. 

1901 Bussell, Miss Katherine 

1903 Butler-Bowden, Mrs. Bruno 
1911 Butlin, M. C., Esq., M.A. 
1891 Carter, William, Esq. 

1905 Chadwyck-Healey. Sir C. E. H., 

M.A., K.C., K.C.B., F.S.A. 
1913 Champ, Miss Edith 
1897 Chudleigh, Mrs. 

1894 Church, Colonel Arthur 

1904 Clapcott, Miss 

1905 Clark, Mrs. E. S. 



The Wilderness, Sherborne 

Beaminster 

Witley, Parkstone 

Hatch House, Tisbury, Wilts 
Compton Rectory, Winchester 

Melbury Osmond Rectory, Dorchester 

Holme, Wareham 

Hasler House, Crowborough, Sussex 

Tyneham, Wareham 

454, Gloucester Road, Bristol 

6, Lennox Street, Weymouth 
Fontmell Parva, Shilhngstone, Bland- 
ford 

Childe Okeford Rectory, Shillingstone, 

Dorset 

Buckland Newton, Dorchester 
Innisfallen, Rossmore Avenue, Park- 
stone 

Ilsington House, Puddletown 
The Den, Knole Road, Bournemouth 

Catherston Leweston, near Charmouth 
Mayfield House, Farnham, Surrey 
Wraxall Manor, Cattistock, Dor- 
chester 

Wraxall Manor, Cattistock, Dor- 
chester 

Thorneloe School, Rodwell, Wey- 
mouth 
Upwey House, Upwey 

7, Westerhall Road, Weymouth 
The Hermitage, Parkstone 

Wyphurst, Cranleigh, Surrey 

St. Katherine's, Bridport 

Downshay Manor, Langton Matravers^ 
Dorset 

St. Alban's, Rodwell, Weymouth 

The Cottage, Bradford Peverell, Dor- 
chester 

St. Aldhelm's, Wareham 



XV. 



1895 Clarke, R. Stanley, Esq. 

1912 Clift, J. G. Xeilson, Esq. 

1883 Colfox, Miss A. L. 
1878 Colfox, Colonel T. A. 
1905 Collins, Sir Stephen, M.P. 

1904 Collins, Win. W., Esq., R.I. 

1905 Colville, H. K., Esq. 

1912 Cooke, Eev. J. H., M.A., 

LL.D. 

1903 Cornish-Browne, C. J., Esq. 

1891 Cother, Rev. P. L., M.A. 

1909 Crickmay, Harry W., Esq. 

1884 Cross, Rev. James, M.A. 

1914 Cross, Miss Florence 

1885 Curme, Decimus, Esq., 

M.R.C.S. 



1896 Curtis, C. H., Esq. 

1897 Curtis, Wilfrid Parkinson, Esq., 

F.E.S. (Hon. Editor of the 
Dorset Phenological Report) 

1903 Dacombe, J. M. J., Esq. 
1914 Dalton, Mrs. E. E. 

1907 Daniell, G. H. S., Esq., M.B. 

1904 Davies, Rev. Canon S. E., M.A. 
1894 Davis, Geo., Esq. 

1904 Deane, Mrs. A. M. 

1910 Devenish, Major J. H. C. 

1907 Dicker, Miss Eleanor H. 
1912 Dickson, Colonel W. D. 
1912 Dickson, Mrs. W. D. 

1911 Dillon -Trenchard, Miss Margaret 

1908 Dominy, G. H., Esq., M.R.C.S., 

L.R.C.P. 

1912 Dru Drury, G., Esq., M.R.C.S., 

L.R.C.P. 

1904 Dugdale, J. B., Esq. 

1905 Duke, Mrs. Henry 

1907 Duke, Miss M. Constance 



Trobridge House, Crecliton, Devon 
8, Prince's Street, Westminster, 

S.W. 

Westmead, Bndport 
Coneygar, Bridport 
Elm House, Tring, Hertfordshire 
Stoborough Croft, Wareham 
North Cerney House, Cirencester 

Shillingstone Rectory 

Coryton Park, Axminster 

1, Clear-mount, Weymouth 

49, St. Mary Street, Weymouth 

Baillie House, Sturminster Marshall, 

Wimborne 

Stock Gaylard Rectory, Sturminster 
Newton 

Balma Howe, Terrace Mount, Bourne- 
mouth 
Blandford 



Aysgarth, Longfleet, Poole 
27, Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth 
Cerne Abbas, Dorchester 
Dale House, Blandford 
Wyke Regis Rectory, Weymouth 
West Lodge, Icen Way, Dorchester 
Badbury, Park Road, Bournemouth 
Springfield, Weymouth 
Brook House, Tpwey, Dorchester 
Southill, Dean Park, Bournemouth 
Southill, Dean Park, Bournemouth 
The Ridge, Durlston Park Road, 
Swanage 

Milton Abbas, Blandford 



Corfe Castle, Wareham 

Sandford, Wareham 

Manor House, Godmanstone, 

Chester 
The Limes, Dorchester 



Dor- 



XVI. 



1908 Duke, Mrs. E. Barnaby 

1896 Dundas, Ven. Archdeacon, M.A. 

191C Eaton, Rev. A. E., M.A., F.E.S. 

1913 Edwards, Aubrey, Esq. 

1916 Edwards, The Rev. R. D. St. G., 
M.A. 

1913 Ellis, Henry, Esq., F.R.A.S. 

.-1885 Elwes, Captain G. R. (Vice- 
President) 

1913 Facey, C. S., Esq., M.B. 

-1886 Falkner, C. G., Esq., M.A. 

-1884 Farley, Rev. H., M.A. 

1913 Farrar-Roberts, W., Esq. 

1903 Farrer, Colonel Philip 
1912 Ferguson, Miss E. M. 
1912 Ferguson, Miss Constance 

1904 Ffooks, Mrs. E. Archdall 
1904 Fielding, Thos., Esq., M.D. 

1892 Filleul, Rev. S. E. V., M.A. 

1896 Filliter, Rev. W. D., M.A. 

1910 Filliter, Mrs. W. D. 

1911 Fisher, Rev. J. Martyn, M.A. 
1890 Fletcher, W. H. B., Esq. 

19C7 Fletcher, Rev. Canon J. M. J., 
M.A., R.D. 

1914 Fletcher, Walter T., Esq. 
1885 Floyer, G. W., Esq.. B.A. 
1895 Forbes, Mrs. 

1897 Forde, Henry, Esq. 
1910 Forder, B. C., Esq. 

1893 Forrester, Hugh Carl, Esq., 

B.A. 

1893 Forrester, Mrs. James 

1910 Freame, Major B. E. 

1895 Fry, Edward Alexander, Esq. 
1903 Fry, George S., Esq. 

1896 George, Mrs. 



Maen, Dorchester 

Milton Abbey Vicarage, Blandford. 

Richmond Villa, Northam, Xorth 

Devon 

The Pinetum, Wellington Road, Park- 
stone 

Longbredy Rectory, Dorchester 
Boat Close, Lyme Regis 

Bossington, Bournemouth 

The Elms, Chickerell, near Wey- 

mouth 

Ireton Bank, Rusholme, Manchester 
Overbury Road, Parkstone 
Plas Lodwig, St. John's Road, 

Bournemouth West 
Binnegar Hall, Wareham 
Elwell Lea, Upwey, Dorchester 
Elwell Lea, Upwey, Dorchester 
Kingscote, Dorchester 
Halford House, West Hill Road, 

Bournemouth 

All Saints' Rectory, Dorchester 
East Lulworth Vicarage, Wareham 
East Lulworth Vicarage, Wareham 
St. Paul's Vicarage, Weymouth 
Aldwick Manor, Bognor, Sussex 

The Vicarage, Wimborne Minster 
Icen Way, Dorchester 
West Stafford, Dorchester 
Culverhayes, Shillingstone, Bland- 
ford 

Luscombe, Parkstone 
Whatcombe, Blandford 

St. John's Cottage, Shaftesbury 
Westport, Wareham 
The Chantry, Gillingham 
Thornhill, Kenley, Surrey 
Chesham, The Grove, Nether Street, 

Finchley, London, X. 
Fleet House, near Weymouth 



xvu. 



1916 Gill, Macdonald, Esq. 

1890 Glyn, Captain Carr Stuart 
1912 Glyn, Mrs. Carr 

O.M. Glyn, Sir R. G., Bart. 

1895 Godman, F. du Cane, Esq., 

F.R.S. 

1906 Gowring, Mrs. B. W. 

1888 Greves, Hyla, Esq., M.D. 

1904 Groves, Major Herbert J., 
1906 Groves, Miss S. J. 

1912 Groves, Miss 

1906 Gundry, Joseph, Esq. 

1896 Haggard, Eev. H. A., M.A. 

1912 Haines, F. H., Esq., M.E.C.S., 

L.R.C.P. 

1903 Hambro, Sir Everard, K.C.V.O. 

1913 Hamilton, Miss 

1893 Hankey, Rev. Canon, M.A., R.D. 

1910 Harbin, Rev. Prebendary E. H. 

Bates, M.A. 

1894 Hawkins, W., Esq., M.R.C.S. 
1903 Hawkins, Miss Isabel 

1908 Hawkins, Rev. H. 

1893 Hayne, R., Esq. 

1905 Heath, F. R., Esq. 

1911 Hellins, Rev. E. W. J., M.A., 

LL.B. 

1911 Hellins, Mrs. E. W. J. 
1899 Henning, Mrs. 

1916 Hewgill, Chas. W., Esq. 

1912 Hichens, Mrs. T. S. 
1910 Hill, Miss Pearson 
1902 Hine, R., Esq. 

1902 Homer, Miss E. C. Wood 

1907 Homer, Mrs. G. Wood 

1888 Huntley, H. E., Esq. 

1903 Jenkins, Rev. T. Leonard, M.A. 
1912 Jordan, Miss 

1915 Kentish, G. C. A., Esq. 

1895 Lafontaine, A. C. de, Esq., F.S.A. 
1876 Langford, Rev. Canon, M.A. 



Tonerspuddle 
Wood Leaze, Wimborne 
Wood Leaze, Wimborne 
Gaunts House, Wimborne 

Lower Beeding, Horsham 
49, High West Street, Dorchester 
Rodney House, Bournemouth 
Clifton, Weymouth 
Thickthorne, Broadwey, Dorset 
Blackdown, Weymouth 
Red House, Queen's Avenue, Dor- 
chester 
Molash Vicarage, Canterbury 

Winfrith, Dorchester 
Milton Abbey, Dorset 
Affpuddle Vicarage, Dorchester 
Lambert House, Dorchester 

Newton Surmaville, Yeovil 
Hillfield, Broadwey, Dorchester 
Ryme, Elwell Street, Upwey 
1, Westerhall, Weymouth 
Spring Bottom, Osmington 
The Woodlands, Weymouth 

Marnhull Rectory, Dorset 

Marnhull Rectory, Dorset 

Frome House, Dorchester 

Encombe, Dorchester 

Flamberts, Trent, Sherborne 

Rax, Bridport 

Beaminster 

Bardolf Manor, Puddletown 

Bardolf Manor, Puddletown 

Charlton House, Blandford 

Leigh Vicarage, Sherborne 

The Ridge, Durlston Park Road, 



Longcroft, Windsor Road, Park- 

stone 

Athelhampton, Dorchester 
Southbrook, Starcross, S. Devon 



XV111 . 



1907 Lees, Rear- Admiral Edgar, R.N. 
1907 Lees, Mrs. Edgar 

1910 Le Fleming, E. K., Esq., B.A., 

M.B. 

1900 Legge, Miss Jane 
1902 Lewis, Eev. A., M.A. 
1890 Lister, Miss Gulielma, F.L.S. 
1905 Llewellin, W., Esq., M.A. 
1900 Lock, Mrs. A. H. 
1892 Lock, His Honour Judge 

B. Fossett 

1911 Long, Rev. H. R., B.A. 

1910 MacCormick, Rev. F., F.S.A. 
Scot., M.R.A.S. 

1888 MacDonald, P. W., Esq., M.D. 
1902 Mainwaring, Lieut. -Col. F. G. L. 
1899 Mansel-Pleydell, Rev. Canon 

J. C. M., M.A. (Vice- 

President) 

1883 Marriott, Sir W. Smith, Bart. 
1904 Marsh, J. L., Esq. 
1907 Mate, C. H., Esq. 

1879 MaunseU, Rev. F. W., M.A. 
O.M. Mayo, Rev. Canon, M.A., 
( Vice -President) 

1912 McDowall, A. S., Esq., M.A. 
1914 Mead, Colonel 

1907 MicheU, Theo., Esq. 



- O.M. Middleton, H. B., Esq., M.A. 

1890 Milne, Rev. Percy H., M.A. 

1905 Morgan, Mrs. 
1911 Morris, Sir Daniel, K.C.M.G., 
D.Sc., D.C.L., F.L.S. (Vice- 
PresidentJ 

1914 Moule, Rev. A. C., B.A. 
1897 Moullin, Arthur D., Esq. 

1905 Nicholson, Captain Hugh 

1906 Oke, A. W., Esq., B.A., LL.M., 

F.S.A., F.G.S. 
- 1886 Okeden, Colonel U. E. Parry 



White Cross, Wyke Regis 
White Cross, Wyke Regis 

St. Margaret's, Wimborne 
Allington Villa, Bridport 
Chardstock Vicarage, Chard 
High Cliff, Lyme Regis 
Upton House, Poole 
53, High West Street, Dorchester 

The Toft, Bridlington, East Yorks 
Tolpuddle, Dorchester 

Wrockwardine Wood Rectory, Wel- 
lington, Salop 

G^asmere, Spa Road, Weymouth 
Wabey House, Upwey 



10, Clarence Terrace, Regent's Park, 

London, N.W. 
The Down House, Blandford 
White Cliff Mill Street, Blandford 
Elim, Surrey Road South, Bourne- 
mouth 
Lansdowne Villa, Weymouth 

Gillingham, Dorset 
Warmwell Mill House, Dorchester 
Chescombe House, near Blandford 
Trewirgie, 37, Christchurch Road, 

Bournemouth 

Bradford Peverell, Dorchester 
Hornblotton Rectory, Castle Gary 
The Vicarage, Yetminster 



14, Crabton Close, Boscombe 
Brent Knoll, Somerset 
Fennain, Cranbourne Road, Swanage 
Nettlecombe, Melplash 

32, Denmark Villas, Hove, Sussex 
Turnworth, Blandiord 



XIX. 



1908 Oliver, Vere L., Esq. 
1908 Oliver, Mrs. Vere L. 
1904 Oliver, Weston, Esq., M.A. 
1908 Ord, W. T., Esq., M.E.C.S., 
L.E.C.P., F.G.S. 

1911 Ouless, W. W., Esq., E.A. 

1911 Ouless, Miss Catherine 

1914 Pass, Alfred Douglas, Esq. 

1890 Patey, Miss 

1908 Patterson, Mrs. Myles 

1907 Paul, Edward Clifford, Esq., 

M.A. 
1894 Payne, Miss Florence 0. 

1906 Pearce, Mrs. Thos. A. 

1909 Pearce, Edwin, Esq. 
1901 Peck, Gerald E., Esq. 

1894 Penny-Snook, S., Esq., M.E.C.S., 
L.E.C.P. 

1907 Penny-Snook, Mrs. S. 

1901 Pentin, Eev. Herbert, M.A. 

(Vice -President and Eon. 

Secretary) 
1894 Peto, Sir Henry, Bart. 

1896 Phillips, Miss 

1908 Phillips, Eev. C. A., M.A. 

1898 Pickard-Cambridge, A. W., Esq., 
M.A. 

1908 Pickard-Cambridge, Miss 

Catherine 
1903 Pike, Leonard G., Esq. 

1903 Pitt-Eivers, A. L. Fox, Esq., 

F.S.A. 

1904 Plowman, Eev. L. S. 
1896 Pond, S., Esq. 

1894 Ponting, Chas. E., Esq., F.S.A. 
O.M. Pope, Alfred, Esq., F.S.A. (Vice- 
President) 

1906 Pope, Major Alfred Eolph, M.A. 
1906 Pope, Mrs. Alfred Eolph 

1909 Pope, Francis J., Esq., 

F.E.Hist.S. 



Whitmore Lodge, Sunnmghill, Berks 
Whitmore Lodge, Sunninghill, Berks 
Castle House, Weymouth 

Greensted, 14, Madeira Eoad, Bourne- 
mouth 

12, Bryanston Square, London, W. 
12, Bryanston Square, London, W. 
Wootton Fitzpaine, Charmouth 
185, Oakwood Court, Kensington, 

London, W. 
Cony gar, Broadmayne, Dorchester 

Eastbrook House, Upwey 
Eydal, "Wimborne 
Ivythorpe, Dorchester 
Fore Street, Taunton 
Muston Manor, Puddletown 

Netherton House, Weymouth 
Netherton House, Weymouth 



St. Peter's Vicarage. Portland 
Chedington Court, Misterton, Somer- 
set 

Walton House, Bournemouth 
Walton House, Bournemouth 

St. Catherine's, Headington Hill, Ox- 
ford 

Picardy, Eodwell, Weymouth 
Kingbarrow, Wareham 

Eushmore, Salisbury 

Ibberton Eectory, Blandf ord 

Blandford 

Wye House, Marlborough 

South Court, Dorchester 
Culliford House, Dorchester 
Culliford House, Dorchester 

17, Holland Eoad, London, W. 



XX. 



1914 Powell, H. Bolland, Esq., 

A.M.I.C.E. 

1896 Prideaux, C. S., Esq., L.D.S. 

1900 Prideaux, W. de C., Esq., L.D.S. 

F.S.A., F.R.S.M. 

1905 Pringle, Henry T., Esq., M.D. 

1905 Pringle, Mrs. Henry T. 

1888 Pye, William, Esq. 
1905 Ramsden, Mrs. 

1912 Rawlence, E. A., Esq. 

" 1886 Reynolds, Mrs. Arthur 

1904 Rhydderch, Rev. W. 

~ 1887 Richardson, N. M., Esq., B.A. 
(President) 

1911 Robson, Colonel H. D. 

1911 Robson, Mrs. 

- 1886 Rodd, Edward Stanhope, Esq. 

1907 Roe, Miss M. M. E. 

1909 Roe, Rev. Wilfrid T., M.A. 

1912 Romilly, Geo., Esq., M.A. 
1907 Roper, Freeman, Esq., F.L.S. 

1889 Russell, Colonel C. J., R.E. 

1910 Russell -Wright, Rev. T., M.A. 

1905 Sanderson-Wells, T. H., Esq., 

M.D. 

1905 Saunt, Miss 

1905 Saunt, Miss B. V. 
1910 Schuster, Mrs. W. P. 

1904 Seaman, Rev. C. E., M.A., R.D. 

1883 Searle, Alan, Esq. 

1906 Shephard, Colonel C. S., D.S.O. 
1903 Sheridan, Mrs. A. T. Brinsley 

1884 Sherren, J. A., Esq., F.R. Hist. S. 

1914 Sherring, R. Vowell, Esq., F.L.S. 

1913 Shields, Rev. A. J., M.A. 
1897 Simpson, Jas., Esq. 
1912 Smith, Rev. A. Hippisley 

1916 Smith, Rev. Edward, M.A. 

1915 Smith, Mrs. Hamblin 



Hillsdon, Springfield Road, Parkstone 
Ermington, Dorchester 

12, Frederick Place, Weymouth 

Ferndown, Wimborne 

Ferndown, Wimborne 

Dunmore, Rodwell, Weymouth 

The Dower House, Lew Trenchard, 

Devon 

Newlands, Salisbury 
Wyndcroft, Bridport 
Owermoigne Rectory, Dorchester 

Montevideo, Chickerell, near Wey- 
mouth 

St. Oswald, West Lulworth 
St. Oswald, West Lulworth 
Chardstock House, Chard 
Trent Rectory, Sherborne 
Trent Rectory, Sherborne 
The Grange, Marnhull 
Forde Abbey, Chard 
Clavinia, Weymouth 
92, Richmond Park Road, Bourne- 
mouth 

16, Victoria Terrace, Weymouth 
The Cottage, Upwey 
The Cottage, Upwey 
Lullingstone, Wimborne 
Stalbridge Rectory, Blandford 
Hawkmoor, Paignton, S. Devon 
Shortlake, Osmington, Weymouth 
Frampton Court, Dorchester 
Helmsley, Penn Hill Avenue, Park- 

stone 

Hallatrow, Bristol 
Thornford Rectory, Sherborne 
Mmterne Grange, Parkstone 
Knowlton House, Surrey Road, 

Bournemouth 

Hazelbury Bryan Rectory, Blandford 
Medical Officer's House, The Grove, 

Portland 



XXI. 



1899 Smith, Howard Lyon, Esq., 

L.R.C.P. 

1909 Smith, Nowell C., Esq., M.A. 

1908 Smith, Mrs. Spencer 

-1888 Solly, Rev. H. Shaen, M.A. 

1901 Sotheby, Rev. W. E. H., M.A. 

1905 Stephens, J. Thompson, Esq. 

1908 Stephens, A. N., Esq. 

1900 Storer, Colonel, late R.E. 

1895 Sturdy, Leonard, Esq. 

1896 Sturdy, Philip, Esq. 

1907 Sturdy, Alan, Esq. 

1905 Sturdy, E. T., Esq. 

1914 Sturrock, J., Esq., C.I.E. 

1898 Sturt, W. Neville, Esq. 

1898 Suttill, H. S., Esq. 

1905 Suttill, John, Esq. 

1913 Swaffield, A. Owen, Esq. 
1912 Swinburne-Hanham, J. C., 

Esq. 
1893 Sykes, E. R., Esq., B.A., F.Z.S. 

( Vice -President) 
1889 Symes, Colonel G. P., M.A., 

B.C.L., M.V.O. 

1904 Symonds, Arthur G., Esq. 

1904 Symonds, Henry, Esq., F.S.A. 

( Vice- President and 
Hon. Editor) 

1912 Symonds, P. G., Esq. 

1913 Symonds, Wm. Pope, Esq. 

1901 Telfordsmith, Telford, Esq., 

M.A., M.D. 

1906 Thomson, Chas. Bertram, Esq., 

F.R.C.S. 

1907 Towers, Miss 

1913 Trousdale, Mrs. E. M. 
1898 Troyte-Bullock, Mrs. 

1905 Truell, Mrs. 

O.M. Udal, His Honour J. S., F.S.A. 

(Vice -President) 



Mount Pleasant, Inkberrow, Wor- 
cestershire 

School House, Sherborne 

Vine House, Sturminster Newton 

Southcote, Alexandra Road, Parkstone 

92, Banbury Road, Oxford 

Wanderwell, Bridport 

Haddon House, West Bay, Bridport 

Keavil, Bournemouth 

Trigon, Wareham 

The Wick, Branksome, near Bourne- 
mouth 

Linden, East Lulworth 

Norburton, Burton Bradstock, Bridport 

12, Greenhill, Weymouth 

9, Lansdown Crescent, Bath 
Pymore, Bridport 

24, West Street, Bridport 
Rod well Lodge, Weymouth 

106, Goldhurst Terrace, N.W. 
Longthorns, Blandford 

Monksdene, Dorchester Road, Wey- 
mouth 

10, South Street, Dorchester 



Roundham, Bridport 

The Firs, Sturminster Newton 

Newton House, Sturminster Newton 

The Knoll, Parkstone 

Romansleigh, Wimborne 
Talbot Cottage, Roslin Road, Bourne- 
mouth 

Coniston, Bridport 
Silton Lodge, Zeals, Bath 
Onslow, Wimborne 

2, Marlborough Hill, London, N.W. 



XX11. 



1908 Udal, N. R., Esq., B.A. 

1890 Usherwood, Rev. Canon T. B., 

M.A. 

1910 Vivian, S. P., Esq. 

1887 Walker, Rev. S. A., M.A. 

1916 Ward, The Yen. Algernon, M.A. 
1905 Ward, Samuel, Esq. 

O.K. Warre, Rev. Canon F., M.A. 

1904 Warry, Mrs. King 

1904 Warry, Win., Esq. 

1917 Waterson, C., Esq. 

1905 Watkins, Win., Esq., F.R.G.S. 
1893 Weaver, Rev. F. W., M.A., 

F.S.A., F.R.Hist.S. 
1908 Whitby, Mrs. J. 
1914 Widnell, Edward, Esq. 
1904 Wildman, W. B., Esq., M.A. 
1903 Williams, Captain Berkeley 

C.W. 
1884 Williams, Colonel Sir Robert, 

Bart., M.P. 
1908 Williams, Miss Rhoda 

1906 Williams, Miss Meta 

1912 Williams, Mrs. Arthur S. 

1906 Winwood, T. H. R., Esq., M.A. 

1910 Woodd, A. B., Esq., M.A., 

M.R.I. 
1916 Woodd, Rev. C. H. B., M.A. 

1913 Woodhouse, Rev. A. C. 

1913 Woodhouse, Mrs. A. C. 

1898 Woodhouse, Miss 

1903 Woodhouse, Miss Ellen E. 

1906 Woodhouse, Frank D., Esq. 

1906 Woodhouse, Mrs. Frank D. 

1911 Woodhouse, Miss A. M. R. 
1902 Wright, Rev. Herbert L., B.A. 
1910 Yeatman, H. F., Esq., M.A., 

B.C.L. 



Gordon College, Khartoum 

Bagdale, Parkstone 

22, Royal Avenue, Chelsea, S.W. 

Charlton Manor, Blandford 

Stunninster Newton Vicarage 

Ingleton, Greenhill, Weymouth 

Bemerton, Salisbury 

39, Filey Avenue, Clapton Common, 

London, N. 

Westrow, Holwell, Sherborne 
Bucknowle House, Corfe Castle 
62, London Wall, E.G. 

Milton Vicarage, Evercreech, Somerset 

Preston, Yeovil 

Royston, Wimborne 

The Abbey House, Sherborne 

Herringston, Dorchester 

Bridehead, Dorchester 
Bridehead, Dorchester 
South Walk, Dorchester 
Hill House, Yetminster 
Syward Lodge, Dorchester 

Heckfield, Milford-on-Sea, Hants 

Toller Vicarage, Dorchester 

Winterborne Monkton Rectory, Dor- 
chester 

Winterborne Monkton Rectory, Dor- 
chester 

Chilmore, Ansty, Dorchester 

Chilmore, Ansty, Dorchester 

Old Ford House, Blandford St. Mary 

Old Ford House, Blandford St. Mary 

Norden, Blandford 

Church Knowle Rectory, Corfe Castle 

28, Cecil Court, Hollywood Road, 
London, S.W. 



XX111. 



AFFILIATED LIBRARIES (Rule XXI.). 

1911 Central Public Library Bournemouth 

1915 Sherborne School Library Sherborne 



The above list includes the New Members elected up to and including the 
February meeting of the year 1917. 

(Any omissions or errors should be notified to the Hon. Secretary.) 




XXIV. 



Jlleto 



ELECTED SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF THE LIST CONTAINED 
IN VOL. XXXVI. 



PROPOSED FEB. 16-TH, 1915. 

Nominee. Proposer. Seconder. 

The Mayor of Poole (Mr. G. C. A. Mr. R. Barrow Canon Usher- 

Kentish), of Windsor Road, wood 

Parkstone 



PROPOSED DEC. TTH, 1915. 



Nominee. 
The Rev. R. D. St. G. Edwards, 

M.A., of Longbredy Rectory, 

Dorchester 
Charles W. Hewgill, Esq., of 

" Encombe," Dorchester 
The Rev. Edward Smith, M.A., of 

Hazel bury Bryan Rectory, 
The Rev. C. H. B. Woodd, M.A., 

of Toller Vicarage, Dorchester 



Proposer. 
Miss Rhoda Williams 



Alfred Pope Esq. 

Archdeacon C. L. 

Dundas 
C. S. Prideaux, Esq. 



Seconder. 
The Rev. A. C. 
Moule 

Dr. P .W. Mac- 

donald 
The Rev. J. 

Ridley 
Alfred Pope, 



PROPOSED FEB. STH, 1916. 



Nominee. 

The Von. Algernon Ward, M.A., 
Sturminster Newton Vicarage, 
Dorset 



Proposer. 

Canon Mansel-Pley- 
dell 



Seconder. 

Mr. F. G. 

Symonds 



XXV. 

PUBLICATIONS. 

Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club. 

Vols. I. XXXVII. Price 10s. 6d. each volume, post free. 
General Index to the Proceedings. Vols. I. XXVI. Price 6d., by post 7d. 
The Church Bells 6f Dorset. By the Rev. Canon RAVEN, D.D., F.S.A. Price 

(in parts, as issued), 6s. 6d., post free. 

By the late J. C. HANSEL -PLEYDELL, B.A., F.G.S., F.L.S. 
The Flora of Dorset. 2nd Edition. Price 12s. 
The Birds of Dorset. Price 5s. 
The Mollusca of Dorset. Price 5s. 

By the late Rev. O. PICKARD- CAMBRIDGE, M.A., F.R.S., F.Z.S. 
Spiders of Dorset. 2 vols. Price 25s., post free. 
The British Phalangidea, or Harvest Men. Price 5s., post free. 
British Chernetidea, or False Scorpions. Price 3s., post free. 

By the PRESIDENT : 

Second Supplement to the Lepidoptera of the Isle of Purbeck. Compiled 
from the notes of Eustace R. Bankes, M.A., F.E.S. Price Is. 

The Volumes of Proceedings can be obtained from the Hon. Treasurer 
(Captain John E. Acland, Dorset County Museum) ; Mr. Mansel-Pleydell's 
works, from the Curator of the Dorset County Museum, Dorchester ; the 
Lepidoptera of the Isle of Purbeck, from the President ; and the General Index, 
from the Assistant- Secretary (Mr. H. Pouncy, Dorset County Chronicle Office, 
Dorchester) . 

SOCIETIES & INSTITUTIONS IN CORRESPONDENCE 
WITH THE FIELD CLUB. 

BODLEIAN LIBRARY, OXFORD. 

BOURNEMOUTH NATURAL SCIENCE SOCIETY, MUNICIPAL TECHNICAL AND 

ART SCHOOL, BOURNEMOUTH. 

BRISTOL AND GLOUCESTERSHIRE ARCH^OLOGICAL SOCIETY, GLOUCESTER. 
BRITISH MUSEUM, LONDON. 

BRITISH MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, SOUTH KENSINGTON, LONDON. 
BRITISH ASSOCIATION, BURLINGTON HOUSE, LONDON. 
CAMBRIDGE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, CAMBRIDGE. 
DEVONSHIRE ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, LITERATURE. 

AND ART (THE HON. GENERAL SECRETARY, CARE OF MESSRS. W. BRENDON 

AND SON, PLYMOUTH). 

ESSEX MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, STRATFORD, ESSEX. 
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, LONDON. 

HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB (CARE OF MESSRS. GILBERT, SOUTHAMPTON). 
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF WALES (LLYFRQELL GENEDLAETHOL CYMRU), 

ABERYSTWYTH. 

ROYAL SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES, DUBLIN, IRELAND. 
SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES, LONDON. 
SOMERSET ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, TAUNTON 

CASTLE, TAUNTON. 
UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, CAMBRIDGE. 
WILTSHIRE ABCH^OLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, DEVIZES. 



ft \)t 

OF THE 

Dorset jflatural fLjistorp ant) Antiquarian 
jfieifc Clutu 

(FROM MAY, 1915, TO MAY, 1916.) 



In consequence of the War no Summer Meetings were held 
in the Year, 1915. 



WINTER SESSION, 1915-16. 

The first meeting of the session was held at the Dorset 
County Museum on Tuesday, 7th December. The President, 
Mr. NELSON M. RICHARDSON, occupied the chair, and was sup- 
ported by Lord Eustace Cecil, the Rev. H. Pentin, Captain 
J. E. Acland, Captain G. R. Elwes, and Mr. Alfred Pope. 

The HON. SECRETARY announced the nomination of four 
candidates for election as members of the Field Club. The 
ballot would take place at the meeting in February then next. 

Sir DANIEL MORRIS had attended the meeting of the 
British Association at Manchester as the delegate of the 
Club, and had forwarded the official report of the meetings 
held by the Corresponding Societies, which ran as follows : 

CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES AT THE BRITISH 
ASSOCIATION. 

The first meeting of the Conference of Delegates was held on Sept. 8th, 
and it was announced that the General Committee of the British 
Association had altered the titles of officers of the Conference from 
Chairman and Vice-Chairman to President and Vice -President, thereby 
giving them the same status as those of the Sections. Sir Thomas 



FIRST WINTER MEETING. XXV11. 

Holland delivered his opening address, entitled " The Classification of 
Scientific Societies," which was printed in " Nature " of September 16th. 

The first subject for discussion was " Local Museums," suggested by 
the Selborne Society, and introduced by Dr. W. E. Hoyle. He laid it 
down that the first and fundamental function of a museum was to 
preserve. Museum officials are nowadays given so much advice about 
the desirability of making our exhibits testhetically attractive, of 
compiling explanatory labels \\ hich shall at the same time instruct the 
specialist and interest the casual visitor, and of catering for school 
children, that they are, he said, in danger, perhaps, of forgetting that 
their paramount duty is to see that "neither moth nor rust doth 
corrupt " and that " thieves do not break through nor steal." 

He gave a definition of a local museum, the first duty of which, he 
maintained, was to preserve the things of interest pertaining to the 
locality. Then he touched upon the important and delicate question 
of the relations which ought to exist between the local museum and the 
national museum. Difficulties arose when it was required to determine 
in particular cases what objects were of national importance and should 
be preserved in a national museum. 

After the first function of a local museum had been adequately 
discharged, Dr. Hoyle thought that, if means and opportunities allowed, 
collections should be provided which gave the visitor a preliminary 
sketch of some department of knowledge. He alluded to "index" 
collections, though he thought the term "introductory" collections 
would be more appropriate. Dr. Hoyle had something to say with 
regard to the coming into touch of the museum with the educational 
system of the locality; and he saw nothing out of place in a local museum 
developing a special subject quite disconnected with the locality if it 
had the power to do so without interfering with its proper work. 

In the discussion which followed, Dr. Bather touched upon principles 
which should guide local curators in their selection of what should be 
considered of national and local interest. Type specimens should be 
placed in museums where they would be well looked after. Moreover, 
researchers, though they would naturally seek for local objects, such 
as fossils, in a local museum, ought not to have to look for, say, New 
Zealand fossils, through all the museums of the British Isles. 

Dr. Marie C. Stopes thought that there might be a balance of good 
in decentralising collections, even of type specimens ; for the visiting 
of local museums brings a stimulus to the local people, and widens and 
humanises the interests of specialists. 

It seemed evident from other remarks that if local museums are to 
be properly educational, in the general sense of the word, there should 
be special institutions or special sections of existing museums with their 
own organisation, so as not to burden curators unduly. 



XXVili. FIRST WINTER MEETING. 

Prof. Geddes directed attention to the survey of Greater London 
now being carried out by the Architects' War Committee, which 
deserved the co-operation of museums and natural history societies. 

The second meeting was held on Friday, September 10th. As a 
result of the importance of the presidential address, and the interest 
which had been taken in its suggestions, the vice-president, Mr. William 
Whitaker, moved a resolution in the following terms : " That this 
conference invites the attention of the Corresponding Societies' Com- 
mittee to the President's opening address, in which suggestions are 
made for reforming the existing, varied, and unorganised practice of 
publishing original papers." An outline was given of ways in which 
this might be done, and the resolution was carried. 

The second subject for discussion was " Colour Standards," suggested 
by the British Mycological Society, and introduced by Mr. J. Rams- 
bottom. He described and illustrated a number of the schemes which 
had been formulated with the object of obtaining some uniformity of 
colour description in the many branches of natural science. Recent 
attempts at colour standards have each something against their general 
adoption, and, except for horticulturists, mycologists, and possibly 
ornithologists, they are much too full. It would seem best to have a 
well-arranged list of two hundred well-named colours for ordinary use, 
which colour scheme could be amplified in those branches of science 
where needed. 

In this case, also, a good discussion was aroused, and as it was pointed 
out that the work of preparing such a series of colour standards for 
scientific and commercial uses, though of interest to many of the com- 
mittees of the Association, was not the province of any one of them, 
a resolution was passed referring the matter to the Corresponding 
Societies' Committee. 

In many ways the Conference of Delegates at Manchester was the 
most successful that had been held in this country for a considerable 
time. 



The report of the Earthworks Committee of the Congress 
of Archaeological Societies was laid upon the table, but it 
contained nothing relative to Dorset. Copies had been 
circulated among the members of the Club. In this 
connection Captain ACLAND mentioned that reports had been 
made to him as to probable damage to ancient earthworks 
near Blandford, but he had been assured by the officer in 
command of the troops that the greatest care would be taken 
and that anything found would be preserved. 



FIRST WINTER MEETING. XXIX. 

The PRESIDENT read a letter from the Mayor of Bourne- 
mouth inviting the assistance of the Club on the occasion 
fo the visit of the British Association to that town in 1917. 
It was resolved to render all assistance that was possible. 

Mr. W. de C. PRIDEAUX had written to call attention to 
a pre -Reformation altar-slab which was built into the south 
wall of the church-yard at Broadmayne, and to suggest 
that the Club should give financial help towards removing 
the slab from its present position. Mr. C. E. PONTING, the 
diocesan surveyor, had also written to the same effect, saying 
that he had first noticed the stone about five years previously. 
The HON. SECRETARY observed that it was believed there 
were only four pre-Reformation stone altar-slabs in Dorset, 
namely, at Arne, Bere Regis, Gorton and Stock Gaylard, 
and all of them were now used for their original purpose. 
It was decided that the Executive should communicate 
with the Rector of Broadmayne and that a grant in aid 
should be made. 

The PRESIDENT then referred to the delay in the production 
of the volume of Proceedings which was due in July, 1915. 
He had been informed by the printers that the absence of 
many men on military service had necessarily hindered the 
work. A discussion followed, in which suggestions as to 
the future were made, but the general feeling was that under 
the existing circumstances the delay was unavoidable. 

The HON. SECRETARY mentioned that Canon C. H. Mayo 
had consented to act as general receiver of the reports on 
restored churches in Dorset. 

Mr. W. PARKINSON CURTIS had written to the President 
saying that the statutory rules and order of 1915 (No. 909) 
had created a protected area of considerable extent in the 
Trough of Poole and had made additions to the list of birds 
protected in the surrounding district. Mr. Curtis and other 
ornithologists thought that it was desirable to appoint a 
watcher for the newly protected area, as shooting had 
practically ceased : but the meeting was unable to suggest a 
suitable person. 



XXX. FIRST WINTER MEETING. 

EXHIBITS. 

By the President (1) A copy of Tyndale's New Testament, 
1536, known as " the mole " edition. Three editions were 
published in that year, and they may be distinguished by 
the stone in the woodcut of St. Paul at the beginning of 
several Epistles. On one stone there is engraved an animal 
generally accepted as a mole ; on another, the surface is not 
engraved, this variety being known as the " blank stone " 
edition ; on the third, there are the letters A.B.K. in mono- 
gram, whence it is known as the " engraver's mark " edition. 
The first edition of Tyndale's New Testament was issued in 
1525, and is represented in the British Museum by a fragment 
of 31 leaves which were printed in Cologne, but Tyndale 
was forced to fly before his work was finished. The second 
edition was probably printed by Peter Schoeffer at Worms 
in 1525, and is represented by a fragment at St. Paul's and 
by a copy at Bristol which is complete except for the title. 
(A facsimile of the Bristol copy was sent for exhibition by 
Mr. A. N. Stephens.) A title page, but nothing more, exists 
of the third edition in 1532, and there are copies extant 
of 1534 and 1535 ; indeed, it is quite possible that there 
were other issues before " the mole " edition. The woodcuts 
which illustrate " the mole " edition of 1536 are very 
remarkable, especially those in Revelation. The latest 
issue of Tyndale's translation was in 1566. 

(2) A finely engraved helmet of the sixteenth century, 
said to be of Spanish origin. 

By Captain Elwes A " Venetian dog," or pistol, of the 
period 1650-80. 

By Mr. E. A. Rawlence Objects connected with a pre- 
historic burial recently found in Low Hill quarry, Nether 
Compton, Sherborne, consisting of flint flakes, a boar's tooth, 
a roe -deer horn, &c. Captain Acland thought that the 
interment probably belonged to the Bronze Age. 

By Mr. Alfred Pope A bond for 2,500 given by the 
fourth Marquis of Winchester, who had embarrassed his 



FIRST WINTER MEETING. XXXI. 

estate by extravagance and the lavish entertainment of 
Queen Elizabeth at Basing House. The document pledged 
the farm, &c., of Portesham. 

By Captain Acland A Bradshaw's railway map of 1851, 
showing the South Western railway with its terminus at 
Dorchester. At that date there was no line to Weymouth, 
as the Great Western railway did not extend beyond Fro me. 



PAPERS. 

Mr. RAWLENCE read a paper on Folk-lore reminiscences 
concerning man and beast in Dorset. 

Canon Fletcher told the history of " The man in the wall *' 
at Wimborne Minster. 

Captain Acland read selections Jtrom his notes on Mr. E. 
Cunnington's records of barrows opened in Dorset between 
1879-1890. 

Mr. L. Richardson's paper on the stratigraphical distri- 
bution of inferior-oolite vertebrates was read in part by the 
President. 

The four papers are printed on later pages of this volume. 



XXX1J. SECOND WINTER MEETING. 



SECOND WINTER MEETING. 
Tuesday, 8th February, 1916. 

The President, Mr. NELSON M. RICHARDSON, took the 
chair, and among those present were Lord Eustace Cecil, the 
Rev. H. Pentin, Captain J. E. Acland, Mr. Alfred Pope, and 
Sir Daniel Morris. 

Four candidates, who had been proposed at the previous 
meeting, were balloted for and declared to be elected. 

One nomination for membership was announced. 

It was decided that 2 15s. should be contributed to defray 
the cost of the removal of the altar-slab at Broadmayne from 
its present position of danger. The subject had been dis- 
cussed at the first meeting of the M inter session, and the Rector 
of Broadmayne had written to say that the stone would 
be placed within the church porch. 

The President invited expressions of opinion as to whether 
the outdoor meetings should be resumed during the coming 
summer, and added that the executive were in favour of a 
postponement of such meetings until after the end of the 
war. Lord Eustace Cecil concurred in this view. Mr. E. S. 
Rodd hoped that when the outdoor meetings were resumed the 
Field Club would again visit Chardstock and the neighbourhood 
of Forde Abbey. At the suggestion of Mr. Alfred Pope it 
was agreed to defer the question of postponement until the 
general meeting in May. 

It was resolved to transfer to the library of Sherborne 
School four documents concerning the endowments of the 
school, which had been found in the collection of papers 
relative to the silk industry. A letter of thanks for the gift 
has since been received from Mr. W. B. Wildman. 




A Doctor's Practice, 1623. 



SECOND WINTER MEETING. XXX111. 

EXHIBITS. 

By Captain Acland a manuscript by William Barnes, 
entitled " Edge Tools in Early Britain." which had been 
presented by Canon Mansel-Pleydell to the Dorset County 
Museum. The manuscript will be printed in full on a later 
page of this volume. 

By Mr. Henry Symonds. (1) A photograph of a carved oak 
panel, dated 1623, representing incidents in a doctor's prac- 
tice. This panel, which is reproduced in the annexed plate, was 
formerly owned by a medical man at Poole and had been 
in the possession of his family for eighty years, during which 
time they had lived in that town. It was bought in the 
" seventies " by Mr. William Fenwick, of Arlington. New 
Jersey, U.S.A., who sold it through an agent to an unknown 
purchaser. Since the foregoing note was written the editor 
has been informed that the original panel was acquired by 
the Royal College of Surgeons and is now in their house in 
Lincoln's Inn Fields. (2) A little booklet containing six 
stanzas written by William Barnes in 1872 "for the benefit 
of the Bridport School of Art." The lines are now reprinted 
as they do not appear in the collected editions of the poet's 
works. The exhibited copy given to Mr. Symonds by our 
member, Mr. J. T. Stephens, contaias a contemporary 
photograph of the ship-bnilding yard, from which the last 
new vessel was launched in 1879. 



" BRIDPORT HARBOUR." 



Hill-warded haven, creek well found 
To sailors on thy stormy shore ; 
When 'midst the waters' deaf 'ning roar 
They step on this thy peaceful ground, 
As blest with happy homes at hand 
Or strangers on a foreign land. 



XXXI V. SECOND WINTER MEETING. 

2. 

As softly sinks from fear to rest 
The hunted stag, at last hound free, 
The ship that ploughs the stormy sea 
Here stills her billow-beaten breast 
And yields her welcome freight, to fill 
Her hold with works of Bridport skill. 

3. 

Here, fair from ev'ry shipwright's tool, 
The new ship plunges from the stocks 
And chafes her first white foam ; and rocks 
On heaving waters of thy pool, 
Now soon to waft her crest in hope 
O'er longsome tracts of sea-wide scope. 

4. 

The birds,* 1 where lay Prometheus bound, 
Still ate with everlasting bills 
His growing lungs, and these two hills* 2 
So yield to eating waves their ground 
That wastes in this receding shore, 
But wastes, alas, to grow no more. 

5. 

How many untold years have run 
Since those two now half -hills were whole, 
And man beheld the waters roll 
Where they sank, grassy to the sun, 
Long ere the sea had cast the sand 
And far -borne pebbles on this strand. 



* l The Eagles. See the mythoa of Prometheus. 
* 2 The east and west cliffs. 



SECOND WINTER MEETING. XXXV. 

6. 

May ev'ry ship that commerce sends 
From thee, peaceful little creek, 
Come back full-rigged, without a leak, 
With men to wives and friends to friends ; 
May Heaven speed both to and fro 
All ships that here may come and go. 

WM. BARNES. 
29 July, 1872. 

By the Rev. E. F. Linton (1) A small holy-water stoup 
of white marble, found at West worth, in the parish of 
Edmondsham. (2) A pipe-stopper mounted on a medallion 
bearing the portraits of Charles I. and Henrietta Maria, found 
at Edmondsham. 

By Mr. G. S. Fry A manuscript volume of sermons 
preached by Aldrich Swan between 1686 and 1694, when he 
was minister of Kington Magna and Wimborne Minster. 
The Hon. Secretary said that he had read the sermons with 
much appreciation, but as Greek, Latin, and the early 
Fathers were freely quoted he feared that the discourses were 
over the heads of the congregations. Aldrich Swan was one 
of the three ministers of Wimborne who signed the receipt 
for the books given by William Stone to the Minster library 
(cf. S. and D. N. and Q. xv., 11). 

By the President Some little flowers given to him by 
Lieutenant Chaytor, of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles, 
New Zealand, who had picked them on Lallababa Hill, 
Gallipoli, in May, 1915. Sir Daniel Morris remarked that 
the flower looked like a hairy-leaved vetch. 

Two eighteenth-century deeds relating to land in Bingham's 
Melcombe, which had been presented to the Field Club by 
Mr. A. W. Marks, of Gray's Inn, W.C. 

PAPERS. 

Sir Daniel Morris read a paper on Australian trees and 
shrubs acclimatised on the south coast, and illustrated 



XXXVI. SECOND WINTER MEETING. 

his lecture with many specimens in flower or in fruit, some of 
which had been kindly sent by Lord Ilchester from his sub- 
tropical garden at Abbotsbury. 

Captain Acland read extracts from a paper by Mr. Henry 
Symonds on the silk industry in Wessex, more particularly 
in Sher borne, during the eighteenth century. The Field 
Club's collection of books, deeds, and papers relating to the 
subject was laid upon the table. 

The President read a portion of the paper by Mr. E. W. 
S wanton on Dorset land-shells in the museum at Haslemere. 

The Rev. O. Pickard-Cambridge had been unable to finish 
his paper on new and rare Arachnida noted in 1915, and 
therefore it was taken as read. 

Mr. W. de C. Prideaux discussed the Mohun brasses in 
the old church at Fleet, and illustrated his notes with a 
series of rubbings. 

The foregoing papers are printed on subsequent pages 
of this volume.* 



* At a later date Mr. Pickard-Cambridge fovind it impossible, owing 
to ill health, to complete his notes rn Arachnida; consequently the 
printing of the paper is postponed until next year. 



THE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING. XXXV11. 

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING. 
Tuesday, 9th May, 1916. 

This meeting was held as usual at the Dorset County 
Museum, the President, Mr. Nelson M. Richardson, being 
in the chair. 

One candidate was elected by ballot, and two additional 
nominations for membership were read. 

Mr. Richardson then delivered his presidential address, 
which is printed at p. 1 of the second portion of this volume. 

Captain Elwes moved that a hearty vote of thanks be 
given to the President for his excellent address, which 
embraced much valuable knowledge set forth in a very lucid 
manner. Mr. Alfred Pope seconded the proposal and it was 
adopted amid applause. 

The Hon. Secretary read the report, which ran as follows : 

There is less than usual to report this year, as owing to the war there 
were no Summer Meetings in 1915. The difficulty of obtaining motors 
and brakes, the uncertainty of the train-service in Dorset owing to the 
movement of troops, together with sentimental reasons, doubtless 
influenced the members in their decision to abandon summer excur- 
sions. The usual meetings were held in the winter, but the attendance 
has been unusually small. The war is, without doubt, responsible for 
this, as also for the fall in our membership. We now have slightly 
less than 350 members. 

As there were no receipts in the Hon. Secretary's accounts last year, 
owing to there being no summer meetings, there is now only a small 
balance in hand of 4s. 6d. 

The Hon. Treasurer read the audited statement of accounts 
for the year ending 31st December, 1915. The financial 
position was satisfactory the balance in hand being 
71 11s. 9d. as against 39 11s. 4d. at the end of 1914. The 
accounts, together with that of the Hon. Secretary, are 
printed on the adjoining pages. 



XXXviii. THE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING. 

The report of the Hon. Editor as to the contents of vol. 
xxxvii, for 1916 was read. The members of the Field Club 
were indebted to Mrs. Merrick-Head for kindly providing 
the photographs and blocks used for reproducing the eighteen 
old views of Portland, and to Canon Fletcher for giving two 
blocks and the plates to illustrate his paper on " The man in 
the wall at Wimborne Minster." The photographs for the 
last named blocks were taken by Dr. E. K. le Fleming. 

Colonel and Mrs. Dickson were not able to report any 
progress with the Dorset Photographic Survey, as photo- 
graphy had ceased in consequence of the war. 

The Earthworks Sectional Committee and the Restored 
Churches Committee were unable, for similar reasons, to 
make any reports. 

The Numismatic Sectional Committee sent a short report 
by Mr. Henry Symonds 

A few years ago a small hoard of Anglo-Saxon coins was found in the 
county, but the precise locality was not disclosed for certain reasons. 
A description of the find and a plate of the coins have been sent by me 
to the Dorset County Museum library, through the kindness of the 
author of the paper which appeared in Numismatic Chronicle, 4 Ser. 
Vol. xv., p. 336. None of the coins were struck in Dorset mints, so far 
as our present knowledge teaches us. The practice of placing the name 
of the town on the reverse of the coin was not adopted until later in the 
Saxon period than the date of this hoard. 

Captain Acland, as curator of the Dorset County Museum, 
read the following notes on the objects acquired by the 
Museum between May, 1915, and May, 1916 : 

During the past twelve months we have had many additions to the 
various collections which need not be described individually. Some 
other acquisitions have been exhibited and reported upon at the winter 
meetings of the Field Club, and 1 will not therefore refer to them again. 
In a different category, however, is the fine collection of corals presented 
by Mrs. Merrick Head from Pennsylvania Castle, Portland. T am 
informed that they were bought by her husband about the year 1872 at 
a sale of the property of Mr. Wilson Saunders of Beigate. Mrs. Head 
has not only given this beautiful collection to the Museum, but has 



THE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING. XXXIX. 

defrayed the whole expense of the removal from Portland and provided 
the three new cases in which they are exhibited. 

We have also acquired by the gift of Sir George Meyrick, Bart., 
through the good offices of Mr. Henry Symonds, 25 British bronze coins, 
a portion of those found during the excavations at Hengistbury Head 
in 1911-1912. They are stated by Mr. Bushe-Fox in the Report of the 
Society of Antiquaries to be of a type of exceptional interest, as it 
represents the very last stage of the gold stater of Philip II. of Macedon, 
the head and chariot having become nothing but meaningless dots and 
lines. Nearly 3,000 pieces were found, and were subsequently examined 
by Mr. G. F. Hill, of the British Museum, who described them as being 
partly of the usual " South Western " struck class, and partly of the 
peculiar cast class, now called the " Hengistbury " class, many of which 
remained in mint condition. In some parts of the settlement masses 
of coins, numbering 600 or 700, were found together, and had 
evidently been deposited in bundles, possibly wrapped in basket work, 
and it is therefore suggested that they were minted on the spot. 

In view of the sad loss we have all sustained by the death of our much 
respected and talented friend, Dr. Colley March, I must refer at rather 
greater length to his last gift to the Museum. Within a very few days 
of his death he sent to me a collection of bone, flint, and bronze objects, 
and also broken pottery, which he had himself found near Portesham, 
and which he considered a proof that the site had been occupied by 
succeeding races through many centuries. I cannot do better than 
give, in his own words, the notes that accompanied his gift, so that 
they may be recorded in the Proceedings. 

" At a distance of exactly six furlongs due west of St. Peter's Church, 
Portesham, there is a deep valley hollowed by running water called 
' Springs ; ' it is marked as it descends by a number of ' Vents,' 
through which this water, as it gradually became subterranean, used 
to escape. But the valley now is dry until its lower part is reached, 
where the water, unable to penetrate a bed of clay, is turned out, and 
flows on to the Fleet. 

In former days, when streams flowed from the Vents, this valley was 
a good place for sheep-folds and cattle pens, and, under a favourable 
light, there can be seen on its sloping sides, the lines of ancient en- 
closures. 

To the west of this valley there is a wide shelf of meadow land, 360ft. 
above the sea, protected from the North by the slope which rises to a 
height of 600ft. 

On this charming spot, about 15 years ago, a gamekeeper's house was 
built, and when the preliminary trenches lift, deep were made, I care- 
fully inspected them and the excavated earth. I discovered evidence 
that this very site had been selected for a dwelling-place all through 



xl. THE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING. 

the ages, from early neolithic to late Romano -British times. Chert, 
flint, and perhaps good Portland stone chert from the Chesil-bank 
bone, bronze, and iron had all been used in the making of implements 
now indeed broken, while potsherds abound of every corresponding 
period. Many of the flakes and several of the pieces of bone show 
signs of use. 

A bone implement, a saw of chert, an iron rod or pin (that I have 
varnished to check the corrosion of rust), and four small implements 
respectively of bone, flint, horn, and bronze (but all of them broken), 
I have fastened to a card." 

The whole collection is now presented to the Museum. 

The President announced that the Mansel-Pleydell medal 
and prize had been awarded to Miss Ellen E. Woodhouse, 
of Chilmore, Ansty, for her essay on pre-Saxon civilisation 
in Dorset. Mr. Richardson then presented the medal and 
congratulated the successful competitor. Miss Woodhouse's 
essay is printed in this volume. 

The question of holding the summer meetings had been 
postponed from the 8th February to this meeting. It was 
now proposed by Mr. Richard Barrow, and seconded by 
Captain Acland, that no out-door meetings be held during 
1916. This resolution was carried. 

The Hon. Secretary reported that the Rector of Broad- 
mayne had written to him saying that the stone altar-slab 
had been safely placed in the church porch. 

The Rev. A. C. Woodhouse proposed and the Rev. H. 
Hawkins seconded a resolution that the Club deprecated the 
laying flat of old tomb stones which were intended to be 
upright, as that practice tended to a rapid obliteration of the 
inscriptions. The resolution was adopted. 

ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES. 

Mr. F. E. Abbott proposed that the President, the Hon. 
Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Editor should be re-elected 
to their respective offices. This was seconded by Mr. R. 
Barrow and approved by the meeting. The Hon. Secretary 
again nominated Mr. H. Pouncy as Assistant Secretary. 



THE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING. xli. 

The Sectional Committee of the Dorset Photographic 
Survey was re-elected. 

The Earthworks Committee was also re-elected, with the 
addition of Captain Acland and Mr. F. E. Abbott. 

Captain Elwes was added to the Numismatic Committee, 
which was re-elected. 

The Rev. H. Hawkins, Mr. R. Barrow, and Mr. G. W. Floyer 
were added to the Restored Churches Committee, which 
was re-elected. 

The President nominated, for the ensuing year, the retiring 
Vice -Presidents, with the addition of Sir Daniel Morris in 
place of the late Dr. Colley March. 

Mr. Alfred Pope was asked to act as the delegate of the 
Field Club at the meeting of the British Association at 
Ne wcastle -on-Ty ne . 

Mr. Nigel Bond arid Mr. E. A. Fry were nominated as 
representatives of the Club at the Congress of Archaeological 
Societies in union with the Society of Antiquaries of London, 
if the Congress met in 1916. 

It was announced that the Cecil medal and prize would 
be awarded in May, 1917, for the best paper on " The more 
recent applications of electricity in the present war, especially 
in the treatment of diseases and wounds arising therefrom," 
and that the Mansel-Pleydell medal and prize would be 
awarded in May, 1918, for the best paper on " The Kim- 
rneridge clay of Dorset and its industrial uses, past, present, 
and future." 



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Club JJlotes. 



A MEDIAEVAL BURIAL CUSTOM IN DORSET. 

Among the Middleton manuscripts at Wollaton Hall, 

Northamptonshire, is the probate of the will of Robert de 

Bingham, county Dorset, an abstract of which is appended: 

To be buried in the cemetery of St. Andrew of Tolr' 

(Toller) on the south side of the chancel of the 

same church, near the tomb of Nichole de Tornay, 

my wife, et ante corpus meum unum bovem. 

Among the legacies are the following : For the fabric 

of the church of Tolr', 2s. ; to the lesser friars 

of Dorsetre (Dorchester), half a mark (6s. 8d.) ; 

to my chapel of Stafford, 4s. ; to Henry, rector 

of the church of Tolr', four spoons (coclearia) 

of silver, and to the same, one mark of silver. 

The rector to be one of the executors, with the 

testator's son Ralph and " Johanna de Ralcghe, 

my wife." 

Proved before the official of the Archdeacon of Dorset 
in the church of the Blessed Mary of Bridport 
quinto kalendas Maii (27 April) 1303. Adrnin- 
instration granted to Henry, rector of Toller, 
and Ralph, two of the executors, Joan being 
released on account of weakness (Historical 
Manuscripts Commission Report). 

The instructions to bury an ox before the body of the 
testator is so unusual as to be worth noting in these pages. 
The custom seems to be near akin to paganism and somewhat 
reminiscent of Hittite burial practices. Through the kindness 
of a friend at the Public Record Office, the puzzle was sub- 
mitted to Mr. E. S. Hartland, of Gloucester, an authority 



CLUB NOTES. xlv. 

on folklore. In reply, Mr. Hartland said that the 
circumstances were very curious, as it was not a case of 
a favourite animal. He thought that it was probably a 
mediaeval survival of an earlier stage of culture, but whether 
the ox was for food purposes or for canying the deceased 
man on his long journey was a matter of conjecture.* The 
Germans used to bury cattle, or metal figures of them, with 
the dead. There was also a doubt as to the precise force 
of the preposition ante. 

Three other points arise in connection with this will. 
There is, I think, no doubt that Great Toller, and not Toller 
Fratrum, is the place indicated, as the Bingham family held 
lands known as Wolcomb Bingham in the former parish 
from the days of Edward I. until those of Queen Victoria. 
If that is so, Henry, the rector of Great Toller, is the earliest 
known incumbent, as the first institution in Hutchins's list 
of rectors and vicars occurs in 1317. The patron saint of 
Great Toller church is generally stated to be St. Peter, but 
it should be noticed that the will mentions " St. Andrew." 
Hutchins quotes another official document dated in 1345-46, 
which also speaks of St. Andrew's church. For these reasons, 
therefore, it seems probable that the original dedication 
was not to St. Peter. 

This will of 1303 is also interesting from the genealogical 
point of view, as the names of the testator's wives and son 
appear to be additions to the short pedigree of the Bingham 
family as set out by Hutchins. The notes attached to the 
pedigree confess that there is inextricable confusion in one 
section of the chart, due in part to the use of one and the 
same Christian name by successive generations. Perhaps 
the will of this Robert Bingham may solve at least one of the 
difficulties. 

EDITOR. 



*Notes and Queries, 7th Ser. V. 466 and VI., 73, Animal sacrifices at 
Christian burials. 



xlvi. CLUB NOTES. 

A RARE SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY TOKEN OF SHERBORNE. 

Obv. : Richard Pounsfoot A castle with three towers ; 
in the centre a gateway. 

Rev. : In Sherbon, 1667 B p . 

As far as I am aware, no other example of this little piece 
is at present known. The description in the list printed by 
Hutchins (3rd. ed.) gives the place-name as " Sherborne," 
and the castle is said to have two towers. When Mr. J. S. 
Udal wrote the Dorset section of the second edition of Boyne's 
text book he had not seen the token, and was therefore 
obliged to follow Hutchins's reading and description (Boyne, 
2nd ed., p. 191, No. 171). Having regard to the rarity of 
this farthing it seems most probable that two distinct 
varieties were not struck, and that the specimen now described 
represents the tokens issued in Sherborne by the occupier 
of the Castle inn. I think that Hutchins examined, or heard 
of, a worn specimen which was partly illegible, hence his 
rendering of the legend on the reverse and of the architectural 
details on the obverse. 

An inn with this sign in Long-street, near the Market 
Place, was advertised for sale in 1787 (Western Flying Post). 
Possibly it was the building occupied by Richard Pounsfoot 
in 1667. 

EDITOR. 




of ttje 



By NELSON MOORE RICHARDSON, Esq., B.A. 
(Read May 9th, 1916.) 




REGRET to say that the hope that I expressed at 
the beginning of my Address a year ago that 
the War might have come to an end before 
this, our next Annual Meeting, has not been 
realised, and we have continued our work in a 
modified form by holding only indoor Meetings 
for the reading of papers. Though we have 
several of our younger members serving with our forces, 
I am glad to be able to say that so far they have all been 
spared to us, with the exception of Commander T. C. A. 
Blomefield, R.N., who died nobly fighting for his country in 
action in the Persian Gulf. His naval duties rarely left 
him free to attend our meetings, but both he and Mrs. 
Blomefield took great interest in Antiquarian matters, and 
I was always pleased to welcome them amongst us. And 
here I feel that whilst speaking of the War, I should like, 



2 PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 

on behalf of the Club, to offer our sympathy to those 
of our members who have lost sons or near relatives, of 
whom I fear the list would be a long one, and I will mention 
no names, as I might omit some. Colonel J. Mount Batten, 
C.B., H.M. Lieut, for Dorset, is in our list stated to have 
joined the Club in 1909, but he was really a much older 
member, having been elected in 1888, but owing to absence 
abroad a break occurred in his membership. I recollect 
him in early days as a frequent and interested attendant at 
the meetings, and this interest he kept up to the last. One 
of the earliest meetings at which I was present was held at 
his house at Upcerne, when he entertained the Club, which 
hospitality he repeated a few years ago. Mr. W. Bowles 
Barrett was one of our older members, having joined in 1884, 
and has always been one of our leading botanists, as well as 
an authority on local history and records, both of Weymouth 
and the neighbourhood generally, and also on the biography 
of some of its more noted residents in former times. Numerous 
papers from his pen will be found scattered through our 
volumes, and it is much to be regretted that his professional 
work, especially of late years, left him so little time for the 
subjects which he delighted in. He had a large and valuable 
botanical collection. Mr. S. R. Baskett, of Evershot, joined 
in 1893, and, like his brother, who has also passed away from 
us, was much interested in the subjects which our Club 
embraces. I remember with pleasure our visit to his house 
in 1895, where he exhibited his collections and entertained 
the Club when we met at Evershot and Melbury. Mrs. 
Selina Aldridge, who joined in 1899, used to attend our 
meetings frequently. I have left to the last the greatest loss 
the Club has sustained, namely, that of our Vice-President, 
Dr. H. Colley March. Elected in 1896, he soon came to 
the front in the Antiquarian side, and besides contributing 
many learned and valuable papers on a variety of subjects, 
he acted as Hon. Secretary of the Club for two years and 
for a much longer period as Chairman of the Earthworks 
Committee, in which office he carried through with great 



PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 3 

success the very important excavations at Maumbury Rings, 
and more recently the excavations at the Dewlish Elephant 
Trench, on which subject what has proved to be the last 
paper written by him for our Proceedings is published in our 
Volume XXXVI. lately issued. What I think he loved best 
to study was the mythical lore of the past, especially perhaps 
that of Scandinavia, but he was very versatile, and in the 
last year or two I was helping him to map the prehistoric 
monuments and other work in his parish of Portesham as 
part of a survey which it is hoped that the Club may in 
course of time carry out for the whole county. He also took 
great interest in Geology and Natural History generally, and 
brought much evidence together to prove that the ice in the 
glacial period extended over Dorset. As an In Memoriam 
notice appears in the present volume, I will not do more 
here than allude to his work before he came to this neighbour- 
hood on retiring from his profession, but he was then well 
known in the Antiquarian world. In him I feel that I, with 
others, have lost a valued friend, as well as a member of the 
Club whom it would be hard to replace. Though Mr. Edward 
Cunnington ceased to be a member many years ago, having 
retired from the Club the first time in 1885 and the second 
time in 1902, he was associated with us for so long, and 
was also one of our few surviving original members, to whom 
we should always feel specially grateful, that I could not do 
otherwise than include his name in my list. The energy 
and enthusiasm with which he made his antiquarian investi- 
gations, chiefly with the use of the spade, and also maintained 
the conclusions he drew from them, are still fresh in the 
memories of all those who knew him, and I can only hope 
that some of this energy and enthusiasm may descend upon 
the present members of our Club and cause them to work 
seriously at one of the many branches which it comprises 
within its limits. Most of the results of Mr. Cunnington's 
excavations in barrows and elsewhere are deposited in our 
Museum, which is indebted to him for some of its best 
antiquarian treasures. If there was a barrow to be opened 



4 PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 

or a Roman pavement to be uncovered, Mr. Cunnington was 
always to the fore, and as lately as last winter we heard some 
of his notes on his work, others of which are scattered through 
our volumes. 

ZOOLOGY. 

The question of the advantages of inoculation for typhoid 
has been put to the proof during the present war, and the 
data given in Parliament and taken from reliable sources 
show that not only is the mortality more than three times 
as great amongst those attacked who have not been inoculated, 
but the proportion attacked is about 14 times greater in the 
case of the latter. On the island of Principe the Portuguese 
have been remarkably successful in extirpating the tsetse 
fly and sleeping sickness by a campaign against the fly, and 
though a reward of 5 dollars per fly has been offered, none 
have been caught since April, 1914. An interesting observa- 
tion in the Panama Canal zone has been the flights of 

Anopheles, the malaria mosquito, over a distance of 6,000 
feet, from a marsh to an inhabited area, these flights being 
of sufficient size to attract insectivorous birds. A report of 
the Board of Agriculture on swine fever assigns the cause 
to a microbe too small to be microscopically visible, and 
gives various recommendations in connection with the disease, 
including a method of vaccination against it. The address 
of the President of the Zoological Section of the British 

Association last year was on the evolution of the cell. The 
subject was of course an abstruse and speculative one, and 
I must refer my hearers to the Address itself for any details. 
The Address in the Physiological Section was also on the 
subject of cells, and was entitled " The Physiological im- 
portance of Phase Boundaries." It also is too abstruse 
and technical to be further dealt with here. There were 
many interesting papers in the zoological section some in 
connection with material collected on the visit of the 
Association to Australia in 1914. The rearing and 



PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 5 

observation of the larvae of Echinodermata and other 
allied marine groups has been successfully carried on at the 
Plymouth Marine Station, and this has now been extended 
to the Copepoda, which enables their development to be more 
carefully studied than by isolated observations on them in 
their natural state. In the cruise of the Albatross in 1906, 
great quantities of Crinoids were met with, and a monograph 
has recently been published on this group, shewing it to be 
much richer and more important, as regards living species, 
than had hitherto been thought to be the case, though the 
fossil series is, of course, very extensive. In the Philippine 
Islands it has been observed that the Crustaceans Atya and 
Caridina have their chelse furnished with long hairs. Atya, 
when feeding in a running stream, rests with these hairs 
projecting up the stream so that they may catch any 
organisms that are carried along in the water. Caridina 
uses them as brushes to brush up any food on the bottom. 
In regard to the number of growth rings on the shell of an 
oyster as a sign of its age it has been lately shown that an 
oyster of 18 months may have from two to five rings, one of 
2J years the same, or six rings, one of 3| years (4 summers) 
from three to eight. The test is not therefore very reliable. 
It is to be regretted that two oyster-parasites, introduced 
originally from America with oysters, a Venus shell, Petricola 
pholadiformis, and a slipper-limpet, Crepidula fornicata, are 
spreading considerably, the former having now reached 
the Dutch Coast. A good deal of information on the subject 
of determining the age of fish by means of the growth rings 
on their scales has been obtained from experiments near 
Iceland and the Faroe Isles, in which marked cod were 
liberated and more than half of them captured again a year 
or more later. Fish have been scarce owing to the war, but 
a record catch for a single boat has been made of 280,000 
herrings. In the Lake of Tiberias it has been found that 
there are a certain number of genera and species which 
are identical with Ethiopian forms, showing a former 
connection. These forms are all fish, and none of them the 



6 PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 

lower forms of life, as one might expect. They mostly 
belong to specially hardy genera which might more easily 
adapt themselves to waters of different salinity. Investiga- 
tion of the supposed destruction of salmon by cormorants 
in the Gulf of St. Lawrence has proved that the cormorants 
are wrongly accused, and that the small salmon are eaten by 
large ones and by other enemies, so far unidentified. A 
similar accusation was formerly made in regard to the 
cormorants of the Murray river, Australia, but when the 
cormorants were destroyed, the salmon disappeared, and it 
was found that the birds preyed on the crabs and eels which 
devoured the salmon fry and eggs. In the hot springs at 
Buena Vista in Colorado, young toads have been found 
plentifully in the water up to 93 Fah. and one specimen up 
to 113, after which any found were dead ones. The thrush 
is not generally looked upon as a migratory bird, but a 
specimen, ringed in Lancashire as a nestling on April 4, 1914, 
was found at Pontillado in Spain on Nov. 18 last. An 
interesting book on American bird migration has lately been 
published by the U.S. department of Agriculture and gives 
particulars of many American species. In June, 1915, immense 
quantities of sea birds were killed on the E. Coast of Scotland 
by masses of floating oil, probably the cargo of some torpedoed 
ship, and those which survived had their feathers so coated 
with it that they could neither fly nor swim. The sufferers 
were chiefly guillemots, razorbills, puffins, and eiderducks. 
Experiments in homing on the noddy and sooty terns, two 
migratory birds, proved that they would return to their 
summer haunts, when transported 1,000 miles in cages, over 
ground which they did not cover in their migrations, being 
north of their northerly limits, which suggests that other birds 
besides pigeons probably possess this habit. The slaughter 
of fur-bearing animals in America is enormous, and attempts 
are made to breed silver foxes, skunks, &c., for the sake of 
their skins, with success, but not yet to any great extent. 
Some animals have been exterminated, whilst of others, 
such as the sea otter with a beautiful fur which less than 100 



PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 7 

years ago was taken by the thousand, only a few pairs survive. 
Some of the American game fauna, such as the bison, are in 
much the same condition, and nature reserves on a large 
scale would seem to be the only cure. The difference in the 
susceptibility of different animals to certain poisons is well 
illustrated by some experiments with strychnine on squirrels 
and quails, the squirrels succumbing to a dose of only 2'7 
milligrams, whilst the quails could swaUow 40 milligrams 
with impunity. TAVO specimens of Cuvier's whale (Ziphius 
cavirostris), which was only known as British from a single 
skull from Shetland, have been stranded on the coast of 
Ireland and secured for the British Museum, which now 
receives telegraphic information of the stranding of all 
Cetacea. In Ireland, in the Dublin Zoological Gardens, is 
the only living gorilla in Europe. Its health was a subject 
of anxiety recently, but it is to be hoped that it will continue 
to flourish. The survey of the Lake of Tiberias has already been 
mentioned. Surveys have also been made of the fauna of 
the Chilka lake in Bengal, and a complete regional survey 
of Clare Island in the County of Mayo, Ireland, in which no 
less than 3,219 plants and 5,269 animals were recorded, of which 
11 plants and 109 animals, all however amongst very low 
forms of life, were new to science. I have reserved to the 
end of my zoological section my congratulations to our 
distinguished member, my friend, Mr. Frederick D. Godman, 
F.R.S., on the completion of the monumental work, " Biologia 
Centrali Americana," dealing with all branches of the natural 
history of Central America in detail in no less than 63 volumes 
beautifully and fully illustrated, and altogether one of the 
finest contributions ever made to scientific knowledge. Mr. 
Salvin, his joint author, did not, unhappily, live to see the 
end of his work. 

BOTANY AND AGRICULTURE. 

At present the more practical of the two heads of this 
section is in people's minds owing to the war, and the Address 



8 PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 

of the President of the Agricultural Section of the British 
Association deals with " Farming and food supplies in time 
of war," giving many particulars of our food production at 
different times, and especially during the periods in the last 
120 years in which we were at war. Though something has 
been done to increase our home-grown supplies, it will always 
be necessary, with such a dense population, to import a great 
part of our food, and without our Navy we should soon las 
starved into submission. There were papers on various 
branches of the same subject giving many useful hints for 
increasing the food supply. Some experiments on feeding 
calves, carried out at the W. of Scotland Agricultural College, 
show that separated milk and crushed oats form an economical 
food, very little behind whole milk in its results, and at 
about half the cost. Through testing of the roots and careful 
selection the sugar yield of beet has been increased from 10 '1 
p. cent, in 1870 to 18-5 p. cent, in 1912, with occasional 
individual roots yielding as much as 27 p. cent. The wheat 
crop of the United States has been much damaged by the 
attacks of the Hessian fly, which it is stated can be avoided by 
delaying the autumn sowing until a short time after the flies 
have emerged, as they would then find nothing on which to 
lay their eggs. It has been believed that radium exercised 
some effect on the growth of seedlings, but the most recent 
experiments have shewn practically no result. Some races 
of Bacterium subtilis have shewn a remarkable vitality when 
immersed in sterilising liquids and have survived in 5 p. cent, 
phenol for 50 hours and in other similar liquids in which 
their immediate destruction would have been expected ; 
opening serious medical questions. A new electrical method 
of testing the vitality of seeds has been discovered, the 
electrical response being proportional to the seed's vitality. 
The botany of the Philippine Islands is being well worked, 
and 7,000 species of flowering plants are known, as against 
about 2,500 15 years ago. The floras of different parts of 
India have in many cases been published and are still being 
worked out, that of the Nilgiri and Pulney Hill-tops being 



PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 9 

the last issued ; 900 species of Cratsegus from the United 
States are now recognised, and in the Proceedings of the 
Royal Irish Academy a Report on the Mosses of Ireland is 
given, 118 new species having been added since 1872. The 
immense number of so-called American species of Cratsegus 
reminds one of the great number of species of brambles and 
roses which have been described by some of our botanists, 
and which doubtless present points of difference amongst 
themselves, but as to how far each so-called species would 
permanently reproduce itself and remain constant is a 
difficult question. Some of the low forms of life are very 
uncertain in their appearance, for instance, a fresh water 
Alga (Hydrodictyon reticulatum) , which is rarely seen in 
this country, was found in the autumn of 1914 in the 
lake at Kew, in enormous quantities, so that it had to be 
cleared from the water. It has been found that many of our 
cultivated varieties of fruit trees, apple, pear, plum, &c., 
are self sterile and only produce fruit when fertilized with 
pollen from some other variety. It is therefore necessary 
to pay attention to this fact when planting orchards. 

GEOLOGY. 

A full report of the excavation of the Dewlish Elephant 
Trench is published in our last volume of Proceedings, which 
makes it clear that the trench was formed by natural forces 
and not by human agency, though there are differences of 
opinion as to the method, and some minor points, such as 
the way in which the brilliant polish on many of the flints 
was produced appear to me to require further elucidation. 
I have specimens of extremely similar polished flints from a 
fissure at Portland, but did not see them in situ.* I under- 

*It had occurred to me whether the rubbing together of the flints 
under pressure in the fissure could have produced the polish, and 
Captain G. R. Elwes has now shown by actual experiment that a 
brilliant polish can be produced on some pebbles by merely rubbing 
them together for a considerable time. 



10 PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 

stand, though I have not seen them, that flints are found in 
the Egyptian desert, brilliantly polished by the slight and 
continuous friction of the dry sand, but such conditions 
could hardly have been the cause either at Dewlish or Port- 
land. It has been found that the observed epicentres of 
earthquakes lie chiefly on two great circles cutting each 
other at right angles. Some slight earthquakes have taken 
place in this country, one in the Cumberland District on 
Oct. 2, one in the neighbourhood of Loch Lomond on Dec. 19, 
and one, the widest in area, on Jan. 14 last, the latter being 
felt all over England, except in the extreme North and South. 
Two much more serious ones took place, the one on June 22, 
in California, the other on Jan. 14, 1916, in Australia and New 
Guinea, but whether this had any connection with the English 
earthquake of the same date is not clear, and also one on 
Sept. 6, 1915, in Western America. Another severe one in 
Nevada on Oct. 2, 1915, was recorded in England. On 
Dec. 19, 1915, a great fall of chalk took place in the cliffs 
over Folkestone Warren, burying the railway line and doing 
considerable damage. " The Crust of the Earth " formed 
the subject of the President's Address in the Geological 
section of the British Association, and much of the evidence 
available as to its formation and alteration was brought 
forward. It was recently stated that the rare and valuable 
metal platinum, the world's supply of which nearly all came 
from Russia, had been found in the Lower Rhine district of 
Germany ; but this requires confirmation. 

To turn to fossils. Fossil Bacteria resembling Micrococci 
have been discovered in the ancient Newland limestone of 
Montana in association with algae, which are the earliest 
plant remains known. In the same district have been found, 
in a higher bed, the remains of crayfish-like animals, which 
are the earliest known animal remains. It is thought that 
these bacteria may have been an important factor in the 
formation of this deposit. A small camel (Stenomylus hitch- 
cocki) from the Lower Miocene of Nebraska has been placed 
in the British Museum of Natural History. It is slender and 



PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 11 

gazelle-like in build and was one of a herd of these animals 
discovered. A Miocene dolphin has also been described 
from California, and about 60 new species of insects, chiefly 
beetles, have been obtained from the Miocene insect beds of 
Florissant, Colorado. In the Lower Pliocene Snake Creek 
beds, Nebraska, have been found a large number of fossil 
animals, including about 12 species of horses, several camels, 
three rhinoceroses, two mastodons, a new type of antelope, the 
first of the bisons, and many others. To come nearer home, 
a fine example of a gigantic fossil elephant (Elephas antiquus) 
has been excavated at Chatham and will be eventually set 
up in the Natural History Museum. It is the first specimen 
of this species which has been found in this country in which 
the other bones have been associated with the skull, and 
enough has been recovered to enable a complete restoration 
to be made of the skeleton, which probably stood about 15 
feet high, rather less than the height of the Dewlish elephant, 
Elephas meridionalis, but more than that of the mammoth. 



ASTRONOMY. 

The President's address in the Section of Mathematics and 
Physics in the British Association gave an outline of the 
manner in which the present knowledge of " The Construction 
of the Heavens " had been obtained. It contains a great 
deal of information and is well worth reading by anyone 
interested in the subject. I may say the same of the part of 
the address of the President of the South African Association 
for the Advancement of Science which is devoted to Astronomy. 
In regard to certain methods of research, the photographic 
determination of parallax is increasing in accuracy, the mean 
probable error of some determinations at the Mount Wilson 
observatory being less than 'OOGin. A recent method of 
measuring the motions of stars is to place two photographs 
of the same portion of the sky, taken some years apart, in a 
stereoscope, when the stars that have moved in the interval 



12 PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 

present a solid appearance to the eye. The so-called " blink " 
method is a modification of this, and by this method a 12th 
magnitude star with the large motion of 5'lin. per ann. has 
been discovered. It is suggested that the sequence of 
evolution of different stars can be deduced from the differences 
in the spectra presented by them, which are also connected 
with their temperatures and colours. About one -eighteenth 
of the stars above 9'0 magnitude are found to be double. A 
new complication has been introduced into the study of the 
spectrum by the discovery that the wave lengths of the same 
substance produced under different circumstances are subject 
to slight variations, the cause being as yet unknown. The 
variable star Mira Ceti has been displaying unusual varia- 
bility, as its maximum brightness in 1915 did not nearly 
reach the usual amount, though slight variations in the 
maxima have previously been detected. Among many other 
prizes offered by the Paris Academy of Sciences is one of 
100,000 francs to anyone finding a means of communication 
with any other planet except Mars. So many wonderful 
discoveries have been made in recent years, that it is not 
impossible that this prize may be claimed, though we are at 
present quite in the dark. It is said that a green flash may 
sometimes be seen at sunset, but I have never been successful 
in seeing it, though I have sometimes looked out for it when 
a clear sunset took place, which is not of very frequent 
occurrence in these regions. I should be interested to know 
if any of our members have been more fortunate. From 
observations during the eclipse of August 21st, 1914, the 
equatorial velocity of rotation of the sun's corona was found 
to be about 3 '9 kilometres per second, or rather higher than 
previously supposed. The war has prevented the observa- 
tion of the solar eclipse of Feb. 3, 1916, which was total over 
parts of Columbia and Venezuela, by any but American 
observers. It had been hoped to investigate the corona 
further. Several meteors have been seen worthy of record. 
One on July 5 at 8.30 p.m., seen in Dorset and several other 
counties. Several about August 12th. A very fine one on 



PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 13 

Oct. 5th, in S. Wales and Cornwall, which left a luminous 
track visible for from 2 to 20 minutes. One on Dec. 15, 
seen at Bristol, and a very large one, accompanied by a 
violent explosion, over the Chusan Archipelago and from 
Shanghai, in the forenoon of Feb. 13, 1915. In con- 
nection with this subject, I may mention that there is 
or has lately been an interesting exhibit at the London 
Library of early printed books on Astronomy, including the 
" Poeticon Astro no micon " of 1488, a copy of which, with 
its 47 curious and entertaining, but very inaccurate woodcuts 
of constellations, I exhibited to the Dorset Field Club some 
years ago. 

METEOROLOGY. 

Though the rainfall during the year 1915 over the whole of 
the British Isles taken together was little more than the 
average, the amount in certain parts, such as the S.E. and 
much of the E. Coast, was considerably above the average, 
whereas that of the N.W. of England and the W. of Scotland 
was below. The fall at Montevideo, Chickerell, in 1915, was 
35'72in. as compared with 29'63in., the average there for the 
past 18 years, and the fall in December last, 8'74m., was the 
greatest recorded there for 18 years in that month, being even 
higher than the 7'31in. recorded for December, 1914. The 
highest fall in 24 hours in the 18 years was also recorded in 
1915, on October 23, and amounted to 1.98in. The adoption 
of the millimetre for rain measurement by the Meteorological 
office and the British Rainfall Organization marks a step in 
decimal notation in this country. A thunderstorm took 
place on May 6, 1915, marked by an unusual fall of rain, 
which amounted to more than 3in. over an area estimated 
to be about -mile wide and 1^ mile long, between the City 
and King's Cross, between 8.30 and 10 p.m. ; the highest fall 
actually recorded being 3'12in. Contrasted with these 
figures, the rainfall at a station in Java has amounted in one 
year to 398' lin. and the greatest fall in 24 hours to 20'lin., 



14 PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 

and I believe that even these figures are exceeded in some 
other parts of the world. Two waterspouts were seen on 
August 16, 1915, at about 1.0 p.m. off Dymchurch, in Kent, 
during a thunderstorm, consisting of a long narrow funnel 
connecting a dark cloud with the sea at a point where the 
surface was violently agitated. In one case the funnel was 
seen to be in rapid rotation. Observations taken for several 
years at Helwan in Egypt, 80 miles W. of Suez, shew nearly 
half the days with a clear sky. On the rest, cirrus clouds are 
the most frequent, other forms being more occasional. Fogs 
occur sometimes in the early morning during the winter 
months. During a thunderstorm near Gibraltar on May 25, 
1915, a shower of frogs is said to have fallen, drawn up, it is 
supposed, from a lake 20 miles distant. This is believed to 
have been a genuine shower, but a sudden migration of small 
frogs from a pond during a shower of rain might in some 
cases furnish an explanation of such a phenomenon. The 
month of January last was exceptionally warm, the mean 
temperature at Greenwich being 7'2 above the average of 
75 years and 2 higher than any year since 1841. The 
highest actual reading recorded was 57 on January 1 and 
17, which has only once been equalled in the course of the 
past 75 years, viz., on January 28, 1843. For those interested 
in upper air temperatures, a report has been lately published 
of the results of about 60 ascents in Java. In the report of 
the Australian Antarctic expedition lately published, the 
extreme force of the wind is spoken of as one of the greatest 
trials of the expedition in Wilkesland. Gusts are recorded 
with a velocity of 200 miles an hour, and 180 miles was 
common. On May 15 the mean for 24 hours was 90 miles 
per hour, and the average speed of the whole year 50 miles, 
a speed which would constitute a very severe gale in this 
country. How anything could stand against these fearful 
hurricanes, often with driving snow, one can hardly imagine. 
There may have been a little uncertainty about the accuracy 
of the anemometer in the higher records, as these instruments 
are apt to be unreliable, but the force was in any case 



PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 15 

tremendous. A blizzard of unusual severity swept over this 
country on March 27 and 28, and caused much damage, 
the speed of the wind rising in some places to 80 miles an 
hour. The barometer on March 27 fell below 29, but on 
March 29 had risen an inch in 24 hours. Gun firing has been 
reported to have been heard during the present war at great 
distances from the scene of action, at 125, 140, and in one 
case, on somewhat more doubtful evidence, at 150 miles. 
The distance is doubtless dependent to a great extent on 
atmospheric conditions. A beautiful aurora w r as seen in 
England in the evening of November 5 last. A luminous 
arch variously described as pale rose-lemon or whitish green 
or colourless by observers in different parts, was intersected 
by bright streamers shooting up from the horizon and 
receding and having a rotary movement towards the left. 
It was seen in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Essex, &c. Swedish 
observations of aurorse about 2,500 in number, have given 
the most usual height above the earth as from about 90 to 
130 kilometres, none being below 90, whilst they occasionally 
reach a height of 230 kilometres. 



ELECTRICITY. 

In experimenting with wireless telephony the great distance 
of 2,500 miles has been covered by the United States Navy 
Department, and if the results should prove to be reliable 
under all conditions, a great advance will have been made 
in this branch. Under the direction of the Royal Society 
the magnetic re -survey of the British Isles is being continued 
as fast as can be done owing to the war, and but few districts 
remain to be surveyed. Much interference with the telegraph 
service took place over a large area of N. America stretching 
right across the Continent during a fine display of aurora on 
the night of June 16, 1915, and a magnetic storm of consider- 
able magnitude took place in this country on June 17, 
beginning at 1.50 a.m., and followed by other less intense 



16 PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 

storms in the course of the next few days. A large group 
of sunspots existed, but the connnection between them and 
the storms, though suspected, is not certain. 



CHEMISTRY. 

The year 1915 being the centenary of Davy's invention of 
the miner's safety lamp, the President of the Chemical Section 
of the British Association read an address on " The Ignition 
phenomena of Gaseous Combustion." The war has brought 
to our minds the great importance of being self-supporting 
in the way of chemistry and not trusting to obtaining many 
of the chemical products we require from Germany or else- 
where, and great steps have been made in this direction, some 
with a view to the provision of necessary munitions for the 
war, and others for trade purposes, both during it and after 
peace has been concluded. The salary and general status 
offered to a chemist by many manufacturing firms is so 
inferior that it cannot be expected that any good man would 
accept such a post. This state of things it is hoped to remedy. 
I think that the first desirable step would be to find a new 
name for a scientific chemist, to distinguish him from a 
tradesman whose accomplishments are limited to selling 
drugs and making up prescriptions, as this is usually the 
meaning of the word in the popular mind. A committee has 
been appointed for the important purpose of standardising 
chemical products with regard to their purity, and to 
endeavour to obtain that reliability in respect to those of 
English manufacture which is necessary for their success. 
The Bureau of Standards at Washington has lately issued a 
useful table of melting points of metals and other standard 
temperatures, and it has also been shewn that in all the 
solids which have been experimented upon, the melting 
point rises regularly under pressure up to 12,000 kilogrammes 
per square centimetre, the greatest pressure employed, 
without shewing any maximum or critical points. The war, 



PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 17 

of course, whilst it lasts, must take the first place in regard 
to chemical work as in all other matters, and explosives 
claim perhaps the greatest share of attention, and consequently 
also such substances as cotton and nitric acid, which is made 
synthetically from the nitrogen contained in the atmosphere in 
Norway and Germany, though I doubt if it is yet manufactured 
in this country. Nickel is another important munition metal, 
and an attempt is being made to procure it refined from. 
Canada. And there are many others in this connection such 
as that caused by the necessity of protection from and 
retaliation with the poisonous gases so barbarously used by 
the Germans against us. A new, cheap, and easily produced 
disinfectant employed on board ship is electrolysed sea 
water, which also seems to be effective. Mineral springs 
have been discovered in Colorado in which so much radium 
is present that it is hoped it may be extracted and produced 
at a much lower cost than its present price. It has been found 
that a very thin strip of mica, when exposed to the X-rays for a 
week or so, is bent, the side exposed to the rays becoming 
convex and displaying iridescent colours, and that the 
particles are deposited in the mica in the form of helium. 



ENGINEERING. 

By far the most important and extensive movement in 
engineering is due to the war, which has required so enormous 
an output of munitions of all kinds and has converted numbers 
of factories hitherto used for other purposes into places for 
the manufacture of deadly or protective weapons. The 
invention and use of new methods of attack by the enemy 
have to be combated by similar means on our part, and though 
secresy is at present desirable, there can be no doubt that 
many inventions, great and small, have been made, for air, 
earth, and water, of which we may hear later, but the benefit 
of which we are already reaping. The great importance of the 
work of scientists both in chemical and other inventions, and 



18 PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 

also in connection with manufactures of many sorts, has been 
repeatedly insisted on during the present war, the advantages 
which Germany held in many branches of manufacture before 
the war having been shewn to be due in many instances to 
Her better appreciation of scientific men and their employment 
in all her larger works and manufactories. An ingenious 
apparatus for locating the direction and distances of other 
vessels in a fog is dependent on the difference of time required 
by a wireless signal and a sound signal to reach the same 
point. A series of telephones is placed round the ship, and 
each is so protected that it will only register sounds coming 
directly towards it, the direction of the distant ship being 
thus ascertained. The danger of fire in houses from aircraft 
attacks has brought to the front the question of fire extin- 
guishing apparatus, some varieties of which are unreliable 
and limited in their action, water in buckets being more 
effective. The occasional failure of tin plugs in boilers to 
melt when the boilers were overheated has been traced to 
the presence of zinc which formed a compound only fusible 
at a much higher temperature. The restrictions on the 
importation of papermaking material will cause a search for 
home : grown substances which are suitable, and amongst 
these straw will probably be used, as it used at one time to 
be employed to a considerable extent for this purpose. In 
regard to the very desirable coal economy, peat can be 
employed to produce gas, and can in this form be used for 
fuel under conditions in which in its raw state it would not 
be available, and doubtless many other substitutes will be 
discovered, necessity being truly the mother of invention. 
The cinematograph is beginning to be used for advertising 
machinery, by shewing its actual working on the screen. 
Submarines have , lately been used for hydrographical 
purposes, being so arranged that a diver can leave the 
submarine for the purpose of investigating the bottom of 
the sea near by. The Kensico dam, a work for the supply of 
water to New York, has just been completed and has involved 
the use of 880,000 cubic yards of concrete, the removal of 



PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 19 

2J-million cubic yards of earth, and the blasting of rock in 
some parts to a depth of 65 feet. Three English dams on a 
somewhat smaller scale have also just been completed for 
the water supply of Bradford, of Leicester and other towns, 
and of Birkenhead. Of these the first is the largest, being 
1,200 feet long, and 130 feet high, but its capacity for storage 
is 1,250,000,000 gallons, as against 3,000,000,000 gallons in 
the Birkenhead dam. In the building of houses, the limit 
of height has surely been reached in the Woolworth Building 
in America, which contains no less than 55 stories. The 
greatest height recorded by an unmanned balloon is 22 
miles, and by a manned one nearly 7 miles. Above this height 
no clouds occur. In surveying, the completion of the Indian 
portion of the connection between the triangulations of 
Russia and India should be noticed. Survey work in New 
.Zealand was curtailed by the splendid response to the demands 
for the war made by its men, but the completion is announced 
of the maps of that country on a scale of ten miles to an inch. 



GEOGRAPHY. 

The romantic adventures of Stefansson, the leader of the 
Canadian Arctic Expedition, who with a few companions 
was separated from his ship, which was afterwards crushed 
by the ice and destroyed, have fortunately ended happily 
by his return after having been given up for lost. In spite 
of his separation he persevered in his explorations, travelling 
many hundred miles and discovering some new land rising 
to a height of 2,000 feet. More recently, somewhat dis- 
quieting news has reached us of the Shackleton Antarctic 
Expedition. The ship Aurora broke loose from her moorings 
in May, 1915, and was damaged and drifted in the pack ice, 
but has arrived in New Zealand. Unfortunately several of the 
party were left stranded near Cape Evans, and the position 
of the other ship, the Endurance, and Sir Ernest Shackleton's 
party is uncertain. It is hoped, however, that they may 



20 PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 

all be able to sustain themselves until help arrives. A 
Danish exploration is now being planned to Northern Green- 
land. A Siberian expedition under the leadership of a Polish 
lady, of which the object was chiefly Ethnological, has also 
been accomplished, large collections of weapons, implements 
and other native products having been made. Also an 
expedition to the Karakorum range, aiming at a highly 
scientific and full survey of that region, which appears to have 
been carried out successfully The last exploration that I 
have to refer to is one in the Amazonian country by Captain 
Whiffen, of which the account has lately been published and 
contains much information about the natives, their life, 
language, and ways. The difficulties and dangers are of a 
very different nature from those of the Arctic zone, but none 
the less real, perhaps rather more so in that swampy forest 
country. 

ARCHEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY. 

It would certainly seem remarkable that the same drawings 
by early Mexican artists, before the discovery of America by 
Columbus, should be considered by some to represent elephants 
and by others, macaws, but such is the case, and there certainly 
seems to be some resemblance to both. In view of the 
improbability of the former interpretation, and of the peculiar 
characteristics of the drawings, my sympathies lean towards 
the macaw. The antiquity of the burial mounds and ancient 
pottery of Peru has been much discussed, with a great 
variation as to their age, the last investigator, on the spot, 
putting them at not more than 2,000 years, which sounds 
more likely than some of the dates assigned. The absence 
of any written records doubtless makes the ascription of any 
date very uncertain. Some paintings have lately been 
discovered in caves at Raigarh in India which are said to be 
much older than any other known Indian paintings. They 
are mostly of hunting scenes. A remarkable piece of 
evidence of the existence of early man in Argentina, has been 



PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 21 

discovered in the bone of Toxodon, a fossil animal of perhaps 
Pliocene times, in which an implement of quartzite was 
apparently imbedded during life, the bone having grown up 
round it. A human lower jaw of Neanderthal type has lately 
been described, which was found in 1887 at a depth of 5 metres 
in a bed of tufa in Catalonia. The exact geological age 
cannot be determined, but the jaw is completely fossilised 
and retains all the teeth, which are large and much worn. 
This is the second instance of Neanderthal man in Spain, 
the other being a skull from Gibraltar, in 1848. The Talgai 
skull, found in the Darling Downs, Queensland, was com- 
pletely mineralised and belongs to the Pleistocene period, 
and is specially interesting as having been brought into 
notice, though found 31 years before, at the visit of the 
British Association. It has been bought and presented to 
the Sydney University. A portion of an early skull has also 
been found at Boskop in South Africa, but its age seems to 
require further confirmation. A valuable paper by Professor 
Petrie, on ancient Egyptian worked flints, appears in " Ancient 
Egypt " for 1915. Civilized man goes back so far in 
that region that the prehistoric period there has perhaps 
been somewhat overshadowed. The last report of the 
Archaeological Survey of Nubia deals much with the history 
of its inhabitants, and is most important, as the flooding of 
the country will prevent any future investigations. Both 
N. and S. of Port Durnford, on the E. Coast of Africa, have 
been found quantities of ruins, which do not, however, go back 
beyond the foundation of Mahommedanism. There are also 
in Somaliland numbers of artificial mounds, probably 
sepulchral of early date, some 30 feet high. A workshop 
of Palaeolithic flints has been discovered at Highfield, 
Southampton, with great numbers of implements in various 
stages. Excavations have been continued in the Palaeolithic 
cave site in Jersey, with numerous finds of implements and 
bones. The address of the President of the Anthropological 
Section of the British Association dealt with the early history 
of the Sudan, alluding specially to the worked flints and 



22 PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 

ground stone axes of Neolithic date, which are numerous. 
There are also a few monoliths, but megalithic remains are 
much more numerous in the peninsula of Sinai, where are 
found beehive tombs, rock circles, and hut circles. The sale 
of Stonehenge resulted in its purchase by a local landowner, 
but in any case being included under the Ancient Monuments 
Act, it would be protected. In excavations at Patna a vast 
pillared hall of the 3rd Century B.C. has been unearthed, 
containing 8 rows of monolithic columns, 15 feet apart, 
somewhat resembling the great hall at Persepolis. At 
Caervoran, Northumberland, an officially certified Roman 
bronze measure of the 1st Century has been found, with a 
capacity of 17^ sectarii, about 2 gallons. An analysis has 
been made of some pomade in a Roman amphora excavated 
near Lugano, which was found to be composed of a mixture 
of beeswax and other fats added to styrax and turpentine 
macerated in wine, with some henna. Our Vice-President, 
Mr. J. S. Udal, has contributed to " Folk Lore " an interesting 
account of the Obeah Cult in the West Indies, shewing its 
immense influence and dire results. In these days of 
collecting, when rare specimens in all branches fetch high 
prices on account of their age or rarity, and not for their 
intrinsic merit, fakes and imitations abound to deceive the 
ignorant or unwary collector, and I see it stated that even 
the Australian natives have taken to manufacturing imitations 
of their ancient implements in considerable quantities. An 
interesting collection of children's toys, ancient and modern, 
has been presented lately to the Borough of Stepney, and is 
exhibited at the Whitechapel Museum. There are many 
such things still obtainable which should be collected and 
preserved before they die out and are supplanted by new 
forms. 

GENERAL. 

A great deal has been written since the war began about 
the importance of utilizing science and scientific methods 



PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 23 

in connection both with the war itself and with our manu- 
factures and in other ways. I think there can be no doubt 
that the Germans owe much of their success both in war and 
commerce to the employment of scientific men and methods 
to an extent far beyond anything we have hitherto attempted 
in England, and in so far we may take a lesson from them. 
At the same time, in spite of this, it would seem from statistics 
that Germany has been by no means so prolific of the new 
inventions themselves as England, but she has been much 
more ready in developing and making use of them without 
regard to where they may have originated. In the matter of 
scientific research the results may be apparently very small 
for a long time and for a considerable expenditure, but it is 
the only way to progress on a sure foundation, and the results 
in the long run are well worth the labour and money expended. 
It is said that " Art cannot be forced " no more can science, 
and if a larger number of competent men were put in such a 
position that they could devote their lives to research work, 
the nation would be the richer by it. This matter has been 
discused in Parliament, and a scheme proposed constituting 
an " Advisory Council on Industrial Research," which it is 
hoped will meet the case and open the way to further im- 
provements. Hitherto nearly all research work has been 
done without payment or reward, and it is naturally the case 
that the great bulk of those who are capable of this work 
have to spend most of their time in earning a livelihood in 
some more remunerative way. A point connected with the 
above is the large number of products for which we have been 
either chiefly or entirely dependent on Germany, but which 
we are now by force of necessity trying to learn how to make 
for ourselves. In so far as this can be accomplished it will 
be for the financial benefit of the country, as large sums have 
been annually sent abroad in payment. The shortness of 
dyes has been much before the public, a shortness in which 
America, and probably other countries too, have also suffered 
greatly, and America, with no war on her hands, is using every 
endeavour to overcome the difficulty and become self- 



24 PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 

supporting. At the meeting of the delegates of Corresponding 
Societies of the British Association, to which we send a 
representative, the subject of Museums was dealt with, the 
careful preservation of objects therein being rightly considered 
of the first importance, and after that the educational, which 
is I think more cultivated in our Dorset Museum under our 
present Curator than formerly, and helps much to foster a 
general feeling of the importance of science amongst the 
community. Much stress is laid on the educational side of 
Museums in America. The question of sending objects of 
national interest to the national museum was discuseed, and 
this point has lately been brought forward in regard to some 
of our own treasures. There is much to be said in favour 
of this plan as regards safety (except from Zeppelins in war- 
time) and convenience for comparative study, but specimens 
that will bring scientific men down to a local museum are not 
to be ligthly given up by those who benefit by their visits. 
Another subject was that of colour standards, it being con- 
sidered that a scheme of 200 well named colours would best 
meet the case. It would be desirable in preparing such a 
series of colours to use only those, as far as possible, which do 
not alter their relative shades when viewed by artificial light. 
The war has put a temporary stop to many things, and 
especially to many large schemes unconnected with it, but the 
foundation stone has been laid of a new Hindu University in 
our dominions beyond the seas, at Benares, for which purpose 
the people of India have raised a sum equal to nearly two- 
thirds of a million pounds sterling. Men, as well as plants 
and animals when removed from their native country and 
transplanted to a new one, seem to acquire a great access of 
vitality, and flourish to an unheard of extent, and I cannot 
conclude my address without referring to the Australian 
contingent whose chief English Camp is just opposite to my 
house, and with whom I have had the privilege of much 
intercourse for many months. Without dwelling upon their 
physical advantages, I have been much struck by the high 
quality of general intelligence and knowledge which prevails 



PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 25 

amongst them in all ranks of life, and I have made many 
friends whose acquirements and tastes would, to say the least, 
make them very desirable acquisitions to our Club, and, in 
some cases, to the more specialized learned Societies. It is 
pleasant to think that the late visit of the British Association 
to Australia has brought us into nearer scientific touch with a 
people to whom we are under such a deep debt of gratitude 
for their noble response and help in the present w r ar. 



JEan in tljc Mail " at Mtimfcornc 



By the Rev. Canon J. M. J. FLETCHER, M.A., R.D. 

(Read 1th December, 1915.) 




MONGST the many objects of interest which 
attract more than ten thousand visitors during 
the course of the year to the justly famed 
Minster at Wimborne, there is one which is 
probably sought for more frequently than 
any other, unless it be the Chained Library 
and that is the sarcophagus of Anthony 
Ettrick, often spoken of as " The Man in the 
Wall." He is generally regarded as having been a mere 
eccentric. I think that I shall be able to show that he was 
both an eminent barrister and a distinguished antiquary. 

There is a tradition in the family, possibly an authentic 
one, that one Anthony Etterick, of Barford, who was born 
about 1504, was Captain of Horse at the siege of Boulogne, 
when that place surrendered to Henry VIII. in 1544.* And 

* Burke's Commoners, Vol. III., pages 15-19. 



THE MAN IN THE WALL. 27 

there is a further tradition that he was a younger son of 
Lord Ettrick, Earl of Dumbarton ; but that he had 
expatriated himself owing to his being implicated in family 
feuds. 

Whatever may be the truth of these traditions, there is 
no doubt that the Etterickes, or Ettricks, were settled at 
Barford, in the parish of Wimborne Minster, in the sixteenth 
century ; and William Ettricke, of Barford, whose will is 
dated Nov. 28, 1575, was evidently a substantial farmer 
there. He gave directions that his body was to be buried 
in the church porch at Wimborne Minster, near to his 
children. He mentioned his wife Elizabeth, and left bequests 
of land, horses, and bullocks to his sons William, Giles, John 
and Anthony. (P.C.C. 11 Carew). 

It was probably this son Anthony who, by will, dated 
March 1st., 1612, and proved Dec. 29, 1613 (in which he is 
described as " Anthony Ettrycke of Barford, within the 
parish of Wimborne Minster, gent."), left to the church of 
Wimborne 20s., " to the poore people of the parishes of 
Wimborne and Sturminster Marshall a quarter of corne to 
be baked in bread and delivered them for their reliefe 
according to the discretion of my executor." To his wife 
Maud he left for her life the Mill (house) at Sturminster, 
to his son Andrew 100 ; to his son William " The coppiholds 
at Barford ; " and to his two daughters, Penelope and Lewis 
(Louise), 200 between them " from the letting of the mills 
at Sturminster." (P.C.C. , 117 Capell). 

William Ettrycke,. mentioned in this will, married Anne, 
daughter of William Willis of Pamphill. Their eldest son 
Anthony is the subject of this sketch. 

Anthony Ettrick was born at Barford on Sunday, Nov. 
15th, 1622, f for which reason " his mother would say he was 
a Sundaye's bird." 



f Aubrey's Brief Lives, &c., Edited by Andrew Clark, Oxford, 1898, 
Vol. I., page 250. 



28 THE MAN IN THE WALL 

Residing as he did in the parish of Wimborne, it is only 
natural to assume that he received his early education at 
the Grammar School in that town. We may well hope that 
the experiences of his boyhood's days were happier than were 
apparently those of his contemporary and almost lifelong 
friend John Aubrey, the Wiltshire antiquary, who wrote 
in 1670 as follows : f 

" From the time of Erasmus till about 20 years past (1536-1650) the 
learning was downright pedantry. The conversation and habits of 
those times were as starcht as their bands and square beards ; and 
gravity was then taken for wisdom. The doctors in those days were 
but old boys, when quibbles past for wit, even in their sermons. The 
gentry and citizens had little learning of any kind, and their way of 
breeding was suitable to the rest. They were as severe to their children 
as their schoolmasters ; and their schoolmasters, as masters of the house 
of correction. The child perfectly loathed the sight of his parents, as 
the slave his torture. Gentlemen of 30 and 40 years of age were to 
stand like mules and fools bare-headed before their parents ; and the 
daughters (grown women) were to stand at the cupboard side during the 
whole time of the proud mother's visit, unless (as the fashion was) 
leave was desired, forsooth that a cushion should be given them to 
kneel upon, brought them by the serving man, after they had done 
sufficient penance in standing. . . At Oxford (and I believe at 
Cambridge) the rod was frequently used by the Tutors and 
Deans. And Dr. Potter, of Trinity College,* I know right well, 
whipt his pupil with his sword by his side, when he came to take leave 
of him to go to the Inns of Court." 

" Anthony Ettorick " matriculated at Trinity College, 
Oxford, in September 1640, when he was in his eighteenth 
year. The President of the College at that time was " the 
worthy but singular " Dr. Kettle, the predecessor of Dr. 
Hannibal Potter, the flagellant above mentioned. A year 
and a half afterwards, John Aubrey became a student at 
the same College. The two young men may have known one 
another before their Oxford days, for Aubrey, although a 

f Wiltshire. Topographical Collections by J. Aubrey, Edited by 
Canon Jackson. Published by Wilts Arch. Soc. 1862, pages 16, 17. 

* President of Trin. Coll. 1643-1648 and 1660-1664. cf. Walker's 
Sufferings of the Clergy, Pt. 11., p. 133. 



AT W1MBORNE MINSTER. 29 

Wiltshire man by birth, had been at school at Blandford. 
But whether they had first become acquainted in the days 
of boyhood, or whether the acquaintance was first commenced 
when they were fellow students at the University, it ripened 
into a friendship which lasted for life. Aubrey had been 
looking forward with eager anticipation to a University 
career ; but these were troublous times, and Oxford had its 
share of troubles. Aubrey writes as follows : *" Peace 
Atque inter sylvas Academi quaerere, verum. But now did 
Bellona thunder : and as a clear sky is sometimes over- 
stretched with a dismal black cloud, so was the serene peace 
by the Civill War through the factions of those times. 
Amovere loco me tempora grato. In August following (1643) 
my Father sent for me home for feare." He returned to 
the University in February, though it was but for two or 
three months, since owing to a serious epidemic of small 
pox in Oxford in April and May, he left the University for 
three years, and Ettrick was deprived of his companionship. 

One event in their college life is narrated by Aubrey : 
" In my time f Mr. Anthony Ettrick and some others 
frighted a poor young freshman of Magdalen Hall with 
conjuring, which when the old Doctor (Dr. Ralph Kettell, 
President of Trinity College from 1598 until his death in 1643) 
heard of on the next Tuesday, sayd he, ' Mr. Ettrick,' who 
is a very little man, will conjure up a jackanapes to be his 
great-grand-father.' : 

Aubrey and Ettrick were both keen archffiologists, and it 
was perhaps this common pursuit which made them such 
close friends. From time to time Anthony Ettrick is 
mentioned in Aubrey's autobiography and other works ; 
and an account of him is given in the volume of J Brief Lives. 
It is here recorded that in the months of July and August, 



* Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, Vol. IV. 
(1858), pp. 101, 102. 

f Aubrey's Brief Lives of Contemporaries, &c., Vol. II., p. 18. 
} Ibid, Vol. I., p. 250. 



30 THE MAN IN THE WALL 

1660, the two friends went together for a month's visit to 
Ireland, and that on their return journey they were very 
nearly shipwrecked at Holyhead. 

Aubrey gives Anthony Ettrick of Trinity College first 
place in his list ol amid, or special friends,* and at his death 
he " left to the library of Jesus College, Oxford, such of his 
books as Anthony Ettrick, or John Lydell,J also of Trinity 
CoUege, should think fit." | 

On August 1st, 1650, he was married, at Gillingham, to 
Anne, daughter of the Rev. Edward Davenant, D.D., Vicar 
of Gillingham and nephew of the Bishop (John Davenant) 
of Salisbury. Mrs. Ettrick's father was credited by Sir 
Christopher Wren with being " the best mathematician in 
the world." He was a man of vast learning, and had a 
noble library the aggregate of his father's, the bishop's, 
and his own. According to Aubrey, Dr. Davenant had the 
following " excellent way of improving his children's 
memories " : he w r ould make one of them read a chapter, 
or whatever it might be ; " and they were (sur le champ) to 
repeat what they remembered, which did exceedingly profitt 
them ; and so for sermons he did not let them write notes 
(which faded their memories), but let them give an account 
viva voce."* Mrs. Ettrick inherited to some extent her 
father's mathematical gifts, and was an "excellent algebraist." 

Anthony Ettrick had been admitted to the Middle Temple 
on Nov. 26, 1641, and in course of time filled there almost 
every possible position of dignity. He was called to the 
Bar on Nov. 26, 1652 ; became a Bencher 22 Nov. 1672 ; a 
Reader in Lent term 1674 ; and was appointed Treasurer in 
1678. 

The following references are extracted from the Records of 
the Middle Temple : | 



* Ibid, Vol. I., p. 43. 
J Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, Ft. II., p. 133. 

f Ibid, Vol. I., p. 52. 
t Middle Temple Records, by C. H. Hopwood, K.C., 1904. 



AT WIMBOENE MINSTER. 31 

1652. Nov. 26, Called to the degree of the Utter Bar, Ettoricke A. 

1657. May 6, Mr. Antony Ettoricke of the Utter Bar to the chamber 
of Messrs. John Stowell and Edward Wallis, both of the Utter Bar, in 
the S.W. corner of Elme Court, up one pair of steps, on surrender of 
the latter ; fine 3. 

1670. Nov. 25, Mr. Ettoricke 's petition touching the beautifying of 
the great gate is referred to the Treasurer. 

1672. Nov. 22, Mr. Antony Ettricke is called to the Bench in order 
to his reading, or depositing 50 in lieu of a Chamber till he has per- 
formed his reading, and paying all arrears of duties. He shall continue 
to be two years of the lower form at the Bench and read when appointed. 

1673. Oct. 24, Mr. Antony Ettricke is elected Reader for next 
Autumn. 

1673-1684. During these years Ettrick was constantly 
chosen to act upon various committees which were appointed 
to consider the erection of new buildings, alterations to 
existing buildjngs, the beautifying of the Church, the alter- 
ation of the seats, &c., &c. 

1678. Oct. 25, Mr. Anthony Ettricke chosen as Treasurer. 

His Coat of Arms, Argent a lion rampant and a chief 
gules, are, I believe, still to be seen in a panel at the Temple. 

From 1662 until 1682 he was Recorder of the town of Poole. 

From 1665 until 1687 he was one of the Church and School 
Governors of Wimborne Minster. 

He was one of the " barons " of Corfe Castle, for which 
borough he stood as candidate for Parliament in 1677, in 
the room of Sir Ralph Bankes, deceased ;* but he surrendered 
it in favour of Lord La timer, who was " chosen a Parliament 
man." However, he was elected member of Parliament for 
Christ Church, Hants, in 1685, and represented that place 
until 1687. 

Ettrick's friendship with Aubrey, the great Wiltshire 
antiquary has been already spoken of. He was no mean 
antiquary himself : 

Our County Historian, Hutchins, in the preface to his first 
edition, writing of earlier Histories of Dorset, says " Mr. 

* Domestic State Papers, Charles II., 1677, Calendar page 81. 



32 THE MAN IN THE WALL 

Camden has given us a short but accurate account of it (i.e., 
the County of Dorset) in his Britannia, which, in Bishop 
Gibson's edition, received considerable additions from 
Anthony Ettrick, Esq., of Holt in this County, an eminent 
lawyer." 

In the Introduction to the 1st Edition of E. Gibson's 
(afterwards Bishop of Limerick) Camden' s Britannia, 
published in 1695, it is stated that "Mr. Anthony Ettrick 
returned what he thought most remarkable in Dorsetshire." 

These additions were considerable ; for whereas the text 
of the Britannia, so far as Dorset is concerned, is to be found 
in pages 43 to 51, Ettrick's contributions occupy pages 51 
to 56. 

In the second edition of Gibson's Camden, Ettrick's additions 
are incorporated in the text, although they are enclosed in 
square brackets. And further additions are made by Mr. 
Bennett. 

But it appears as if the very existence of Hutchins 1 History 
of Dorset may be indirectly due either to Anthony Ettrick 
or to his father-in-law Dr. Davenant ; for, in his Introduction, 
Hutchins writes as follows : " About the year 1737. . 
a friend in Oxford . informed me that there was a MS 
collection containing inquisitions, extracts of records out of 
the public offices, the Valor Beneficiorum of 1291, and other 
curious particulars relating to the county which formerly 
belonged to Dr. Davenant, vicar of Gillingham, and after- 
wards to Anthony Etterick, Esq., who married a relation of 
his, and was then in the hands of Mr. Sandford, B.D., senior 
fellow of Baliol College. . . The perusal of this MS first 
induced me to make further collections." 

It could scarcely be considered an anachronism to say that 
Anthony Ettrick was by birth and education " a Tory." 
His father, three times at least in 1647 and 1648, was charged 
with " delinquency," his goods were seized and secured, and 
he himself was ordered to pay 24, " for fift and twentieth 
part as by ordinance of Parliament injoyned," though the 
charges brought against him were not at this time proved, 



AT WIMBORNE MINSTER. 33 

and he was " adjudged not sequestrable."* Eighteen months 
later, on 21 February, 1649, he was reported to be worth 
200 a year, and was accused of having published a letter 
from Sir John Bankes to his tenants, asking them to 
strengthen Corfe Castle against the Parliament, and of f 
having ridden at the head of a party of horse to a neighbour's 
house, of having plundered it, and of having taken him 
prisoner. Anthony's younger brother, Walter, who had 
followed him to Trinity College, Oxford, was, with the 
President of his College and more than 60 fellow members 
of the University, expelled for his loyalty to the King, by 
order passed on June 29, 1648, the order with the names 
being fixed to the doors of the University ChurchJ In early 
life Anthony seems to have been more occupied with his 
legal studies than with politics. As years passed on, his 
" Toryism " became more noticeable. 

During the time that Anthony Ettrick occupied the position 
of Recorder of Poole, one Samuel Hardy was appointed to be 
Rector. This was in 1667. Hardy had been sent down 
from Oxford in consequence of his unwillingness to take the 
necessary oaths before proceeding to the degree of Master 
of Arts. He had been Vicar of Charminster before going to 
Poole. He was a Presbyterian at heart, and it is doubtful 
whether he had ever been episco pally ordained. Poole was 
a Peculiar, and so exempt from Episcopal and Archidiaconal 
Jurisdiction. Amongst the Tanner MSS. in the Bodleian 
Library at Oxford, are a number of letters written in 1681 
in connection with this case. Hardy is accused of priding 
himself on his impunity, as the Rector of an Exempt Peculiar 
" of Christening, Burying, and Administering the 

* Minute Books of Dorset Standing Committee, Mayo, 1902, pages 
296, 411, 422, 430. 

f Calendar of Proceedings of Committee for Advance of Money, Pt. II., 
p. 1025. 

J Gutch's Edition of Wood's History and Antiquities of the University 
of Oxford, 1796, Vol. II., Pt. II, pages 593,595. Walker's Sufferings of 
the Clergy, Pt. II., p. 134. 



34 THE MAN IN THE WALL 

Sacrament his own way without the use of the Book of 
Common Prayer." Ettrick took up the matter warmly. 
And amongst the MSS. are letters from him to the Bishops of 
Exeter and Chichester asking for an introduction to the 
Archbishop of Canterbury, from the Bishops of Bristol, 
Exeter, and Chichester to the Archbishop, recommending 
Ettrick to him and from Philip Traheron, one of the 
Ministers of Wimborne, to the Archbishop, in which he signs 
himself " Your Grace's most obedient son and most 
affectionate servant," asking him to help Mr. Anthony 
Ettrick. He states that " on Trinity Sunday, May 9th, 1681, 
Hardy had left the Church destitute both of Sermon and 
Divine Service, though it was also the annual Festival 
established in commemoration of His Majesty's happy 
Nativity and Restoration."* Poole being a Peculiar, the 
Bishop of Bristol, in whose diocese the County of Dorset 
then was, could do nothing. Hardy had been presented 
before the Officials of the Peculiar Courts of Poole and of 
Canford without effect ; hence Ettrick's wish that the Arch- 
bishop of Canterbury should intervene. Eventually a 
presentment was made of Hardy to one of the judges of 
assize, who was asked to beseech the King " in his princely 
wisdom to think of some expedient for the redresse thereof." 
As a result a commission was issued, and Hardy was deprived 
of his benefice. 

We pass on for three or four years. The battle of Sedge- 
moor had been fought. A few days afterwards, on the eighth 
of July, 1685, the Duke of Monmouth was discovered, dressed 
as a shepherd, with a beard prematurely grey of several days 
growth, hidden in a ditch. The place where he was captured 
was beyond the village of Horton, and to this day it is marked 
by an ash tree which is called Monmouth's Ash.f The nearest 
magistrate was Anthony Ettrick, who resided at Holt Lodge, 



* Tanner MSS., 129, Nos. 54, 55, 57, 59, 60, 61, 62, 73, &c. 
f Quite recently the Earl of Shaftesbury has had a brass tablet 
affixed to the tree, bearing an inscription. 



AT WIMBORNE MINSTER. 35 

in the parish of Wimborne. Before him was the Duke 
brought for preliminary investigation of the charges brought 
against him ; and just a week later he was beheaded on Tower 
Hill. 

In the Churchwardens' Accounts for Wimborne Minster 
is the following entry : (1685). 

" pd to the Ringers for Ringing wn Monmouth was taken 

. . 00.02.06." 

We read in the second edition of Hutchins that, towards 
the close of his life, Anthony Ettrick 

" grew very humoursome, phlegmatic and credulous, of an impulse of 
spirit, insomuch that having once (as I have been credibly informed) 
a share in a ship and cargo, and receiving advice that the same was 
safely delivered in Portland road, he was so far persuaded that the same 
ship would be lost before she could arrive at the port of London, to 
which she was consigned, that he sold his share therein, though at a 
considerable discount. He had, however, the good fortune to be a 
great gainer in the end, for (agreeably to his forebodings) the ship was 
lost in her passage. Whether these or other accidents in life gave 
him occasion I cannot say ; but he afterwards remained fully per- 
suaded that he should die in the year 1691,* and accordingly procured 
his tomb to be made, and had that date cut on as may be plainly seen, 
the same being altered to 1703, in which year he died and was buried." 

Report says that Anthony Ettrick, being offended with the 
inhabitants of Wimborne, made a solemn protest that he 
would never be buried within their church or without it 



* The Rev. R. Grosvenor Bartelot has pointed out to me that there 
was a common impression that some remarkable event would happen 
in the year 1691, the number being the same when read upside down ; 
and he has given me the following extract from the Parish Register 
of West Stour in Gillingham. It is to be found in the volume commenc- 
ing in the year 1653 : 

" When numbers four turned upside downe 
Makes numbers even and numbers years y e same 
Downe goee y e f rentch men and their crown 
Together with their fame 1691." 

It might be noticed that West Stour must have been well known to 
Anthony Ettrick, seeing that his wife was daughter to the Vicar of 
Gillingham. Will there be the same superstition about the year 1961 ? 



36 THE MAN IN THE WALL 

neither below their ground or above it that is to say, neither 
in their church nor yet in their churchyard ; f but that, after 
his anger had cooled down, he had a great longing for his 
body to be laid, after his death, beside the bodies of his 
ancestors. With the skill of a lawyer, he endeavoured to 
evade breaking his oath by obtaining permission to make 
the recess in the wall where his coffin is placed neither 
within the church nor yet in the churchyard, and where the 
surface of the ground outside would be neither above nor 
below it. 

An old writer, describing a visit paid to Wimborne on 
Sept. 13, 1750, speaks of " The tomb of Mr. Anthony Etrick, 
which is made like a stone coffin, half in the wall and half in 
the church, w r hich was made in his life time, this being his 
fancy, like Nostre Dames at Salon between Aries and Aix, 
to be buried neither in the church nor out of the church. 
But his relations put him in a vault under ground directly 
under the tomb."* And so the stone coffin does not contain 
his body after all. For at the restoration of the Minster, 
during the years 1855-1857, his remains were found beneath 
the coffin in a moist state. They were carefully replaced 
where they were found. f 

In the year 1692, writes Hutchins, " he obtained a licence 
from the Rev. William Watkinson, Official of Wimborne, 
for erecting this tomb, and for such liberty gave to the 
Church for ever a rent of 20s., which is paid by the Corporation 
of the town and county of Poole, out of the tithes of Parkston 
near that town, being part of a fee-farm rent thereon." 
Amongst the documents belonging to Wimborne Minster 
is an indenture made between Anthony Ettricke of the first 
part and Nicholas Mackrell and William Warham, the then 



f cf. Hutchins' History of Dorset, 1st Edit., 1774, Vol. II., p. 95. 

* Travels through England of Dr. Richard Pococke, Bishop of Meath 
and of Ossory, in the years 1750-1. 

f Salisbury Journal, October 3, 1857. (Account of the Restoration 
and Re -opening of Wimborne Minster.) 



W 



o 
7T 




-.- - I 

V . 

" 




AT WIMBORNE MINSTER. 37 

Churchwardens of Wimborne Minster, of the second part, on 
April 16th, 1703, from which we can learn a little more about 
this gift : John Fitch of Henbury was in possession of a 
certain fee farm rent of 12 16s., " payable out of and for 
the Rectory and Church of Poole." A portion of this, 
amounting to the annual rent of 3, he sold to Anthony 
Ettrick for 60, by indenture dated May 31st, 1693. A 
yearly rent of twenty shillings Anthony Ettrick gave by the 
above mentioned indenture to the Churchwardens and their 
successors for ever in consideration of the sum of 5s. paid to 
him by them, and because he had " obtained a grant to him 
and to his heirs of and from the Officiall of the peculiar juris- 
diction of Wimborne Minster of a certaine quantity or plott 
of ground lying in the church of Wimborne Minster aforesaid 
for a buriall place for himselfe and his family." The remaining 
2 of the annual rent of 3 which he purchased from Mr. 
Fitch, Ettrick devised to the fellows of Trinity College, 
Oxford (where he had himself been a student about 60 years 
before) " to be spent on wines and tobacco on the fifth of 
November, yearly." The remaining 9 16s. was apparently 
sold by Fitch to William Stone who had been one of the three 
" Presbyters," or Ministers of Wimborne Minster, and the 
founder of the (chained) library there. It was by him added 
to the income of St. Margaret's Hospital at Wimborne. 

Anthony Ettrick died in the beginning of July, 1703. The 
following is a copy of the entry in the Burial Register at 
the Minster : 

" 1703, July, Anthony Ettricke Esquire, Buried ye 5." 
His tomb is to be found in a recess in the south wall of 
the Trinity Chapel. This chapel, before the great " restora- 
tion," one is almost tempted to say " devastation," of 1855-7 
was, so to speak, the " Westminster Abbey " of Wimborne, 
where were laid the bodies of the more important inhabitants ; 
and the walls, &c., were covered with their memorials. There 
were the Hanhams of Deanscourt, the Fitches of High Hall, 
the Constantines of Merly, the Warhams of Leigh, the Russells, 
the Waytes, the Lanes, the Beethells, the Ettricks, &c. 



38 THE MAN IN THE WALL 

(though other Ettricks were interred in the N. porch). Here 
too was the elaborate monument of Sir Edmund Uvedale, of 
Horton, and in the centre of the floor was the altar tomb of 
Dean Berwick, who died in 1312. And a portion of the 
crypt just by was used as the burying place of the Bankes 
of Kingston Lacy. Most of the memorials, such of them as 
remain, have been scattered about in different parts of the 
church ! Three of the Ettrick ones, of which that of Anthony 
is one, still remain in their original positions. 

The tomb in question is of slate, painted. Originally, it 
was inclosed with iron rails. On the top are five coats of 
arms : Ettrick impaling Davenant, Ettrick impaling Bacon, 
Ettrick impaling Hooper, Player impaling Ettrick, and Hody 
impaling Ettrick. On the shields in front are the arms of 
Ettrick quartered with Bacon, and of Ettrick impaling 
Wyndham. Between these, in gold figures, is the date of his 
death, 1703. This had been altered from the date of the year 
in which he had expected to die, 1691, which had been painted 
in silver. 

Anthony Ettrick was not the only member of his family 
who possessed eccentric ideas with regard to the method 
of his sepulture ; for it is recorded of a certain Justice of the 
Peace, one William Ettrick of High Barnes, Bishopwearmouth, 
who died 22 Feb., 1808, at the age of 82, that, by his will, 
(proved in the Durham Consistory Court 18 June, 1808), he 
left the sum of 1,000 for a marble monument to be erected 
in Bishopwearmouth Parish Church to his ancestors Walter 
(great grandfather), Anthony (grandfather), and William 
(father). The will was proved by his son, Rev. William 
Ettrick. It made provision for an eccentric sort of coffin 
which was to be drawn to the grave in his dung cart.* This 
William Ettrick was descended fromf Walter, above mentioned, 

* (Newcastle) Monthly Chronicle of North Country Lore and Legend, 
1870, pages 69 and 70. 

f There is a full pedigree of Ettricke in Vol. XIII. of Visitation 
of England and Wales, by F. A. Crisp, p. 195 ; cf. also Notes to the 
Visitation of England and Wales, Vol. XI. pp. 61 68. 



AT WIMBOENE MINSTER. 39 

the younger brother of Anthony, who was, as stated above, 
expelled from Trinity College, Oxford, in 1648, in consequence 
of his loyalty to King Charles. He became, after the Restor- 
ation in 1661, the collector of customs at Stockton and Sunder- 
land, and Register of the Court of Admiralty. He purchased 
the estate of High Barnes. He was born 26 April, 1628, and 
died at Bath 2 August, 1700. 

Of Anthony Ettrick it is sad to feel that it is his 
eccentricities alone which are now remembered, and that the 
story of them is handed down from generation to generation 
by means of the coffin in the wall at Wimborne Minster. 
The position of eminence which he attained to at the Middle 
Temple is a proof of the high esteem in which he was held by 
his legal confreres ; and we are of the opinion that it will be 
granted that there is sufficient evidence in this paper to show 
that his antiquarian knowledge and researches have been of 
no little service to later historians of his native county of 
Dorset. 



af iDarset 



OPENED BY MR. E. CUNNINGTON, OR DESCRIBED BY HIM. 



Compiled by Captain JOHN E. ACLAND, F.S.A. 

(Read 1th Dec., 1915.) 




list of Barrows opened by Mr. Cunnington 
is compiled from his own MS. notes 
contained in a volume, now in the library 
of the Dorset County Museum, recently 
presented by Miss Cunnington. 

Although the list is given in an ab- 
breviated form, care has been taken to 
describe as far as possible the exact position 
of each barrow, the contents and the date 
of excavation ; for it is believed that these 
details, published in a readily accessible form, will prove of 
great advantage to those, in the future, who may contem- 
plate similar work in the neighbourhood. 



DORSET BARROWS. 41 

With few exceptions they are all within a few miles of 
Dorchester. One principal group lies on Ridgeway near the 
two roads to Weymouth from Dorchester and from Martins- 
town ; another group lies to the N.W. of Dorchester and 
Poundbury. The " finds " from many of the barrows are 
in the cases in the Dorset County Museum ; and in the 
Library may be seen drawings of cinerary urns, and plans 
connected with Mr. Cunnington's investigations. 

1 & 2. Two barrows under the Roman Vallum, S.E. 
angle of Dorchester, i.e., East end of South Walks. 
They w r ere close together. An urn with ashes was 
found, and also several skeletons. A.D. 1864. 

3. On Conygar Hill, 1 mile South of Dorchester. At 

7ft. from surface a skeleton, and close by a 
cremation. Worked flints. 4th March, 1880. 

4. Ditto, more to the East. At depth of 1ft. 6in. 

cremation in urn, flower pot type. At 5ft. near 
centre, 2 cremations ; at 9ft. a large block of 
Portland stone 7ft. x 4ft. x 1ft. 6in. ; at 13ft. Oin. 
contracted skeleton ; a cremation, urn and six 
beautifully cut flint arrow heads near the knee 
joint. There were many worked flint scrapers, 
&c. (D.C.M.) 13th March, 1880. 

5. Duddle Heath, 2 miles N.E. of Dorchester on right 

side of road. This barrow had been disturbed, and 
much soil carted away in 1872, when many urns 
were destroyed . Two now in D .0 .M . 

August, 1880. 

6. Herringston barrow, South of Dorchester. Skeleton 

contracted. Ashes, w r orked flints, and fragments 
of pottery. Several large sarsens. Sept., 1880. 

7. Near Dorchester waterworks. At 8ft. from top, bronze 

spear head 9in. long. Dagger, 3|ins. with rivets. 
Urn and burnt bones. (D.C.M.) Jan., 1885. 

8. Frome Whit field. On left of road to Bradford Peverell 

1J miles from Dorchester. Contracted skeleton, below 
ground level. Other cremated remains, fragments 



42 DORSET BARROWS. 

of pottery. Small bronze dagger 2Jins. with rivets 
(Coin of Tetricus on surface). Aug., 1879. 

9. Fro me Whitfield, in 2nd field from Farm House. 
Six feet below ground level, skeleton in large oval 
grave 8ins. x 6ft. Oins.,with bronze dagger, Sins. ; 
also other burials, worked flints, &c. July, 1879. 

10. Frome Whitfield. On right of road to Bradford 

Peverell, 1 mile from Farm. Skeleton and a piece 
of Samian pottery near top. Contracted burials 
lower. Food vessel, with handle. Flint imple- 
ments, &c. Aug., 1881. 

11. Frome Whitfield. Long Barrow. Next field to No. 

10. 162ft. long, 62ft. wide. Trench cut throughout 
the length, and also across. Some human remains 
found. Sept., 1881. 

12 & 13. Frome Whitfield, mile from Farm, 300 yards 
South- West of road. There are 3 barrows in a row. 
In one, 2 drinking cups with skeleton ; in the other, 
ashes. March, 1880. 

14. Frome Whitfield. Barrow with trees on it. Had a 

low bank round it. One cremation ; and lower, 
much ashes. Sept., 1887. 

15. Clandon Barrow, between Maiden Castle and Martins- 

town. Composed of layers of sand, clay, and 
gravel. 2ft. from surface, 2 graves 4ft. apart made 
of rough flat stones, 6ft. long ; 17 stones used for 1 
grave, nothing found with these interments. Four 
feet lower, layer of flints 1ft. thick, and on the edge 
of flints bronze dagger, and bronze ring attached 
to remains of wood sheath ; diamond shape gold 
ornament finely tooled ; jet sceptre head with gold 
disks ; fragments of amber cup ; a little lower, an 
incense cup ; also much black ash, and a crushed 
cinerary urn. (D.C.M.) Sept. 15-20, 1882 

16. Clandown smaller barrow 80 yards from No 15. 

Remains of 14 burials. Skeletons, and cremations, 
and a beaker. Aug., 1883. 



DORSET BARROWS. 4,1 

17. Maiden Castle. The large barrow N.W. When 

opened for erection of flagpole, skeleton found near 
surface, probably Roman. 

18. The small barrow 200 yards west of No. 17, nearly 

destroyed by plough nothing found. 

19. Frome Whitfield, near No. 14. In small hollow at 

ground level, part of inverted urn with burnt bones. 

Feb., 1884. 

20. Came Down, N.W. corner, nearest to Herringston. 

A cremation, and good flint implements. 

Aug., 1882. 

21. Bridport Road. 2| miles from Dorchester, close to 

road. S. side. Near top, skeletons, and a crema- 
tion, and fragments of pottery. Aug., 1884. 

22. Ditto, same field as 21. Cremation in small cist at 

ground level piece of stag's horn, and flint imple- 
ments. No date. 

23. Ditto If miles from Dorchester, South of road. 

Contracted skeleton in cist 5ft. 6in. below ground 
level. There was much burnt soil in the barrow. 
Fine stag's horn pick. Now in D.C.M. Opened 
by Mr. Sivewright and Captain Ac land. 

July, 1896. 

Section through centre showed following sequence of soils, 
from the top. 2ft. 6in. natural soil ; 2ft. of soft, rich, dark 
soil ; 4ft. Oins. clean flints resting on old ground level. There 
were also narrow seams of burnt earth. 

24 & 25. Bridport road, near No. 23. Previously dis- 
turbed and much worn down. August, 1885. 
26 Down near Preston White Horse. Previously opened. 
The primary burial, cremation in cinerary urn. 

August, 1882. 

27. Puddletown Heath on highest ground near boundary 

of Colonel Brymer's property. The most northern 
of 3 barrows close together. Cremation. No date. 

28. Lewell. Near side road to West Knighton. Cinerary 

urn with bones and ashes. (D.C.M.) Sept., 1890. 



44 DORSET BARROWS. 

The following 13 Barrows, No. 29 41. are on Ridgeway, 
and are shewn on the plan hanging in the Museum ; there are 
a large number of barrows in the same locality. 

29. (No. 1 on plan), close to Weymouth and Martinstown 

road. There was a stone circle, diameter 10ft. 
composed of 22 stones, with an open space or 
entrance of 8ft. Within this circle were 2 cists cut 
in the chalk, and at a depth of 3ft. the capping 
stones of 2 kistvaens were reached, which were lined 
with thin stone slabs, and a large stone upright in the 
centre to support the roof. With one skeleton 
were two small vessels about 4 inches high, and in 
the other kistvaen, the stones composing it were 
carefully and exactly fitting, and it contained the 
bones of a young person. Aug., 1884. 

30. (No. 2 on plan). Contracted skeleton, with food 

vessel, and near feet, a cremation. 

March, 1884. 

31. (No. 3 on plan). One cremation. Aug., 1884. 

32. (No. 4 on plan). Contained a kistvaen, 4ft. x 2ft. 

lined with flat stones, and covered with a large 
stone. Contained some bones. (Nos. 2, 3, 4 are 
close together.) August, 1884. 

No. 5 on plan is the very fine example of a ringed 
barrow, which appears not to have been opened by 
Mr. Cunnington. 

33. (No. 6 on plan) near Dorchester and Weymouth road. 

Nothing of interest found. Sept., 1881. 

34. Another barrow in same field, not shewn on plan ; 

cremation in badly baked urn. Nov., 1888. 

35. (No. 7 on plan). Near the top a cremation, with 2 

bronze daggers, Gins, long, one having 4 rivets and 
the other 6, and decayed wood of sheaths ; also an 
early type bronze celt with small portion of textile 
fabric adhering, and a portion of another bronze 
dagger. In addition to these objects, two gold 
ornaments of oval shape probably fixed to a dagger 



DORSET BARROWS. 45 

handle, and carefully tooled. At 6ft. from top 
was a floor of rough flat stones, a layer of flints, 
and a 2nd floor under which, protected by 5 stones, 
was a skeleton, and a bronze dagger 7 inches long 
with 3 rivets. A cairn of stones 7ft. Oins. high 
rested on the solid chalk, and here were found 
a bone ornament with narrow opening, a 7-sided 
stone hammer with central hole, a bone needle, 
and many flint implements. Under the cairn of 
stones was a kistvaen covered by a stone 5ft. Oin. by 
4ft. Oin. supported by 6 upright slabs, which formed 
a chamber 4ft. Oin. by 2ft. Oin. and 2ft. Oin. 
deep. The sole contents were the decomposed 
portions of a skeleton. Sept., 1885. 

36. (No. 8 on plan). S.E. of Friar Waddon, and close 

to boundary wall of the down, on South side. Near 
the top a child's skeleton and a piece of black 
Roman pottery. At depth of 6ft. an extended 
skeleton, laid between Portland stones, and near the 
head a food vessel. At same level another extended 
skeleton, with food vessel. Three feet below these 
skeletons, a fine urn 16 inches high, 14ins. diameter, 
half full of burnt bones, and close to it a small urn 
4Jins. high. At the ground level, a contracted 
skeleton which had been protected by large stones, 
about 2ft. Oins. square and 4ft. thick ; they were 
in a cist with the remains of a child. A fragment 
of a saddle quern of Portland chert was found in the 
barrow. Sept., 1885. 

37. (No. 9 on plan). Used for many cremations, but 

nothing found. August, 1886. 

38. (No. 10 on plan). Near Nos. 7 and 9. Similar to 

No. 9. August, 1886. 

39. (No. 11 on plan). Like the last two, many cremations, 

nothing found. Oct., 1888. 

40. (No. 12 on plan). Bones of a skeleton, and a beaker. 

Oct., 1884. 



46 DORSET BARROWS. 

41. ( No. 13 on plan). At 2ft. from the surface a cremation ; 

a fine cinerary urn full of ashes and burnt bones. 

Oct., 1888. 

42. The Down Wood, 2 miles from Blandford, on the left 

of the road towards Wimborne. Opened in the 
presence of the Field Club, Sept. 29, 1881. 

At 3ft. 9ins. from surface, three cremations ; the 
primary interments 3ft. Oins. below ground level ; 
3 contracted skeletons. No pottery found. 

43. Little Piddle. About 1 mile S.W. of Piddlehinton, 

on Mr. C. Mayo's Farm. Five urns found with 
burnt bones 4 of them Dorset flower -pot shape 
8 cremations altogether in this barrow. 

August, 1881. 

44. Ditto close by the last. 1 cremation. 

45. Ditto on Mr. C. Mayo's eweleaze. Five cremations ; 

5 urns, 4 being the Dorset flower -pot shape. 

Aug., 1881. 

46. Plush. On the high ground above Plush. It was 

levelled about 1871-2, when, it is said, 30 or 40 
cinerary urns were discovered. 

47. Plush. Near No. 46. Greatly reduced from its 

original size. At the centre one urn with burnt 
bones, protected by large stones. 

August, 1879. 

48. Plush. Between Nos. 46 and 47. An urn, and cre- 

mation at ground level. No date given. 

49. Worgret 1 Mile west of Wareham. Opened by Mr. 

J. F. Pennie between 1825-1832, who sent an account 
to the Dorset County Chronicle and Gentleman's 
Magazine. He stated that 24 urns were found in 
the upper part. The broken remains of one urn 
were given to Mr. Curmington, and were restored 
and placed in the D.C.M. 19 inches high, 15 inches 
diameter at top. 

50. Fern Down, north of Eggardon, opened in XVIIth 

century. Mentioned by Camden. 



DORSET 13 ARROWS. 47 

51. Eggardon. Previously disturbed, and material taken 

away. 6 bronze socket axe heads found early in 
1882. Now in D.C.M. 

52. Blackdown Hill. 100 yards north of the Hardy 

Monument. Gravel, &c., had been carted away. 
Nothing found. Sept. , 1878. 

53. Portesham. Near the Helstone cromlech (45 yards 

S.E.). An urn containing burnt bones, and a stone 
covering its mouth rested on the undisturbed soil. 

August, 1894. 

54. Gorwell, " Grey mare and colts." Mr. Cunnington 

states that this " Long barrow " has been opened 
at both ends, but gives neither date nor any details. 



On ti)e jg?trati0rapt)uai Distribution 



CPertebrates at tlje 
Cottastooili Skills anfc tt)e 6atij- 
$urton $rat>stock District* 



By L. RICHARDSON, F.R.S.E., F.G.S. 

(Read 1th Dec., 1915.) 




N a paper published in the Geological Magazine for 
1910 (1)> I recorded all the vertebrate-remains 
that I and Mr. Charles Upton had collected 
from the Inferior Oolite of the Cotteswold Hills 
and Bath-Doulting district. Since 1910 I 
have completed my investigations of the 
Inferior Oolite between Doulting and Burton 
Bradstock, and therefore in order that future 
workers may know exactly what has been 
found in the way of vertebrate -re mains and the horizons 
whence they came the records are now tabulated. 



1 Geol. Mag., dec. 5, vol. vii. (1910), pp. 272274. 



INFERIOR-OOLITE VERTEBRATES. 49 

The late H. B. Woodward has written : 

" The Inferior-Oolite Series has yielded a rich and varied Invertebrate 
fauna, but the remains of Saurians and Fishes are very rare. 

The Reptilia that have been found include Megalosaurus and 
Steneosaurus, and the Fishes are represented by Hybodus, Strophodus, 
etc." 

At the end of the work from which the above quotation is 
taken is a list of the vertebrate-remains which had been 
collected up to that year, namely, 1894. (2) 

In 1904 I gave a list of the vertebrate-remains which had 
been recorded from the Cheltenham district (3)> and, except 
for the insertion of a record of vertebrae and bones of ? Ichthyo- 
saurus from Leckhampton and Sudeley Hills (on the 
authority of James Buckman and H. E. Stickland), and the 
more precise stratigraphical location of certain of the other 
recorded remains, my list was the same as that mentioned 
above as given in the Geological Survey Memoir. 

LIST OF VERTEBRATE-REMAINS FROM THE INFERIOR-OOLITE 
OF THE COTTESWOLD HlLLS AND BATH BURTON 
BRADSTOCK DISTRICT. 

(Those distinguished by an asterisk were formerly in the 
Author's collection, but are now in the collection of 
the Natural History Museum, South Kensington.) 

REPTILIA. 
Dinosauria. 

Megalosaurus bucklandi von Meyer. I have seen bones, 
possibly belonging to this dinosaur, in the Truellei-'Bed of 
Stony-Head Quarry between Bridport and Loders Cross on 
the Dorchester Road. 



2 " The Jurassic Rocks of Britain The Lower Oolitic Rocks of 
England (Yorkshire excepted) : " Mem. Geol. Surv., vol. iv. (1894), pp. 
51922. 

3 " A Handbook of the Geology of Cheltenham " (1904), p. 230. 



50 STRATIGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE 

The fine remains of a Megalosaurus bucklandi secured by 
Mr. E. Cleminshaw (then of Greenhill, Sherborne, but at 
the present time, 1915, of Birmingham), and now in the 
Sherborne School Museum, are stated by (Sir Richard) 
Owen, who described and figured them (1 ^> to have come from 
the " Inferior Oolite " of " near Sherborne." They came 
from the Sherborne Building Stone of garantiance hemera. 

Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. xxxix (1883), pp. 334 34.6, and pi. xi., 
figs. 1, 2, and 3. Casts of the specimens figured by Owen have been 
made and are exhibited in the Natural History Museum, South Kensing- 
ton, to which institution Mr. Cleminshaw presented the counterpart 
of the large piece that depicted in fig. 1. 

Mr. Cleminshaw informs me 

" I did not actually find the remains myself. A friend told me that 
in some building-stone got out for building a new house in Cold Harbour, 
Sherborne, what he thought were reptilian remains had been found. 
From his description, in answer to my enquiries, I knew at once what 
they were and secured them. The site of the quarry in which the 
remains were found is very near the back of the houses on the north 
side of Cold Harbour Road, but it is quite possible that the quarry, 
which was only opened for building -stone, may not now be used. There 
were many small quarries round Sherborne, which were worked for a 
short time and then abandoned (in litt., 10th Sept., and 13th Oct., 
1914.) 

" The middle part of the crown of a tooth : from the 
Inferior Oolite of Selsl[e]y Hill, Gloucestershire " is in the 
Natural History Museum (R. 497). It was figured by Owen 
in his " Wealden and Purbeck Reptilia," pt. iii., pi. xii., 
fig. 5 (1). The precise horizon is not given. 

CROCODILIA. 

Steneosaurus megistorhi/nchiis (Deslongchamps). " Frag- 
ment of maxillary rostrum, showing three dental alveoli." 

" Gryphite-Grit " (shirbuirnice). Bajocian. 

( Vide R. Lydekker, Cat. Fossil Reptilia in the Brit. 

Mus., pt. i. 1888, p. 116.) 

1 Vide R. Lydekker, Cat. Fossil Reptilia in the Brit. Mus., pt. 1 
(1888), p. 161. 



INFERIOR-OOLITE VERTEBRATES. 51 

*tSteneosaurus sp. (1) Reptilian jaw, perhaps Steneosaurus. 
Witchellia-Grit (witchellice) . Bajocian. Cold Comfort, 
near Cheltenham. 

ICHTHYOPTERYGIA. 

Ichthyosauria. 

? Ichthyosaurus sp. Vertebrae and other bones. ? Bajocian. 
Leckhampton and Sudeley Hills. 

Vertebrae and other bones, referred with a query to Ichthyosaurus, 
are recorded by James Buckman and H. E. Strickland (2nd ed. of 
Murchison's " Outline of the Geology of Cheltenham," p. 80) from 
" Leckhampton and Sudel[e]y Hills," but the record requires 
confirmation. 

SAUROPTERYGIA. 
Plesiosauria. 

*? Plesiosaurus sp. Tooth. Lower Trigonia-Grit (discitce). 
Bajocian. Frith Quarry, near Stroud. Pec/ew-Bed 
(sauzei), Sunny-Hill Quarry, Cole, Somerset. 

Professor S. H. Reynolds and Dr. C. W. Andrews 
both state that the tooth from the Frith Quarry is 
" Plesiosaurian in type." 

The specimen from Sunny-Hill Quarry, broke during the process 
of extraction, but was similar to that queried as plesiosaurian from the 
Frith Quarry. 

*? Pliosaurus sp. Two teeth. Top of Lower Trigonia- 
Grit or bottom of Buckmani-Grit (discitce). Bajocian. 
Tuffley's Quarry, near the Air Balloon Inn, between 
Cheltenham and Birdlip, Glos. 

Professor S. H. Reynolds states that these teeth " are 
exactly like Pliosaurian teeth in the British Museum " 
an identification confirmed by Dr. C. W. Andrews. 
A piece of bone 6 inches long was obtained from the 

Gryphite-Grit (shirburnice) of the west side of the Slad 

Valley, Stroud, by Mr. Charles Upton. 



52 STBATIGEAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE 

PISCES. 

ELASMOBRANCHEI. 

Selachii. 

Aster acanthus. See Strophodus. 

Hybodus sp. Base of " The Limestone Beds " ^ (zigzag). 
Bathonian. East-Hill Quarry, Bradford Abbas, near 
Sher borne, Dorset. 

This tooth broke when an attempt was made to chisel it out. 

Strophodus. General Note. The teeth called Strophodus 
include two species : one in which the crown is flat (S. 
magnus Ag.), and the other in which it is considerably 
elevated, and the tooth itself long and narrow (S. tennis 
Ag.). Satisfactory figures of these species will be found 
in the " Catalogue of the Fossil Fishes in the British 
Museum," pt. i (1889), pi. xv., figs. 2, 3, and 4-8. The 
teeth which have been named S. reticulatus are now 
definitely known to belong to Asteracanthus ornatissimus 
Ag., and are very differently ornamented and keeled. 
S. magnus Agassiz ( = S. favosus). Teeth. Aalenian, Bajocian 
and Bathonian. 

RECORDS : Clypeus-Grit or Doulting Beds. *Harford 
Bridge (near Burton-on-the-Water) ; *Birdlip Hill ; 
*Slad Valley (near Stroud) ; *Rodborough Hill ; *Sound- 
borough Farm (near Andoversford) ; Quarry seven- 
eighths of a mile east of Paulton Church (near Radstock, 
Somerset) ; *Doulting ; Woolston Quarry, near Blackford, 
Somerset . 

Upper Trigonia-Grit. * Holwell (near Frome : 
" Acanthothyris-spinosa-'Bed ") ; *Maes Knoll, Dundry 
(near Bristol : " Conglomerate -Bed ") ; and Baggerbush- 
Lane Quarry, Bradford Abbas, near Sherborne, Dorset. 

Notgrove Freestone. *Belas Knap, near Winchcomb, 
Glos. 



2 Bed B of Mr. Buckman's record, Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. 
xlix. (1893), p. 485. 



INFERIOR-OOLITE VERTEBRATES. 53 

Buckmani-Grit. *Tuffley's Quarry, near the Air- 
Balloon Inn, between Cheltenham and Birdlip. 

Lower Trigonia-Gnt. Ravensgate Hill, near Chelten- 
ham (Town Museum, Cheltenham). 

Base of Pea-Grit or top of Lower Limestone. 
*Huddingknoll Hill, near Painswick, Glos. 
8. tennis, Agassiz. Teeth. Bajocian and Bathonian. 

RECORDS : Clypeus-Grit or Doulting Beds. 
*Doulting ; *Foss-Way Quarry, near Radstock, 
Somerset. 

Upper Trigonia-Giit. *Wellow, near Radstock, 
(" Conglomerate -Bed "). 

Gryphite-Grit. *Kimsbury Castle (teste C. Upton), 
near Painswick, Glos. 

HOLOCEPHALI. 

*Myriacanthus sp. Two fragments of palantine teeth. 
Identified by Dr. A. Smith Woodward. Inferior 
Oolite. Cleeve Hill, near Cheltenham. 

Remains of this genus of Chima3roid fish have not been 
recorded before from the Middle Jurassic : only from the 
Lias and Kimmeridgian (vide Dr. A v Smith Woodward, 
Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. Ixii., 1906, pp. 1-4, and 
pi. i ; Brit. Mus. Cat. Fossil Fishes, pt. ii, 1891, p. 43). 
Unfortunately, the fragments from Cleeve Hill were 
not found in situ. 

*? Fish-teeth. Mr. Charles Upton found amongst the 
micro-organisms of the Upper Coral-Bed ( Truelleihemera,) 
of Rodborough Hill, Stroud, a number of minute teeth not 
unlike those from the Rhaetic, which are generally called 
" Saurichthys acuminatus," only much smaller. Also he 
obtained at the same horizon and place a minute round 
Lepidotus-like tooth. 

? Fish-remains in the Scissum-Beds. Brodie, writing of 
the beds at Leckhampton Hill (Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., 
vol. vii., 1851, pp. 208-12), which are now called the Scissum- 
Beds, observes : " Bones, scales, Coprolites and teeth of Fish 



54 STRATIGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE 

are dispersed throughout the mass, and may be most readily 
distinguished on the surface." At Crickley Hill the Scissum- 
Beds reveal on their weathered surfaces, mixed up with the 
sand-grains and shell-debris, innumerable black particles, 
which prove to be minute phosphatic bodies. These may 
be the objects to which Brodie refers, but it is impossible 
to identify them. 

THE INFERIOR-OOLITE VERTEBRATES OF NO VALUE FOR THE 
PURPOSE OF MINUTE ZONING. 

From the above list it will be observed that the fish-teeth 
called Strophodus are commonest in the Top-Beds (and 
especially in the Clypeus-Grit) ; the reptilian remains (with 
the exception of Megalosaurus bucklandi) in the " Inter- 
vening-Beds ; " while the Freestone Series (except at 
Huddingknoll, near Painswick, where Strophodus teeth are 
very common) contains very few vertebrate-remains indeed. 
The Upper Coral-Bed has jdelded a few, but unfortunately 
indeterminate, teeth, although probably piscine. 

Except, then, that the flat Strophodus teeth predominate 
in the Top-Beds, the little acuminate ? fish-teeth in the Upper 
Coral-Bed, and the reptilian remains in the Intervening-Beds, 
the Inferior-Oolite vertebrates afford little assistance in 
subdividing the series, and are useless for minute zoning 
purposes. 



INFERIOR-OOLITE VERTEBRATES. 55 

THE CHRONOLOGICAL SUCCESSION OF THE VERTEBRATE FAUNAS. 



Burton-Brailstock Doulting District. Doulting Stonesfield District. 


Uybodus sp. (tooth). 


zigzag 






schlaenbachi 


Strophodus magnus Agassii! (teeth). 
tenuis Ag. (teeth). 


Bones of i 3Iegalosaurus. 


truellei 


Lepidotus-like teeth. Upper Coral Bed. 


Megiilosaurus bucMandi von Meyer. 
Sherborne Building Stone. 
Strophodus magnus Ag. (teeth). 


garantianae 


Strophodus magnus Ag. (teeth). 
tenuis Ag. (teeth). 




niortensis 






blagdeni 




t Plesiosaurus (fragment of a tooth). 


sauzei 






witchelliae 


? Steneosaurus sp. (jaw). Witchellia 
Grit. 
Strophodus magnus Ag. (tooth). Not- 
grove Freestone. 




shirbuirniae 


Bone (pieces of). 
Steneosaurus megistorhynchus (Desl.) 
Strophodus tenuis Ag. 




discitae 


? Plesiosaurus (tooth). Lower Trigonia 
Grit. 
t Pliosaurus (tooth). Lower Trigonia 
Grit. 
Strophodus magnus Ag. (teeth). 




concavi 






bradfordensis 






murchisonae 


Megalosaurus bucklandi von Meyer. 
Lower Freestone. 
Strophodus magnus Ag. (teeth). Top of 
Lower Limestone. 




scissi 







opalimformis 






aaleneis 





Beminiseences 
relating to JEan ant) $e<tst in iDorset anfc 
tijc jfleig1)t)ourin0 Counties* 



By E. A. RAWLENCE. 

(Read 1th Dec., 1914.) 




subject of the third of the series of papers 
which I have had the pleasure and honour 
of reading before the Field Club is Folk- 
Lore reminiscences relating to man and 
beast. 

In the two previous papers I have 
more particularly dealt with the human 
side. In the present paper, while still 
dealing with that aspect, I wish to touch 
on some of the superstitions relating to the ailments of 
animals and their cure, but while you will readily realise 
how important these are to the bucolic mind, you will also 
realise that many of the complaints and remedies are not 



FOLK-LORE REMINISCENCES. 57 

such as I could refer to before an audience such as I am 
addressing. These must for the present at any rate remain 
recorded in my rough notebook. 

The first story I propose to relate will give you an idea of 
the psychological condition of mind of, those who imagine 
themselves subject to spells. 

One H , a dairyman who resided at Bishop's Down, had a 
turn of very bad luck, and he was persuaded that he had 
been bewitched by someone who had an evil eye upon him. 
His pigs would not fatten properly and some had died, and 
when he put the curd of the cheese into the vats and applied 
the pressure of the press it oozed out over the heads of the 
vats. He became so depressed under this supposed spell 
that he made an appointment at Yeovil with one Gulliver, 
a Somersetshire man, who had a great reputation for undoing 
spells. The appointment was kept on a market day at a 
certain inn, but as the inn itself was so crowded Gulliver took 
H up into the hay loft over the stable, the dim light of 
which no doubt added to the mystery of the situation. Here 
H had to tell Gulliver of all his troubles, and when Gulliver 
had duly pondered the tale of woe, all he said was " Now 
I can tell 'ee who has bewitched yer, what shall I do we' 'en ? " 
H , thirsting for vengeance for all the trouble caused by the 
evil eye of his enemy, answered " Put out both his eyes." 
Gulliver suggested that that would be a bit hard on the man, 
" Won't one be enough ? " H relented somewhat and 
assented to be satisfied with one eye. Gulliver then said 
" Now I'll tell 'ee who he be," and pointing his finger at H 
said, " You be the man." You be zo anxious about yer stock 
that yer overlooks what yer ought for to do and does what 
yer ought not to do. Yer overheats yer curds and that 
makes 'em too zoft, zo that when yer puts it into the press 
it spews out. Yer gets up in the mornin' and runs out in the 
dark to veed yer pigs and don't do it properly. Now yer 
must be more quiet like and careful. Have a cup o' taa 
and zomethen to ate when yer gets up and don't go out we' 
an empty stomach." 



58 FOLK-LORE REMINISCENCES. 

This wholesome advice was duly followed, and needless to 
say the pigs did not die until their throats were cut, and the 
curd was firm and good, but what this homely advice cost 
H I have not been able to ascertain. 

A lady of a well-known Dorset family has supplied me 
with the following which happened quite recently, but I am 
not, for good reasons, permitted to mention any names or 
places. A certain village not a hundred miles from 
Dorchester was visited with a severe epidemic of whooping 
cough. Three of the children of a man in Mr. X.'s employ 
fell ill with the complaint. Mrs. X. remarked to him " I 
hope that your wife will not get it." " Oh, no, Ma'am," 
was the reply " she cant ha' it. She rode the donkey 
when she wer young." Mrs. X. asked for an explana- 
tion of this, and was informed " that if yer puts a chile 
crosswise over a donkey's back and leads 'en round a field 
while yer repeats the Lord's Prayer her can niver ha' 
the whoopen' cough. Yer must zay the prayer with 
meanen, Ma'am. T'aint no good if yer only zays it." 
Mrs. X. then said, " Have you forgotten to do this with 
the three children that are ill? " " Yes, Ma'am, but the 
little 'un have ridden the donkey." The " little 'un " up to 
then had escaped. 

Mrs. X. is confident that the man insisted that the child 
had to be put " crosswise " on the donkey. My impression 
is that the virtue in the ass is that the child should be 
placed on the cross which that animal traditionally bears on 
its shoulder, through our Lord having ridden on one just 
before His Passion. 

The same lady kindly gave me the following pretty legend. 
Recently two men w r ere working in the garden and she 
remarked to one " Have you heard the nightingale ? " " Yes, 
ma'am, he do zing an' zing an' zing all day an' night in my 
garden." The man working with him said, " Ha' yer ever 
zee'd 'en ? " " Zee'd 'en ? no ; no man ever zee'd a nightin- 
gale, 'tis a spirit bird." " Aye, aye," replied his mate, and 
they went on with their digging as before. 



FOLK-LORE REMINISCENCES. 59 

In July, 1912, 1 was informed by one of the estate workmen 
at Sherborne Castle, who acts as one of my Scouts, that 
some old charm had been dug up under an apple tree on a 
farm at a village near by. Shortly after, I was passing that 
way and looked the farmer up, and obtained the following 
information. In a corner of the orchard near the house 
two or three apple trees had blown down, and another still 
standing had died. The farmer and his man had " beat up " 
the roots of the fallen trees, and then proceeded to grub up 
the dead tree. No sooner had they taken off the turf round 
the roots of the tree than they came upon a glass bottle, 
like a " large sweety bottle," which was sealed down with 
wax, and contained some snakes and mysterious reptiles 
preserved in a liquid. The workman advised that the bottle 
should be taken to someone who lived in a large village 
about a mile away who knew about these things. This 
was done, and the wise man diagnosed that the bottle con- 
tained two vipers about 18 inches long and a large centipede 
about 6 inches long, preserved in spirits of wine. He also 
said that it was a charm put there by someone who had a 
spite against the farmer to bring him bad luck, and advised 
him to seek some wise woman who could break the spell. 
Now the whole secret of the catastrophy to the apple trees was 
out, and, worse still, the farmer himself had been really ill 
for the past year. Consequently, the assistance of the wise 
woman to whom I have before referred in these papers was 
at once sought. She informed the farmer that it was the 
work of someone who had a spite against him, and remarked 
" I suppose the tree wer dead." This having been admitted, 
" Ah," said she, " just you plant anything there and zee if 
it'll grow." Then the wise woman gave him the recipe for 
breaking the spell. " Take the bottle to zome place off the 
farm wher' nobody knows, dig a hole, put the bottle into it, 
then break the bottle and cover it down quickly." The 
farmer told me that it smelt " fearful " when the bottle was 
broken no doubt through the exit of the foul spirits. I 
could not get him to disclose where the bottle was buried. 



60 FOLK-LORE REMINISCENCES. 

The man was evidently very unhappy, and as I left he 
told me confidentially that he would like a shift if I ever 
had another farm that I could offer him. Anyway, things 
have gone all right with my friend since the spell was broken. 
He is now the picture of health, and I hope next Michaelmas 
to be able to give him his desired " shift." I must not say 
where, for fear his enemy may forestall him with another 
" charm," and thus bring a catastrophy on his orchard and 
his prospects. It has occurred to me whether the idea of 
burying these reptiles under an apple tree in order to produce 
an evil influence originates form the scene in the Garden of 
Eden. 

At the end of 1912 I was being motored in the neighbour- 
hood of Wimborne, and the chauffeur told me that west of 
Wimborne the country side was full of superstition, and 
that not long since a man whose old sow had been ill had 
assured him that it had been bewitched by some one with 
an evil eye. He went to a wise woman, who gave him a 
charm which he had used, and he declared that he " had 
seen a hare jump out of the old zow's mouth and run away 
across the field over the hedge and disappear." I have 
come across traces of this idea of the disappearing hare in 
three other directions. I remember many years ago, alas, 
before I took sufficient interest in these old traditions to 
probe them further and record them, that the late Mr. Fred 
Sidford, of Knighton Farm, Bishopstone, told me that old 
people round Ebbesborne and Cranborne Chase used to talk 
about seeing a greyhound coursing a hare along the hill side, 
and just as the greyhound was about to catch the hare it 
disappeared or turned into an old woman. 

An old schoolmaster of my acquaintance, in speaking to 
me on the subject of one of my former papers, told me that 
in his younger days he lived at a village near Somerton, and 
that there was in the district a lot of superstitions. Somerton 
boasted of a noted Wise Woman who was much sought 
after. There was a certain hare which the greyhounds or 
coursers, as they were locally called, used to find that always 



FOLK-LORE REMINISCENCES. 61 

ran straight in the direction of the Wise Woman's Cottage, 
and then was suddenly lost. The people declared that when 
they went into the Wise Women's cottage afterwards they 
found her with her hair loose down her back and she " in a 
bath o' sweat," thus proving conclusively that she was the 
hare that they had been chasing.* 

In the Antiquary for April, 1915, was an article by Miss 
Barbara C. Spooner on " The importance of Local Cave 
Traditions." Amongst those quoted was the following : 
" The Devil pipes to witches in the fuggo at the foot of Boleigh 
Hill (Cornwall). Witches in the shape of hares enter, but 
never come out the same way." See Bottrell's " Traditions 
and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall." 

Now I venture to suggest that these superstitions may all 
have been derived from the early British legend quoted by 
Elton in his chapter on " Religion " in his book Origins of 
English History, pages 253 4. I quote the following 
passage : 

" The White Fairy Ceridwen makes war upon the prince of the 
dwarfs. In one form of the story the Fairy becomes an old witch 
and the dwarf is a boy who watches the boiling cauldron. Three 
drops of the liquor of knowledge are tasted by Gwion. Pursued at 
once by the hag " he changed himself into a hare and fled, but she 
transformed herself into a greyhound and turned him ; and he ran 
towards the river and became a fish, and she in the form of an otter 
chased him under water till he was fain to become a bird of the air." 

" The first part of the legend appears in slightly different 

forms in the Irish Stories of Finn MacCumhal, and also among the 
adventures of Sigurd in the ' Song of the Nibelungs.' 

I would here venture to quote another reference from 
Elton which, although a little outside the scope of my paper, 



* The hare was frequently found on the land of a farmer whose 
cattle had been doing badly and things generally going wrong, as the 
result of the woman having bewitched him. This of course further 
confirmed the identity of the hare. My informant tells me that the 
farmer was so obsessed with the idea that he was bewitched that he 
gave up his farm and migrated to Wales. 



62 FOLK-LORE REMINISCENCES. 

has a distinct interest to Dorset, and I refer to it as it affords 
three instances of a legend, a beverage, and a custom which 
are still extant, and can apparently be traced back to the 
hoary ages prior to Anno Domini. On page 32 of Elton a 
quotation is given from the account written by Pytheas, the 
Grseco-Phoenician traveller, about 320 B.C., of his journey 
through Britain and especially along the Southern coasts. 
After narrating the customs obtaining in growing and thresh- 
ing wheat, he adds " they made a drink by mixing wheat 
and honey," which is still known as " metheglin " in some 
of our country districts ; and he is probably the first authority 
for the description of the British beer which the Greek 
physicians knew by its Welsh name, and against which they 
warned their patients as a " drink producing pain in the 
head and injury to the nerves." I have known metheglin 
made at Stour Provost, and the old saying was " that if you 
got drunk on metheglin you did not get sober for a week," 
so that the old Greek physicians were not far wrong in their 
warning against its potency. 

I fear that I have so prolonged the first part of this paper 
that I can only deal with a few instances relating to animal 
ailments. 

Some years since, in going over a farm I think it was at 
Holwell, but as it was before I commenced recording these 
matters I am not quite sure as to the locality I observed a 
calf that had been prematurely born placed high up in the 
fork of an ash bush in the hedge. I asked the farmer what 
led him to place it there, and elicited the information that 
if the dead calf was placed in the fork of a maiden ash (i.e., 
an ash tree grown direct from the seed) and with its head 
tow r ard the East that it would prevent other cows in the 
herd from casting their calves. On further enquiry I gathered 
from the late Mr. J. J. Young, of Pinford, that when he was 
a boy the custom was quite common in the neighbourhood 
of Glanvilles Wootton. Also, I heard of a farmer in the 
neighbourhood of Wincanton who was a great believer in 
this specific, and if a cow was observed to have been afflicted 



FOLK-LORE REMINISCENCES. 63 

in this way all his men had to turn out and walk the farm 
until the foetus had been discovered and duly placed in the 
ash tree. 

This is extremely interesting, as it shows that the agricul- 
turists of old had from natural observation forestalled 
science by many centuries, as it is only in comparatively 
recent years that scientists have come to the conclusion that 
this disease in cattle is contagious ; on the Continent and in 
America they have for many years been endeavouring to 
find a serum that would protect cows from this complaint, 
and I believe that our Board of Agriculture has had the 
honour of carrying off the laurels. 

Now, our forebears had found that by leaving a foetus on 
the pasture land to be consumed by dogs and ferce natures 
it resulted in further trouble with their stock, and they 
resorted to the very natural expedient of putting it up into 
a tree out of the way. But note the tree and the position, 
which affords us some idea of the age and origin of the custom. 
The ash was a sacred tree of the Druids, especially the rowan 
tree or mountain ash, known also as the quicken tree, and 
was used as a specific against witchcraft.* Placing the head 
of the foetus to the East points to sun worship, also a Druidical 
rite. Thus it may reasonably be assumed that this old custom 
has come down to us from Druidical times, and it appears that 
these old folk proved by practica^l experience that by follow- 
ing a very simple act of hygiene their stock was saved from 
further trouble ; but apparently their sun god had the credit 
for the cure. 

Thus it will be seen that we have traced with some measure 
of certainty, first a legend, secondly a beverage, and thirdly 
a custom, which have clung to our countryside and have 
been handed down to us by tradition from father to son for 

* Ash was especially sacred in Scandinavia. The first man was 
Ask (Ash) and the first woman was Embla (Elm). The court of the 
gods in Edda was held under an ash tree (Ygydrasil). 

Gilbert White relates that in Selborne children with rupture were 
passed naked through a cleft ash to cure them. 



64 FOLK-LORE REMINISCENCES. 

fully two thousand years until the present generation, but 
these traditions have during the last hundred years been 
becoming fainter and fainter until they have now almost 
disappeared. 

The following I obtained from Pulham in 1905 : To cure 
loo or looer in cows, a disease that breaks out just above the 
hoof. Find the cow where she is resting early on a dewy 
morning. Turn her up and mark carefully the spot where 
she places the diseased foot at the third step. Then cut out 
the sod and place it uside down in a white thorn bush, and as 
the sod dries up and dies so the looer will dry up and heal. 

Old Mrs. L., of Bishop's Down, who died at the great age 
of 93 in 1910, had a great reputation for curing the redwater 
and other diseases in cows. I asked her son to try and find 
out before she died the nature of her charm. He told me 
afterwards that he had asked her, and her reply was " Lah ! 
bless 'ee, I does nothin', only prays the Lord to cure 'em." 
I don't think that the old lady took any fee for her charm. 

My friend W. T. is a great pig breeder, and at times some of 
his pigs got crippled with rheumatism. He told me that the 
way to cure this was to cut off the tip of their tails. He said 
that " it made a tar'ble mess as they bled zo." I suggested 
cauterising the tips to stop bleeding, but he replied " Bless 
'ee 'tis the bleedin' that does the good, as it draas the blood 
away from their heads." He also told me that when the pig 
had anything the matter with its lungs the best way to cure 
it was to open its mouth and make four gashes in its throat. 
" A pig al'as zwallers everything and never allows it to come 
out of its mouth ag'in, zo that the blood gets down into its 
lungs and cures 'em." He could not tell me why four gashes 
were necessary, but was very firm that it must be four. 

At Buckland Newton one day I chanced to remark on some 
very talkative individuals. The old farmer who was walking 
by my side soliloquised thus : 

" Ah ! a quiet zow eats up the loud zow's meat ; 
While the loud zow is a'squeakin' the quiet zow 
fills her belly." 



FOLK-LORE REMINISCENCES. 65 

Sometimes one gets a rebuff in attempting to get behind 
the scenes. One day I was walking round a farm with one 
of the driest old pieces of " double Dorset " that I know. 
He began to pour out his troubles as to the losses he had had 
with his stock. I thought that I had a splendid opportunity 
to get some folk lore, so quietly asked if he had ever been to 
the wise woman who I knew lived about half a mile from his 
farm. He turned on me with this remark : " I dwont believe 
in any o' they ther' things, nor in vets neither. If they be 
took vur death they dies, and if they lives they lives." Well, 
that was Kismet with a vengeance, and I could say no more. 

Such are some of the quaint sayings and practices of the 
farmers and yokels of the recesses of the Blackmore Vale 
which may still be gleaned as one rambles amongst its well- 
timbered pastures ; but, alas ! how much has been for ever 
buried under the new conditions created by the Education 
Acts. 




j&iJfc Intmstrp in 



I. THE THROWING-MILLS AT SHERBORNE AND 
THEIR OWNERS. 

II. DOMESTIC ECONOMICS IN THE EIGHTEENTH 
CENTURY. 



By HENRY SYMONDS, F.S.A. 




Y the kindness of Mr. S. Whitty Chandler the Field 
Club has received a collection of original deeds, 
letters, letter books, and account books relative 
to the silk industry carried on at Sherborne 
and neighbouring places during the second 
half of the eighteenth century. These 
documents have enabled me to describe in 
the following pages the annals of an under- 
taking which was probably the first of its kind in this 
county and certainly the longest lived. 

Our historian Hutchins tells us that " about 1740 a silk 
throwster settled here," that is, at Sherborne ; but in default 
of any evidence in support of that date I am inclined to 
think that the industry was not established until about 
13 years later, viz., in 1753. 

In September of the last named year John Sharrer, of 
Little Ayliffe St., Goodman's Fields, in the parish of White- 
chapel, silk thrower, acquired the lifehold interest of a family 



THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 67 

named Hart in a water grist-mill, dwelling house, and three 
acres lying in the homage of Westbury within the manor 
of Sherborne, then held under a lease dated 1728 
from William, Lord Digby, upon the life of Sweet Hart, a 
tide waiter in the port of Liverpool. John Sharrer, having 
thus gained possession of Westbury mill and having 
presumably started the silk trade, obtained another lease from 
Edward, Lord Digby on the 1st April, 1755, for 99 years on 
two lives, to begin after the death of Sweet Hart. On the 
next day, Lord Digby and Henry his brother signed an 
agreement with Sharrer whereby they undertook to grant to 
him, as soon as certain legal formalities permitted, an absolute 
lease of the mill and its appurtenances for 70 years, and 
Sharrer was empowered " to pull down the buildings and to 
" erect others in their stead for the better carrying on 
" his business of silk throwing." The existing mill-house at 
Westbury dates, therefore, from the year 1755 or thereabouts. 
Sharrer, as we have seen, was a Spitalfields throwster, and 
his object in thus extending his business was probably three- 
fold. He had relatives living in Sherborne, there was water 
power for his machinery, and there was a sufficient supply of 
labour furnished by women and children, as to which I shall 
have more to say presently. 

The trade having been established and the water-mill 
rebuilt, the next document to be noticed is a partnership 
agreement dated 2 May, 1764, between John Sharrer and 
his two nephews, George Ward of Sherborne, silk thrower, 
and William Willmott of Hornsey, who followed a similar 
occupation. It is chiefly round the last named person that 
this story centres, as Willmott eventually became the owner 
of the silk mill and developed its business with untiring 
perseverance. The agreement of 1764 recites that Sharrer, 
in consideration of the trust and confidence reposed in his 
nephews, desired to advance them in the world, and therefore 
accepted them as his partners in the practical working of the 
business for seven years. We also learn that the uncle had 
expended more than 2,500 in rebuilding and fitting up 



68 THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 

Westbury mill, and other premises in Sherborne leased from 
Benjamin Bastard. One clause in the deed provides that 
the said George Ward and William Willmott shall not during 
the partnership " play at cards, dice, tables, bowls or other 
" games for more than the sum of two shillings and sixpence, 
" or bet or lay more than that sum at any such game or at 
" any horse race or cock match or other sport or pastime 
" without the previous consent in writing of John Sharrer." 

The House of Commons Journals for 1765 tell us a little 
as to the extent of the new trade in Sherborne. A 
Parliamentary Committee was appointed to enquire into the 
condition of the silk manufacture in this country, which 
had suffered from the large importation of French wrought 
silks. Among the witnesses was John Sherrard (a misprint 
for Sharrer), who told the Committee that he was a silk- 
thrower employing 500 hands in London, 200 in Gloucester- 
shire, 400 in Dorset, and 400 in Cheshire, the total being 
1,500 ; of these, 1.400 were women and children and 100 were 
men. Children were employed at seven years of age. From 
this e\idence I assume that Westbury mill had so far 
developed its trade in 1765 as to afford employment to 400 
persons, indoor and outdoor, at Sherborne and elsewhere in 
the county, as will appear. 

Before the expiration of the partnership John Sharrer 
died, and it was Susanna his widow who obtained from 
Henry, Lord Digby on 14 Jan. ,1768, an absolute lease of the 
mill for 58 years, in fulfilment of the agreement of 2 April, 
1755. The lessor reserved the right to turn the stream known 
as the Oborne water out of its usual course, for his own 
purposes, in seven specified months of each year, and to 
divert the stream during Saturday night and Sunday from 
May to October. These reservations may have caused in 
part the shortage of water power which Willmott mentions 
from time to time in the correspondence. 

After the death of the founder of the industry, George 
Ward and William Willmott agreed to effect a friendly 
division of their joint interests, as from 20 March, 1769. 



THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 69 

Willmott was to carry on the silk throwing at Sherborne, and 
at the establishments in Cerne Abbas and Stalbridge, while 
Ward was to receive as his share the similar undertaking 
which they had started at Bruton in Somerset, together with 
the sum of 500. Their agreement for dissolution gives 
particulars of two of the branch " silk houses " which had 
been opened in order to tap larger reservoirs of labour. It 
is recited that Philip White of Cerne Abbas had leased to 
the late partners in 1764 the building over the shambles in 
the market place of Cerne called the Isle Hall at a rental of 
3 13s. 6d., and we shall see that a silk house, and extensions 
in that parish, were used by the Willmotts for nearly fifty 
years. Another recital tells us that Thomas Sampson of 
Bruton, surgeon, had leased to them, in 1768, a newly -erected 
tenement (formerly two houses) with the little court adjoining 
to the Law Way on the south side of High-street, Bruton, 
where the Swan Inn once stood, for fifty } 7 ears at a rental of 
35. In this town George Ward and his descendants 
continued the silk throwing for a long period, and were 
always on good terms with the occupier of the older mill 
at Westbury. By an assignment of 25 March, 1769, Mrs. 
Sharrer conveyed to William Willmott her interest in the 
Sherborne mill and its machinery, in consideration of 1,500. 

Having thus outlined, from the documents in the museum, 
the inception of this Sherborne industry, it will be convenient 
briefly to describe the nature of the work which provided 
employment to 600 persons in that part of the county, 
irrespective of those who worked in competing mills which 
were started at a later date. 

The manufacture of silk fabrics in this country became an 
established trade about 1585, but it was not until 100 years 
later that the settlement of French weavers in Spitalfields 
gave a great impulse to production. The sectional process 
with which we are here concerned was intermediate between 
the taking of the raw silk from the cocoons and the weaving 
of the threads into a fabric. In the eighteenth century the 
" silkmen," or merchants, and the weavers imported the 



70 THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 

skeins from Italy, Bengal, China, and Asia Minor, to a 
considerable extent through the agency of the East India 
Company, which held periodical sales of the raw material. 
The ballots, or bales, of silk were then sent to a throwing mill ; 
in a few cases the weaver " threw " his own silk, but the more 
general custom was to employ a throwster, who received a 
sum varying from 2s. to 5s. for each pound weight, according 
to the quality of the raw threads and the purpose for which 
they were to be used. 

The term " throwing " is probably derived from the 
swinging or tossing which the threads undergo when on the 
machines ( Ure's Dictionary of Arts), the object of the series 
of operations being to double and twist the raw silk into 
more substantial fibres. The initial process consisted of 
winding the skeins on to bobbins by a mechanism then known 
as an " engine." Cleaning followed, being effected by parsing 
the thread through a slit small enough to hold any nibs or 
lumps. Doubling was the next operation, by which the 
threads on two, or three, bobbins were wound together in 
contact on one bobbin. In the case of the best silk, the 
threads were then twisted into a compound strand called 
" organzine," which was used for the warp in weaving. An 
inferior quality was thrown into " tram " and twisted in one 
direction only ; this was used for the weft. A third variety 
was thrown into "singles," viz., one twisted thread. The 
throwing or twisting was done by a machine known as a 
" mill," an improved form of which had been introduced at 
Derby in 1719 by Sir Thomas Lombe. His patent rights 
were acquired by the State in 1732, when the apparatus 
became available for all and was probably used by the Dorset 
throwsters. 

The raw silk which was thus prepared at Sherborne for the 
weavers had been chiefly obtained from Fossambrone, Reggio, 
Pesaro, and Friuli in Italy, and from China. Smaller 
quantities came from Bengal, from Brutia and Antioch, and 
from Murcia in Spain. Occasional bales were obtained from 
Ghilan or Sherbaffe in Persia, Legee, Radnegore, and 



THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 71 

Pennsylvania, the last mentioned place-name occurring in 
1773. I do not find that any French silk was thrown at 
Westbury mill until the year 1799, when it became plentiful. 

It should be added that as the natural colours were white 
and yellow only, the assistance of the dyer was required before 
the thrown silk was sent to the weaver's loom. Among the 
correspondence is a letter dated 21 March, 1778, in which 
the writer calls Willmott's attention to a specimen or sample 
of " three thread hard throw " which he was then sending. 
By good fortune the yellow threads of silk are still attached 
to the seal of this letter, from which we may see the nature 
of the material that was thrown. 

I will now return to William Willmott, who had become 
in 1769, as has been shewn, the sole owner of Westbury mill 
and its outlying dependencies. Although he was described 
as living at Hornsey in 1764 there is some reason to think 
that he belonged to a Sherborne family, as I find among the 
applicants for marriage licences at Wells in 1703 the name 
of William Willmott, of Sherborne, who may have been either 
the grandfather or father of our mill owner. In 1641 the 
surname Willmoth occurs among the residents in that town, 
and a similar form of spelling can be seen on a few bills paid 
by Willmott about 1775. 

Among our collection of documents is Willmott's earliest 
" silk book," dating from May, 1769, and containing 153 
folios of excellent hand-writing which compares very 
favourably with the average of the parish registers of that 
period. This volume is a record of the bales of silk sent to be 
thrown, and the net result of the process. As the price of the 
raw material ranged from 25s. to 30s. the pound, and as some 
of the consignments exceeded 400 Ibs. each, the aggregate 
value of the silks in the temporary custody of the throwster 
was very considerable, and required accurate book-keeping. 
The condition of the raw silk and the skill of those who 
handled it governed the amount of waste, which varied 
between 6 per cent, and 18 per cent. The waste threads were 
preserved and returned to the owner, excepting the portion 



72 THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 

which was termed "invisible," viz., lost, destroyed, or stolen. 
When the percentage was high there were naturally many 
complaints. 

One of Willmott's chief troubles was to obtain and keep 
a sufficient number of workpeople for his increasing trade. 
As I have already mentioned, the bulk of the work was done 
by women and girls, child labour being used in the more 
simple processes, such as the preliminary winding. A 
considerable but unknown proportion of the 250 Dorset 
women and children who were so employed in 1786, for 
example, had been in receipt of parish relief, and the Overseers 
in most cases welcomed the starting of a branch silk-house 
as conducing to a reduction of the local poor rates. Un- 
fortunately, employment being by piece work was very 
irregular, and Willmott's letters in times of slack trade draw 
a sad picture of his workpeople's hardships. On several 
occasions James Vere and Co., of Bishopsgate, London, who 
were the best customers of the silk mill, sent ten guineas to 
Willmott to buy food for the starving children. One such 
sum was expended in February, 1784, in the purchase of 350 
loaves and 11 bushels of peas, the bill of which is among 
our documents. The winter was then so severe that 
communication between Sherborne and Cerne was impossible 
for some time. To the trials of midwinter must be added 
the shortage of water-power due to seasons of drought, which 
also added to unemployment. 

On the other hand it must be said that even when silk 
was in plentiful supply the workers would desert Westbury 
mill in order to attend the numerous fairs in the town or the 
races at Lenthay, or to help in the harvest fields. At times 
the hours of work were very long, continuing through the 
night when it was desirable to take advantage of a good head 
of water in the stream. In November, 1 781 , Willmott remarks 
in a letter " water now plentiful and shall work seven days 
a week." 

The pay lists or wages books, with two small exceptions, 
have not survived. Neither of the existing lists is dated, but 



THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 73 

the internal evidence assigns them to the year 1793. One 
contains the names of 48 windsters, as they were called, 
whose weekly wage averaged Is. 5d. each ; the other list of 
18 names averaged 2s. 2d. each. All were females, presumably 
young girls who were employed at Westbury as out-workers. 

It will perhaps be interesting to quote a few extracts 
relative to the employment of those who by reason of poverty 
had been under the control of the Overseers of Sherborne and 
Cerne Abbas. In July. 1776, a vestry meeting was held at 
Sherborne to consider the question of the workhouse children 
and the silk mills. Apparently there was some form of 
bidding between the owner of Westbury and William Cruttwell, 
who had set on foot a competing business, for the privilege of 
obtaining the services of the poor. Willmott laments in a 
letter to Vere that he was unsuccessful, as his opponent had 
offered a higher price, i.e., wage. Nevertheless, his rival's 
success was short-lived, as we shall presently see. Another 
t allusion to the same custom occurs in November, 1787, when 
Mrs. Willmott is informed by Miss Coombs that the Guardians 
of Cerne had consented to an abatement, during unemploy- 
ment, of one half of the sum agreed to be paid to the paupers 
of that district. Again, a letter from Westbury tells Vere 
in May, 1788, that " as I employ those of the parish I must pay 
" them work or play, which is very hard upon me, and has been 
' for many months past, but have kept them on in hope the 
"trade would take a turn." 

By the kindness of Mr. E. Arnold Wright, whose firm, A. 
R. Wright and Company, bought in 1907 the silk mills owned 
by several generations of the Willmott family, I have been 
enabled to inspect two letter books, 1772 to 1781, which 
were not included in the collection given to the Field Club. 
The outward correspondence, copied by hand in these books, 
includes many touches of local colour which enliven the 
somewhat dull records of silk received at Sherborne and 
returned thence to London ; I will therefore cite a few incid- 
ents mentioned in William Willmott 's letters. At the begin- 
ning of 1773 the silk industry languished throughout England, 



74 THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 

and Will mott had to discharge many workpeople, who became 
a burden to the town. In order to preserve his connexion 
among the weavers and merchants he often sent presents of 
game which had been shot by his friends. For this form of 
sport he had no liking ; but he remarks in 1773 that " hunt- 
ing is my delight ; but, although near it, I seldom enjoy 
it," referring, no doubt, to the Blackmore Vale Hounds. 
In February, 1774, he says that the other throwsters had 
been shut up entirely for some time (this is the earliest men- 
tion of competitors), and he fears that his friend George Ward 
may have to do the same thing. A letter of a few weeks 
later offers to buy Ward's machinery at Stalbridge and to 
pay the rent of the silk-house there, as he wanted more wind- 
ing engines. (It would appear from this that the terms of 
dissolution had been varied, and that Ward had taken the 
Stalbridge branch.) In November, 1774, Willmott bought 
for 135 the appliances and tools of Fooks and Webb, of 
Sherborne, and so put an end to a " long-contested opposi- 
tion." He tells Vere that by this increase he hopes to re- 
turn to them 500 Ib. of thrown silk every week, which gives 
us a measure of the capacity of Westbury mill and its satel- 
lites. At the same time he comments on the anxieties at- 
taching to a large undertaking with a comparatively small 
capital. In the early part of the year 1775 Willmott had a 
serious illness, during which the mill was supervised by John 
Sharrer (a son of the deceased partner), who was then an 
undergraduate of Queen's College, Oxford. Shortly after- 
wards the letters contain references to further opposition 
organised by George Smout and his wife, who appear to have 
been the stormy petrels of the Sherborne silk trade for nearly 
twenty years. I read that in August, 1775, W. Cruttwell 
and T. Stidson, the latter of whom owned a grist mill in the 
town, were making ready to throw silk instead of grinding 
corn, being prompted thereto by Smout. Willmott expresses 
the fear that he would lose some of his hands and be unable 
to keep his mills fully occupied ; the event proved the cor- 
rectness of his anticipation. 



THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 75 

In the year 1776 several letters passed between the owner 
of Westbury and Thomas Sharrer (another son of Thomas 
Sharrer, deceased) on the subject of the Throwsters Company 
in London. Willmott desired to become a member of the 
company, and asked Sharrer to find out whether they intend- 
ed to put in force an Act of Parliament which regulated the 
trade and prohibited anyone from practising the " art and 
mystery " until a seven years' apprenticeship had been 
served. This statute became law in 1662, but had appar- 
ently fallen into disuse before the period now under con- 
sideration. It is obvious that a strict enforcement of the 
provisions of the Act would have suppressed much of the 
competition by grist millers and others who possessed the 
needful w r ater-power, but had no knowledge of the craft 
which Charles the Second's Parliament had intended to 
protect from untrained rivalry. 

The Silk Throwsters' Company had been incorporated by 
letters patent in 1629 ; but it had neither Hall nor Livery, 
and no longer exists as an active organisation. It is not 
mentioned in books of reference after 1870-75, consequently 
I have not been able to find the present custodian of its 
records for the purpose of enquiring whether Willmott 's 
name is entered on the roll of freemen. The charter and bye- 
laws, however, are now in the care of Mr. W. B. Ingle, the 
upper-bailiff of the Weavers' Company. 

The Silk Throwers, as was the custom, received a grant 
of Arms, the terms of which do not appear to have been 
hitherto printed and may therefore be quoted here : 

State Papers Domestic (Charles I., vol. 147). Document No. 38 in 
this volume after reciting a grant of 23 April, 5 Charles I., whereby 
Robert Bollinge and others, then exercising the trade, art and mystery 
of silk throwing in London and the suburbs thereof, had become a body 
politic and corporate, proceeds as follows : And Clarenceux, King of 
Arms, being requested by Robert Bollinge, the master, and Thomas 
Lorde and William Harte, the wardens, to grant to them some ensigns 
and badges of honour for their use, thereby granted to the corporation 
arms, crest, supporters and seal. Party per fesse azure and vert, on the 
first a silk mitt or, on the second a London throw of silk between two bundles 



76 THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 

of Naples proper, mantled gules doubled argent. On a wreath or and azure, 
a mulberry tree with divers silk worms feeding on the leaves all proper. 
For their supporters, on the dexter side a Persian with a mass of raw 
Legie silk on his arm and on the sinister side a Turk with three masses 
of Ardasse silk under his arm, both in their proper habits. The words ; 
" God in his least creatures." For their seal, a silk mill encircled with 
a ring, in the same these words, " The seal of the corporation of silk 
throwers, London," as in the margin is more plainly depicted. [The 
sketch is missing.] These arms, crest, supporters and seal are granted, 
ratified and confirmed to the said master &c. Dated . . . July, 1629. 

The allusion to the silk worm in the motto of the company 
reminds me that many unsuccessful attempts have been 
made to rear this creature in England, notably by James I. 
and Charles I. in the royal mulberry gardens at St. James's. 

Reverting now to Westbury mill, the opposition which 
had developed in Sherborne in 1775 seems to have been an 
unlucky enterprise, as Cruttwell retired in February, 1777, 
leaving Smout to manage the Abbey silk mill. Willmott 
mentions with pardonable satisfaction that his former work- 
people were then returning to him, as employment was 
too precarious elsewhere. 

During Whitsuntide, 1778, a new water wheel of much 
larger size was erected, and this improvement was followed 
in 1781 by the addition of a horse mill and a house for the 
horse walk ; by this appliance Willmott was enabled to 
drive half of the machinery when the water power was in- 
sufficient. 

It should be observed that the trade, notwithstanding its 
fluctuating and exotic character, was singularly free from 
losses by bad debts. During a period of a quarter of a cen- 
tury I can trace only one defaulter, a fact which speaks well 
for the stability of the weavers and silkmen who were the 
mainstay of the Sherborne business. 

At that time, as now, Britain was at war, and a few side- 
lights are thrown upon the situation in Dorset. In August, 
1779, Vere was apprehensive about a reported landing by 
invaders from the French and Spanish fleets then off Ply- 
mouth, and he hoped that the enemy would not reach 



THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 77 

Sher borne. All silk on the roads was to be stopped and the 
necessary precautions taken. In the following month 
Willmott reports that the French prisoners had been removed 
from the West for greater security, and that 1,000 had passed 
through the town on their way to Winchester. Another 
letter tells us that in March, 1780, the whole regiment of 
Dorset Militia was quartered at Sherborne, an event which 
had not happened since the last war, and that the work- 
people would probably be disturbed by the presence of the 
soldiers. It had been customary to ship hogsheads of Cerne 
Abbas ale from Weymouth to the Thames ; but the 
activities of the French and Spaniards in the Channel induced 
Willmott to send such gifts by the land route to London. 
In the same connection Vere remarks that no Turkey silk 
would be forthcoming for a long time, owing to the absence 
of any convoy in the Mediterranean. 

I will next cite an illustration of one of the social customs 
then in vogue at Sherborne. Willmott desired to celebrate 
the christening of his son Thomas in January, 1779, and 
being anxious to entertain his guests in the best manner he 
asked a friend in London to obtain and send down the fol- 
lowing provisions : 

Four quarts of real turtle soup from Horton's by the Royal Exchange ; 
if it cannot be had, then the same quantity of mock turtle. A fore- 
quarter of the best house lamb to be had. A turbot of 141bs. or 151bs., 
or if not obtainable, then a fine cod fish." 
(Unfortunately the bills for this repast have not been preserved.) 

The competing mill is again mentioned in the spring of 
1781, when Mrs. Smout writes to Willmott expressing a 
wish for his friendship. He consents to a meeting, but 
pertinently reminds her that she had recently visited two of 
his outlying silk-houses and had then offered to the children 
an additional sixpence per week if they would leave his 
employment. Such an action was perhaps not the best 
foundation for a pleasant relationship between neighbours. 

A few lines may be devoted to the silk-houses in other 
parishes, which acted as feeders to Westbury mill. One of 



78 THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 

these winding factories was at Bradford Abbas in a house 
owned by William Deering. The first mention of this estab- 
lishment occurs in June, 1779 ; but it was probably started 
at an earlier date, as the series of account books is not com- 
plete. The latest reference to Bradford is in February, 1784. 

Another silk-house was in Dorchester ; but I have been 
unable to identify the site of the factory. The earliest entry 
referring to the county town is in June, 1780, when money 
for wages was sent there from Sherborne. Fifty persons 
were employed in 1784, and I read in a letter of July, 1788, 
that " my hands at Dorchester are standing still at my ex- 
pense " for want of silk. Here, also, some of the work- 
people were " those of the parish," who were paid w r hether 
they worked or stood idle. The existence of this industry 
in Dorchester seems to have escaped the notice of the his- 
torians of the eighteenth century. 

The house at Cerne Abbas has been already mentioned 
in the foregoing pages, and there is no doubt that silk winding 
was continued, with varying fortunes, until about 1810 or 
even later. In November, 1780, Willmott bought from 
" farmer Cockram " for 70 his interest in certain premises 
in that parish, which were presumably an addition to the 
accommodation at the Isle Hall. In every week wages 
money was sent to Cerne and Dorchester, the amounts 
averaging about 10 to 12, of which the former place probably 
absorbed the larger share. Each of these silk-houses was 
placed in charge of a mistress, and the appliances used are 
described as " Spanish engines," which did not require water 
power. 

At present I have quoted extracts from the two letter books 
(1772-81) in the possession of Mr. Arnold Wright, and from 
the original letters of the same period which are in the collec- 
tion at the Dorset County Museum. I will now turn to our 
letter books which begin in 1782. 

Silk-throwing had been established in Taunton at a mill 
on the Sherford stream, a tributary of the Tone, and 
Willmott had helped the owners, Paul and Vansomer, in 



THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 79 

April, 1781, by lending to them an " engine mistress " and 
others to instruct the Taunton hands in the new trade. 
This kindness was but ill repaid, as Paul is reproved 
in March, 1783, for having improperly tried to obtain 
workpeople from among those engaged at Westbury mill.* 
When Willmott wrote this complaint he certainly had 
no idea that within twelve month he would be in con- 
trol of the Taunton undertaking. The new departure by 
Paul and Vansomer having proved to be unsuccessful, it 
was suggested to Willmott that he should acquire the mill. 
At first he declined, on the ground that the distance from 
Sherborne was too great, but subsequently he decided to 
buy the mill and machinery in Upper High-street, Taunton, in 
conjunction with John Norman of that town. The purchase 
was arranged in November 1783, for a sum of 1,050, and the 
new partners began operations at once. In May, 1784, there 
was a local scarcity of labour owing to the flourishing state 
of trade since the peace with France, and in October of the 
same year there is a reference to bull baiting in Taunton which 
had interfered with the attendance of the workpeople. As 
the correspondence relates chiefly to matters within the 
county of Somerset, it is perhaps outside the scope of this 
paper, and it will therefore be sufficient to say that Norman 
and Willmott started a winding house at Chard, and another 
at Coombe St. Nicholas, of a similar character to those in 
Dorset. 

Returning to the main story at Sherborne, I find that 
Willmott writes to a Mr. Fisher at Dorchester in October, 
1783, concerning a fire policy for Westbury mill, saying that 
he had insured with the Sun Fire Office for more than twenty 
years. The new policy was to be for 3,000, comprising the 
mill 750, dwellinghouse 500, machinery and silk in trust 
1,500, and sundry smaller items. 



"There is a very nice letter from two mill hands at Taunton in 
March, 1783, warning Willmott as to what was going on there. 



THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 

Small pox was prevalent in Sherborne from time to time. 
A great number of the children were ill about February, 1785, 
and the parents were nursing them, consequently very little 
silk could be returned to London. Inoculation was refused 
by the parents, but Willmott endeavoured to protect his own 
household by means of that preventive. 

The spring and summer of 1785 were unusually dry, and the 
town had been without a whole day's rain since the previous 
November. This drought proved the utility of the horse- 
mill, which was working for three consecutive weeks in June 
of that year. Hay then cost 6 the ton, and was very 
scarce. 

Nothing worthy of special notice occurs during the next 
two years ; then we learn that William Willmott died from 
a fever on 2 June, 1787, leaving a widow and seven children. 

A brief reference may be made to Willmott's position in 
Sherborne, apart from the silk industry which he so success- 
fully developed. I am indebted to our member, Mr. W. B. 
Wildman, for having supplied many of the following particulars. 
William Willmott was elected a governor of Sherborne School 
in 1769, and became a Brother (i.e., a governor) of the well- 
known almshouses in the same year.* He was chosen as 
warden of the school for the year 1784. His son Thomas 
(of whom more presently) entered the school in 1779, was 
elected a governor in 1805, and warden in 1810. Altogether, 
seven members of the family were educated at the school. 
William Willmott was also a guardian of the poor for many 
years, and was associated with a philanthropic organisation 
known as the " Green Girls Society," which still exists under 
the name of Lord Digby's school, although the girls no longer 
wear the dresses of distinctive colour. Among our papers is 
a printed sheet or leaflet dated 26 October, 1786, which refutes 
a malicious report to the prejudice of the society and sets out 
its position and aims. The treasurer, John Toogood, informs 



*A bill for a dinner and a supper to the masters of the Almshouses 
is dated 30 Dec., 1785, 6 6s. Id. 



THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 81 

the public that the funds then amounted to 439 3s. 3d., and 
complains of the wrongful removal of a tablet and a box for 
donations which had been placed in the south aisle of the 
abbey church in the year 1771. 

I find that Mary, the widow of William Willmott, arranged 
to continue the throwing mill until her sons were old enough 
to relieve her of the management. One of Mrs. Willmott 's 
first steps was to sell to John Norman her husband's half 
share of the Taunton mill, and if we may judge from the 
amount paid to Willmott's executors the Somerset under- 
taking had been a profitable venture. The branch silk- 
houses in Dorset remained unchanged. 

On 9 June, 1787, an inventory was made of the effects at 
Sherborne and elsewhere, from which I have extracted the 
following particulars as to the appliances, &c., used by an 
eighteenth century silk-thrower. 

Westbury mill 

In the workshop on the ground floor, 

10 pair of compleat mills, 3 silk bins, 1 silk press, 1 beam and scales. 
In the second floor 

4 pair of compleat mills, 1 dumb mill, 5 engines compleat. 3 bins. 
In the upper floor 

1 spinning mill, 8 engines compleat, 2 bins. 
In the Tram shop 

1 beam and scales, 43 Tram wheels compleat with stools, 1 iron stove, 
4 bins, 11 trays. 

(There were also 126 baskets in which the wrought silk was returned 
to the owners. This method of packing had been first introduced by 
William Willmott, the baskets being made locally.) 

Setts of tools with outdoor windsters in Sherborne, Ceme and Point- 
ington, 240. (I have not found any other reference to the last 
named parish.) 
At the work -house at Cerne 

32 wheels, 27 rices and runners, 31 Spanish engines, 1 chest, 1 beam, 
scales and weights, 6 basketts. 
At the work -house at Dorchester 

35 wheels, 35 engines, 4 rices and runners, 1 chest, 1 beam, scale and 
weights, 20 baskets. 

The year 1787 was marked by the failure of the silk crop 
in Italy, which entailed a serious loss to English mills and 



82 THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 

especially to Sher borne, where Italian threads were largely 
worked. Vere says that the weavers were putting down their 
looms, and prophesies that in six months half of the mills in 
the kingdom would be standing idle. Other correspondents 
in London warn the Willmotts not to employ their people 
on full time, but rather to go slowly in view of the deficiency 
in raw materials, and Vere adds that 2501bs. to 3001bs. per 
week of all sorts must be their limit. 

At this point the account books furnish us with a definite 
statement as to the sums expended in wages. To cite an 
example it appears that between June, 1789 and the same 
month in 1790 the payments for wages averaged approxi- 
mately 46 per week ; the highest amount was 112 and the 
lowest 22, the latter representing Christmas week. The 
" neat profit " of the trade during the same twelve months 
was 863 ; but this was not the high Avater mark, as some years 
were more prosperous. 

The year 1791 showed a favourable turn of fortune's wheel. 
The mill at Westbury was working at high pressure, and many 
new offers of silk were refused. On the margin of an account 
book for July, 1791, is written Temps trop heureux pour 
durer longtemps. Two years later there was a collapse of 
the chief opposition in Sherborne. The correspondence 
shows that in April, 1793, Mrs. Willmott was asked to help 
several London firms whose silk remained unfinished at the 
Abbey mill, or at its outlying silk-houses in Ilchester, Brad- 
ford, and Tintinhull. Mrs. Smout now disappears from the 
town, and the scene of her activities was sold to " people who 
are entire strangers to the business," thus proving that the 
stipulation in the Act of 1662, to which I have already re- 
ferred, was still ignored by the Throwsters' Company. John 
Willmott had intended to buy the vacant workshops ; but 
they were sold, as he says, at an unreasonable price. I am 
again indebted to Mr. Wildman for a few details which show 
how the later history of the Abbey and the School and the 
mill is interwoven. It appears that a part of the Abbey 
silk mill formerly occupied the guest house of the monastery ; 



THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 83 

in 1853 it was converted into the big schoolroom, and is 
now used as the school library. Also, a portion of the exist- 
ing school chapel was once used for the purposes of the silk 
mill.* 

The severity of the winter season in January, 1795, caused 
" incredible hardships " to Mrs. Willmott's workpeople, 
notwithstanding the benevolence of the inhabitants of the 
town. Vere sends a sympathetic letter, with another gift 
of ten guineas for food ; in the following month he reports 
that raw silks would not come from foreign countries for 
some time " in consequence of the embargo laid on all ship- 
ping," a situation which almost finds a parallel in the year 
1916. Bread was Is. the loaf in Sherborne during the 
summer of 1795. 

Happily, those days of vanishing wages and high prices 
were followed by a period when silk was plentiful and earn- 
ings regular, as may be inferred from a letter written to Vere 
in March, 1799. Thomas Willmott tells his friend that he 
had recently erected a large engine in the winding house at 
Cerne, and was about to put up another of a similar kind ; 
that he had taught the hands at Cerne to " tram " fine silk, 
which they had not previously done, and that he would 
shortly be able to return a larger quantity than ever before. 
All this speaks of flourishing trade, and the next letter indi- 
cates that an extension to a new district was contemplated. 
On 27 November, 1799, Thomas Bartlett writes from Evershot 
to Mrs. Willmott saying he was told that she wished to 
establish a silk manufactory in the town, if sufficient work- 



*At the beginning of the 19th century the Abbey mill was occupied 
by a throwster named John Gouger or Genger. In this connection 
Dr. E. K. Le Fleming has kindly sent to me an extract from the parish 
books of Wimborne 

Dec. 16, 1817. Resolved at a Vestry that " The children and other 
persons in the workhouse shall be employed by Mr. Genger of Sherborne 
in the winding of silk," at the same price as paid locally. Mr. Genger 
was to " find gratis the machinery necessary for carrying on the 
concern." 



84 THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 

people could be obtained. He thought that it would be a 
good thing for the industrious poor, and offered to let to the 
Willmotts a building of two floors 93ft. by 18ft., well lighted. 
The letter book does not contain the answer to this proposal, 
nor can I trace any further reference to Evershot in the 
documents. 

At the beginning of the new century Mrs. Willmott took 
her second son, Thomas, into partnership, as from December, 
1800. Westbury mill and its various offshoots continued to 
prosper under the guidance of the new firm, so much so that 
Thomas Willmott acquired in June, 1809, for the purposes 
of his trade, the water grist-mill known as the Castle, or 
East, mill in Sher borne. In March, 1814, he bought from 
William Burnet the mill known as Oke's, or the Middle, mill, 
also in Sherborne, together with all the machinery and tools 
therein used for silk throwing. The original deeds relating 
to these purchases are included in our collection. It seems 
probable that the William Burnet who sold Oke's mill to 
Willmott in 1814 was the buyer (either alone or with others) 
of the Abbey mill in 1793 when it passed from Mrs. Smout's 
control. 

The letter and account books and the correspondence 
come to an end soon after 1800, but a few particulars as to 
the subsequent history of the undertaking may be extracted 
from the Proceedings of a House of Commons committee 
which enquired into the condition of the silk trade in April 
and May, 1832. Thomas Willmott was then chosen to give 
evidence as a representative mill-owner, as had been the 
case with his great-uncle, John Sharrer, on a similar occasion 
in the year 1765. Willmott tells the committee that he 
had been engaged as a silk thrower in Sherborne for 32 years, 
one of his mills having existed for 80 years and two others 
for about 20 years ; that before 1826 (when protective duties 
were in force) he had 8,000 spindles at work and 600 hands, 
at the time of the enquiry the spindles were 3,000 and the 
workpeople 150 only : about two-thirds of the hands were 
winders at home, and one-third worked in the mills : half 



THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 85 

of them belonged to Sherborne, the wages paid to girls being 
5s. psr week and to children Is. : Italian silk was chiefly 
worked, and the witness was of opinion that the throwing 
trade could be restored only by reinstating the former duties 
on imported wrought silk. John Sharrer Ward, of Bruton, 
also gave evidence to a similar effect. 

The undertaking ultimately passed into the possession 
of Mr. Albert Willmott, a son of John Willmott ; but the 
changed conditions of trade, which compelled the throwster 
to buy his raw silk and find a market for it when thrown, 
proved too heavy a burden for the owner. Consequently a 
limited liability company (J. and R. Willmott, Ltd.) was 
formed about 1885 under the guidance of the late Mr. B. 
Chandler and the Rev. J. Ogle, in order to avoid the 
threatened loss of employment in Sherborne. The new 
Company substituted silk weaving for throwing, and happily 
turned the tide. After twenty-one years working, the mill 
was purchased by Messrs. A. R. Wright and Co., in 1907, 
as previously stated. As a matter of fact, the original 
Westbury mill is no longer used for the purposes of the silk 
trade, which now flourishes in a large building erected by the 
Willmotts about 1840 on the opposite side of the road. The 
old mill, which has a picturesque garden alongside the river, 
now serves as a builder's warehouse and workshops. 

The foregoing notes necessarily relate only to Sherborne 
and its offshoots ; but Canon Mayo has described in S. and D. 
N. and Q. (Vol. XIV., pp. 289 and 329) the history of a 
similar undertaking at Gillingham, Dorset, from the time of 
its foundation in 1769. 



II. DOMESTIC ECONOMICS IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 

Among the collection of Sherborne papers is a parcel of 
receipted bills of various dates between 1773 and 1800, some 
of which relate to the silk mills and others to the household 
expenditure of the Willmott family. From these bills and 



86 THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 

from the account books it is possible to gather some first- 
hand information as to the incidents of daily life in a country 
town during that period, and as to the cost of necessaries 
and certain articles of luxury. It is not practicable, 
however, to discuss or print in these pages any considerable 
number of the documents in question, but it may be useful 
to comment upon a selection from them. All the names 
are those of inhabitants of Sherborne, except when the 
contrary is stated. The earlier portion of the local trades- 
men's bills are written on plain sheets of paper, sometimes 
on mere scraps, and it is not until February, 1789, that I notice 
a printed heading on an account. In that month Robert 
Winter, a mercer, used a bill-head impressed from an 
engraved steel plate, not from printer's type. 



COMMUNICATIONS. 

The ordinary method of conveying merchandise to and 
from Sherborne was by wagon, the journey between that 
town and London occupying about four days. The earliest 
carrier mentioned is John Andrews, but he was dilatory and 
was not employed by Willmott after 1773, when Edward 
Hatherell's wagons began to carry the baskets of silk along 
the London road. In 1777 Hatherell died and was succeeded 
by his daughter Sarah until she gave up the business in 1783. 
Subsequent owners of lines of wagons to London were : 
Chafie and Pittard in 1783 ; they started on the homeward 
journey from the Swan at Holborn Bridge. Andrews, also in 
1783 ; he started from the Saracen's Head in Friday Street, 
London, and his bill for August in that year w r as 10 9s. 
Whitmarsh, Brown and Burge succeeded Andrews in May, 
1785. In 1799 Adams's wagons were used. In 1802-S 
Woolcott's wagons carried the silk. 

The carriers between Bristol and Sherborne were as 
follows : Robert Oke, 1775 ; Hart, 1782 ; Wiltshire, 1785 ; 
John Beale, 1788-91. 



THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 87 

For more speedy travelling to London the stage coach, 
sometimes spoken of as " the machine," was used, but there 
was apparently only one such service available in 1780-85, 
when Lilley's Taunton coach passed through Sherborno on 
three days in the week. 

Chaise hire to Weymouth and home on the next day cost 
1 lls. 6d. ; the same to Dorchester and back on one day, 
1 Is. 6d. ; " chaise airings " were 3s. 6d. each, and a saddle 
horse to Dorchester and back, 5s., as may be seen in Beale's 
and Oke's bills for 1775 and 1788-9 respectively. 

During a visit to London William Willmott bought a 
carriage from John Sargent, of Great Queen Street, a district 
which is still favoured by coach-builders. The account runs 
thus : 

s. d. 

1782. June 8, To a new post chaise 63 

To a new pair of harness, with hames, collars, polished 

bitts and a postillion saddle.... ... ... ... 990 



72 9 

The new vehicle necessitated a further outlay of 7 19s. 
for chaise and servant taxes, no inconsiderable item. In 
the same year a horse " warranted sound " was acquired 
for 8 18s. 6d., and afterwards " a little horse bought for 
Jack W." (the eldest son) was added to the stable at the price 
of 3 3s. Willmott made many journeys on horseback to 
Chard and other outlying silk-houses, notwithstanding the 
additional purchase of " a new one-horse chaise complete " 
from George Hewlett in 1784, at a cost of 29 8s. 



EDUCATION. 

Although several of the sons and grandsons of William 
Willmott were educated, as already mentioned, at Sherborne 
School, there are neither documents nor payments which 



88 THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 

can be identified with that foundation. There are, however, 
many references to other schools, of which the best known 
is undoubtedly the old grammar school at Crewkerne. An 
account book for July, 1781, contains an entry of 4 4s. paid 
to the master, Mr. Ashe, presumably for a half term only. 
Then we have an original bill signed by (the Rev.) Robert 
Ashe for a term's fees from June, 1783, for John Willmott. 
The half-year's board and tuition amounted to 8 8s., and 
the total to 10 15s. Some of the extras and the vouchers 
attached to the account read very quaintly to-day.* 
Another school for boys was that kept by the Rev. J. Toogood, 
of Sherborne, who taught John and Thomas Willmott between 
1786 and '88, The fee for board and tuition in the last 
named year was 13 13s. for one pupil for the half-year. 
Among the books which were used I notice Sallust, Virgil, 
Terence, and Hugo Grotius. There were other private schools 
in Sherborne, one being carried on by Charles King, a writing 
master, who charged 1 4s. p*r annum for instruction, and 
Is. 6d. weekly tor dinners supplied. Another son went 
during 1791-92 to Philip Ahier's school at St. Manelier, 
Jersey, where several Dorset families educated their boys ; 
the fees for boaiders were 16 16s. per annum. 

The cost of the girls' education sometimes exceeded that 
of their brothers. Mrs. Morris, of Weymouth. who was 
teaching two daughters of Willmott in 1785-86, charged 
19 19s. yearly for each pupil, plus the additional accomplish- 
ments then in vogue. The bills from Mrs. S. Warwick, of 
Sherborne, show that her fee was 14 14s. per annum tor 
board and tuition in 1789. 

Dancing was taught by Mr. Peironnet, and music by 
Thomas Hyde. The latter sold to WiUmott in 1786 " a three 
stop harpsichord of Kirkman's " for 29 8s. 



* A history of Crewkerne School was written in 1899 by our member, 
the Rev. R. G. Bartelot. 



THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 89 

It would appear from a memorandum on the back of a 
letter stamped 1790 that the education of the three daughters 
cost 520, or thereabouts. 



CLOTHING. 

There are many accounts relative to wearing apparel of all 
kinds, from boots to headgear. I will transcribe two examples 
of a tailor's bill of the period, to illustrate the current fashion 
for a well-dressed inhabitant of Sherborne. It must, however, 
be confessed that Willmott did not buy his best clothes in 
his native town, but went to London or elsewhere for them. 

1781 July 10th. To Benedict Shield (address unknown). 

s. d. 

A superfine cloth coat with solid plated buttons, ... 3 3 

A fine dimity waistcoat, double-breasted and fringed, 16 
A sattin stript waistcoat, double-breasted and silk 

linings, 1 10 



590 

The second account reads thus 

1782. 5 June. To John Boucher (Leadenhall Street, London). 

s. d. 

Making a light cloth coat, a double-breasted silk waist- 
coat and black silk breeches ; trim'gs. to d. ... 1 18 

2| yards sup. cloth, at 19s. ... ... ... ... 2 5 1 

1|- yards rich fig'd silk, at 15s. ... ... ... ... 1 8 1 

2 yards rich sattin Florentine, at 12s. ... ... 1 10 

Silk serge to the waistcoat forebodys, . . . ... ... 50 

Shalloon to the back, ... ... ... ... ... 16 

14 solid plated shank buttons,... ... ... ... 60 



7 13 9 



I regret that a man's incompetence prevents me from 
quoting parallel examples of the ladies' adornments as set 
forth in the milliners' bills. 



90 THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 

HOUSEHOLD MATTERS. 

There is very little information as to articles of food. This 
may be due to the fact that for many years a weekly sum of 
five guineas was devoted to housekeeping expenses, which 
would presumably be defrayed in ready money and would 
not appear among the accounts. Among the stray items 
are lump sugar at 8d. and butter at 7Jd. the pound, both 
in 1776. Nevertheless there is no lack of details concerning 
purchases of alcohol in almost every form, as might be 
expected in Georgian times. A pipe of port, costing about 
42 in the 'eighties, was stored in the cellar at Westbury on 
more than one occasion. Another favourite beverage was 
X ale brewed at Cerne by Thomas Coombs, a hogshead of 
which represented 75s. in the year 1775, and 70s. in 1782. 
On the other hand, tobacco is scarcely ever mentioned ; 
I noted only one instance of its use, and the quantity was 
quite trifling. 

Although some domestic articles show little difference in 
cost when compared with modern prices, the wages of maid 
servants were then on a much lower scale. A cook of five 
years' standing received six guineas per annum, with one 
guinea for tea, in 1789, and another maid was paid 4 10s. 
without the solace of tea -money. 

The bills from Sampson Boys, surgeon and apothecary, are 
among the longest in the series, but apparently they do not 
include his fees for advice or treatment. The earliest begins in 
1774, and proves that a surprising quantity of medicine was 
supplied to Willmott's family, almost daily, in fact. Dr. 
\ Gumming and Dr. Johnson are mentioned in 1775 ; presumably 
they were physicians in Sherborne. An account book records 
that Boys inoculated the household in January, 1782, during 
one of the periodical visitations of small -pox. John Melliar 
was a later surgeon whose drugs were frequently in demand 
throughout 1792-94. On the back of a letter dated 27 Nov., 
1779. are three curious recipes for the cure of the ague, the 
itch, and a sore throat. 



THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 91 

Lighting was entirely by candles or rushlights, the latter 
being used in the night. The candle bill for the winter months 
averaged about 40, but the greater portion of the supply was 
consumed, of course, in the silk mill. Coal cost about 2 2s. 
the load, the weight not being stated. Lamps were not 
used in the mill until 1800. 

I find purchases of prints from John Boydell, in Cheapside, 
and of table silver and condiments from ether London shops ; 
also an Irish lottery ticket dated 1786, and a reference to a 
similar ticket which was bought for 16 12s., both apparently 
were unlucky. 



THE POST OFFICE. 

A few notes on postal matters may not be out of place. 
Envelopes being then unknown, each letter-sheet bears on 
the back the amount of the postage written in ink, together 
with the date stamp and the address. The postage between 
Sher borne and London for a single letter (that is, one eheet 
not exceeding an ounce in weight) was 4d. in the years 1776 
to 1784. In the last named year the charge was increased 
to 5d., and again to 7d. on letters of 1799. The postage 
was alwaj's based on distance, thus, from Chard to Sherborne 
was 3d. and from Jersey od. The recipient of a letter almost 
invariably paid the postage ; in one case an irate silk-weaver 
debits Willmott with the cost of " three unnecessary letters " 
as a warning. As a matter of fact, the proportion of prepaid 
correspondence is less than three per cent, of the whole, the 
post office allowing either course to be adopted. It would 
seem, therefore, that the symbols used to indicate prepay- 
ment are not without interest, since they are " postage 
stamps " in the literal sense of the phrase which now denotes 
an adhesive label. Two varieties of such symbols occur on 
our correspondence The first, which \\as used in 1786, is 
a triangular stamp in black ink bearing the words " Paid 
penny post," with sundry letters in the centre ; the latter 



92 THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 

may be for identification purposes. The stamp is not dated. 
The penny \*as charged for one stage, the length of which 
was undefined. 

The second prepaid mark is found in 1793 and in 1800. 
It is a large circular stamp in red ink (about twice the size 
of the ordinary date stamp) bearing the word " paid," 
together with the date of posting. There are also two forms 
of date stamp. Until May, 1787, the day and month only 
are impressed, but afterwards the last two numerals of the 
year are added. 



FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS. 

The method by \vhich the requisite amount o small 
currency was obtained for the payment of the workpeople, 
who were numbered by the hundred, deserves a passing 
notice. In the middle of the eighteenth century the in- 
habitants of country towns were not able to avail themselves 
of the services of a local banker, and consequently had to rely 
on their own resources. At Westbury mill, and probably 
elsewhere, the procedure was ?s follows. When a consignment 
of raw silk had been " thrown " and returned to the owner 
it was always the custom for the throwster to obtain payment 
by drawing a bill of exchange on his customer, at thirty days 
sight, in favour of some person who happened to be possessed 
of a sufficient quantity of current coin. This individual 
" changed the draft," as the phrase was, at a uniform rate of 
discount of 5 per cent, per annum, and obtained the proceeds 
of the draft through an agent in London. Two of the trades- 
men, Robert Winter, a mercer, and Benjamin Vowell, a wine 
merchant, were the chief sources of supply, but the clergy, 
the attorneys and the doctors of Sherborne occasionally 
helped to provide the gold, silver, and copper for wages at the 
silk mill. Thus the money so expended continued to circulate 
in the town, week by week. At a comparatively early date 
Sherborne was fortunate in having a resident banker in 



THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 93 

the person of Simon Pretor, who also filled the the office of 
postmaster. His name occurs in 1786 in connection with a 
transaction such as I have just described, and it is evident 
that in the next year William Willmott kept an account with 
the " Sherborne and Dorsetshire Bank," although the old 
method of procuring wages-money still continued. 

Simon Pretor came to Sherborne from Lyme Regis in the 
middle ot the eighteenth century and established the Bank 
in his house in Long-street. His partners were his three 
sons-in-law, Richard Pew, Samuel Whitty, and Samuel Gill, 
the firm being known as Pretor, Pew and Whitty (cf. 
Proceedings vol. XXIX p. 83). After the death of Richard 
Pew without issue, Samuel Whitty took into partnership 
his son-in-law Benjamin Chandler, the style then being 
altered to Pretor and Chandler. The firm remained un- 
changed until 1850, when the National Provincial Bank 
absorbed the old institution and continued the business in 
the original house. Mr. S. Whitty Chandler, to whom the 
Field Club is indebted for the collection of Sherborne 
documents, is a direct descendant of Simon Pretor. 



LAW. 

There are several attorney's, or, as we should now say, 
solicitor's bills for law costs. Samuel Foot acted as the 
adviser of William Willmott in 1769, and John Foot was 
Thomas Willmott 's lawyer in 1794. A quaint feature of 
these bills is the inclusion of sundry items for oats and barley 
supplied to the client, and entered alongside the fee for 
preparing a conveyance or a lease. 



By Sir DANIEL MORRIS, K.C.M.G., M.A., D.Sc., D.C.L., 

F.L.S. 




IN a study of the Trees and Shrubs in cultivation 
along the South Coast of England it is 
recognised how largely the Southern hemi- 
sphere has been drawn upon for some of the 
richest of the botanical and horticultural 
treasures of our parks and gardens. Among 
these possibly the most interesting are those 
of Australian origin. 

Australia, as is well known, is a vast 
island continent in the southern hemi- 
sphere. It is about three -fourths the size of Europe. 
Amongst geologists it is regarded as presenting, probably, 
the oldest land surface on the globe, and both its native 



AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 95 

animals and plants are practically unique in their character 
and of great scientific interest. 



AUSTRALIAN CLIMATE. 

The western half of the Australian continent is a vast 
plateau, with stretches of sandy deserts possessing an arid 
climate. The eastern half is more undulating and less dry, 
with rivers, harbours, and a richer fauna and flora. The 
outstanding feature of the Australian climate is no doubt 
its comparative dryness. About two-fifths of the continent 
receives less than an average of ten inches ot rain in the year. 
The rest may be considered as fairly well watered, having a 
general fall of from 30 to 40 inches. In regard to temperature, 
the general law is that the climate of Australia is milder than 
that of corresponding latitudes in the northern hemisphere. 
As the seasons are reversed, we are not surprised to learn that 
the coldest month in Australia is July. We may assume 
that the southern half of Australia has a mean temperature 
ranging from 45deg. to Gldeg., and the other half from 62deg. 
to SOdeg. In comparing the former figures with those of the 
southern counties of England, we find as the result of thirty- 
five years' observations by the Meteorological Office that 
the average yearly temperature along our coast, say, from 
Plymouth to Eastbourne, is very nearly 50.4deg. ; while the 
average annual rainfall is twenty-four inches. This would 
give a somewhat approximate resemblance between the 
climate of our southern coast and certain portions of New 
South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. In the mountains 
of the latter the winters are possibly as severe as anything in 
southern England. Owing to the relatively warm ocean 
currents setting into the English Channel the air along the 
south coast is probably the softest in Britain, and when to 
this is added a moderate rainfall and an abundant sunshine 
we have a possible key to the favourable growth of sub- 
tropical plants from Australia and elsewhere. 



96 AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRTJBS. 

INTERESTING LOCAL GARDENS. 

As regards Australian plants, we are fortunate in this 
neighbourhood in being in close touch with several very 
interesting gardens. There are two I might specially mention 
where Australian trees and shrubs have been under careful 
experimental cultivation for many years. The first of these 
are the well-known gardens attached to Abbotsbury Castle. 
They contain one of the largest private collections of sub- 
tropical plants to be found, if we except Devon and Cornwall, 
in any part of the British Isles. Here, during the last hundred 
years, successive Earls of Ilchester have brought together 
and cultivated with singular success the most attractive 
representatives of the floras of temperate and sub-tropical 
countries, showing what thoughtful selection and wide and 
intimate knowledge of plants are capable of producing. 
Speaking of these gardens in a recent letter received from so 
distinguished an authority as Sir Ray Lankester, he says 
" the Abbotsbury gardens are about the most interesting I 
have ever seen." In a catalogue of 115 pages prepared by the 
Dowager Countess of Ilchester in 1899, there are recorded 
about three thousand names of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous 
plants from all parts of the world which were then growing 
in the gardens. I can make no attempt to describe them 
here. I must confine attention within the limits of my 
subject that is to trees and shrubs of Australian origin. 

Another interesting garden, but of very modest dimensions 
as compared with Abbotsbury, is that established in recent 
years at the Old Orchard, at Broadstone, by that illustrious 
man of science, the late Dr. Alfred Russel Wallace, O.M. 
Although since his death it has not been found possible to 
maintain the garden in anything like its former high standard 
of cultivation, it still contains a large number of rare sub- 
tropical trees and shrubs. I have a list of about forty species 
I made on the occasion of a visit to the garden, by permission 
of Mr. W. G. Wallace, early in January, 1916. There are a 
few interesting sub-tropical plants to be met with at Cuffnells, 



AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 97 

near Lyndhurst, the residence of Mr. Reginald Hargreaves, 
and in the public and private gardens in and around Bourne- 
mouth there are some Australian trees well deserving of 
notice. 

TYPES OF AUSTRALIAN VEGETATION. 

In Australia, according to Maiden, there are three grand 
types of vegetation, viz., the brilliant flowering plants of the 
sandy plains of Western Australia, the luxurious vegetation 
of eastern Queensland and New South Wales, and the alpine 
plants of Tasmania. The rain forests of Western Tasmania, 
with their almost impenetrable masses of beech woods, are 
very remarkable when compared w r ith the 'general features 
of Australian vegetation. Certain families of plants are 
almost entirely confined to Australia, especially the 
phyllodineous acacias, and the numerous gum trees. The 
latter, numbering in all 230 species, are to be met with every- 
where. The acacias are still more numerous and reach a 
total of 412 species. Again, the adaptability of the Australian 
trees to a dry climate is wonderful ; and in this respect, taking 
into account the variety of ways in which the destructive 
effects of a scorching sun and parched soil are guarded against, 
the Australian flora is without parallel the world over. These 
adaptations do not indicate, as is supposed, a primitive 
origin, but are to be accepted as evidence of high specialisation 
of a singularly interesting character. 



GUM TREES IN GENERAL. 

Among the most notable of the Australian trees grown 
out-of-doors in this country, the gum trees (Eucalyptus) 
easily come first. They belong to the myrtle family and thus 
are allied to the common myrtle of our gardens. They are 
called gum trees from the fact that they yield a resinous gum 
from their trunks. A saccharine substance resembling 



98 AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 

manna is obtained from one species, and a cool, refreshing 
drink is yielded by the cider gum of Tasmania. The young 
branches and leaves of most gum trees are more or less covered 
\vith pellucid dots marking the position of oil glands. It is 
the oil in the leaves that gives the Eucalypts their distinctive 
odour. The name Eucalpytus is derived from eu, well, and 
kalypio, to cover, as with a lid. This is in reference to the 
flower. Before expansion the stamens are covered with a 
cap which afterwards falls off in one piece in the shape of a 
lid or cover. It is worthy of remark that although the 
largest of trees, reaching to a height of over three hundred 
feet, the gum trees have very small, even minute, seeds. The 
flowers are produced in the axils of the leaves either singly 
or in clusters varying from three to fifteen flowers. The calyx 
is of a firm texture and separates into two parts, the upper 
part, as already mentioned, which resembles a lid or cover, 
falls away in a single piece, while the lower part is persistent 
and bears very numerous stamens forming a fringe round its 
summit. The majority of the flowers of Eucalyptus have 
white and cream-coloured stamens. Those with very showy 
crimson or yellow stamens are mostly confined to Western 
and tropical Australia. In one instance the iron bark has 
sometimes pink and sometimes crimson stamens. In 
Western Australia there are gum trees with bright yellow 
stamens, and others with beautiful red stamens, while one 
has orange -coloured stamens. In the thick and woody walls 
of the capsules of Eucalyptus we have a remarkable provision 
for protection against desiccation during the long periods of 
drought which occur in Australia. As, however, no rain falls 
when the trees are in flower the pollen is quite unprotected, 
and the numerous stamens, often a hundred or more, are 
completely exposed. There is a further remarkable 
adaptation to environment in the case of the leaves. The 
leaf-blades in adult trees are not set horizontally like those 
of the ordinary broad-leaved trees in this country ; but by 
the twisting of their stalks, they are set vertically. This is a 
provision to lessen evaporation in the dry climate of Australia, 



AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 99 

since the narrow edge and not the broad surface of the leaf 
is directed towards the sun. A further peculiarity noted in 
Eucalyptus trees is that it usually takes at least twelve months 
for the flower buds to reach maturity and another year for 
the fruit to mature. There is little doubt that for the most 
part the flowers are fertilized by honey-feeding birds. The 
seeds are retained and remain quite fertile for several years 
in their woody capsules, which in some cases open their valves 
only when exposed to forest fires. Seedlings usually spring 
up in consequence in burnt-over lands. Again, many species 
when killed by fire rapidly regenerate by suckers from the 
roots. 

The formation of adventitious shoots or suckers is character- 
istic of all Australian gum trees. It is noticeable what a 
great contrast exists between the leaves of these suckers and 
the adult leaves ; it is more marked than anything we see in 
trees in this country. Where large masses of Eucalypts of a 
shrubby character cover the country, they are usually known 
as " Mallee." In these there is usually a knotted root-stock 
from which many stems spring. It is seldom that any 
specimen in a " gumscrub " attains the dignity of a tree. 
When it is proposed to clear mallee for agricultural purposes 
the whole is sometimes crushed down by means of heavy 
rollers, and when dry it is afterwards burned. When similar 
shrubby growth is composed of acacia it is called " Mulga." 



EUCALYPTUS OIL AND TIMBER. 

The bark, resin, and oils of Eucalyptus trees are well-known 
commercial products. Eucalyptus oil is described as 
probably the most powerful antiseptic of its class, especially 
when it is old, as ozone is formed in it on exposure to the air. 
It does not, however, serve as a substitute for quinine in 
malaria. Further, in large doses it acts as an irritant, and 
is a marked nervous depressant. The oil has acquired an 
extraordinary popular reputation in influenza ; but there is 



100 AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 

no evidence to show that it has any marked influence upon this 
disease, or that its use tends to lessen the chance of infection. 
The timbers yielded for the most part by species of Eucalyp- 
tus are the most valuable of the forest resources of Australia. 
They are remarkable for their durability. Wooden piles 
have been known to have remained perfectly sound after 
exposure to sea-water for over forty years. There are also 
several extremely valuable soft timbers, such as red cedar, 
silky oak, beech, a variety of teak, and several pines. Jarrah 
timber from Western Australia, on account of its hardness 
and durability, has been used for paving London streets. 



CULTIVATION OF EUCALYPTS. 

Several species of Eucalyptus have been cultivated in sub- 
tropical countries such as North Africa, the Cape, California, 
Chile, and the northern and southern shores of the Mediter- 
ranean, where the conditions have generally proved most 
favourable for them. In the British Isles, also, numerous 
attempts have been made to acclimatise Eucalyptus trees. 
At no place have more species been attempted to be grown 
in the open air than at Abbotsbury. I have a list of forty 
species that have been tried there. While a good number 
have been killed in exceptionally severe winters, such as those 
of 1907 and 1908, there are at least a dozen species that have 
proved comparatively hardy. These I shall hope to discuss 
later. A remarkable plantation of Eucalypts, perhaps the 
largest in this country, consisting of about nine hundred 
trees, was made by the late Mr. Bateman at Brightlingsea 
Hall in Essex. The trees were in full flower in December, 
1906, when visited by Mr. H. J. Elwes, and many were covered 
with capsules of different ages. A self-sown seedling was 
noticed about 12ft. high at three years old. At Broadstone 
Dr. Russel Wallace established about sixty Eucalpytus trees 
(principally E. Gunnii) at the Old Orchard at Broadstone. 
Most of these are still flourishing and producing flowers and 



AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 101 

seed. In Cornwall, at Menabilly and Falmouth, there are 
many Eucalyptus trees of notable size. In the neighbour- 
hood of Bournemouth about half-a-dozen species are met 
with in the Public Gardens, but only one (E. Gunnii), in a 
private garden, is in any way remarkable for its size. This, 
according to Mr. Backhouse, is about 30ft. high, with a girth 
of 48 inches. Owing to the widely different appearance 
assumed by individual trees at different periods of growth 
it is extremely difficult to distinguish from leaves alone the 
species of Eucalyptus under cultivation in this country. 
In most young plants the leaves are opposite, but they 
generally become alternate as the plants become older. In 
adult plants the leaves are quite different. In most species 
the seed-leaves, the juvenile leaves, and the adult leaves have 
each their own distinctive character. 

According to the researches of Mr. H. J. Elwes, F.R.S., and 
Professor Augustine Henry, as recorded in their great work, 
" The Trees of Great Britain and Ireland," the number 
of species of Eucalyptus under cultivation in this country 
that have attained large size and regularly bear flowers and 
fruit is comparatively small, probably not more than a dozen 
in all. These are chiefly from the highlands of Tasmania, 
where the climate more nearly approximates that of the South 
of England. 



SOME HARDY EUCALYPTUS. 

E. globulus. Blue Gum. Native of Tasmania, Victoria, 
and New South Wales. This was introduced to Europe in 
the early part of the nineteenth century, and was first 
cultivated out-of-doors at Naples. The blue gum is perhaps 
not absolutely hardy in any part of Britain or Ireland, but 
it may survive many years and attain large dimensions in 
favourable localities. In young stages of growth, on account 
of its ornamental character, it is met with in gardens in almost 
every part of the country. In exposed positions the trees 



102 AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 

grow too fast for their roots, and are usually blown down by 
strong winds. A remarkably handsome blue gum at Penmere, 
near Falmouth, measured by Mr. Elwes in 1911, was 95ft. 
in height by 7ft. 9in. in girth. It was supposed to have been 
planted between 1864 and 1867. A tree growing at Torquay 
measured in 1910 53ft. by 5ft. at twenty years old. There 
are numerous trees of the blue gum in private gardens in 
Bournemouth, but none of large size. At Hinton Admiral 
vicarage the Rev. C. O. S. Hatton reports a young tree seven 
years old winch is 30ft. high with a girth of 24in. 

At one time the blue gum was regarded as valuable for 
planting in marshy districts as a preventive of malarial fever. 
Experiments in this direction were undertaken on the Roman 
Campagna in the hope that the rapid growth of the blue gum 
would dry up the marshy lands and destroy by means of the 
aroma of their leaves all miasmatic emanations. The results 
proved disappointing, and for the reason recently shown by 
Ross and Manson, that malaria is produced not by emanations 
from a marshy soil, but by the presence of an organism in 
the blood communicated from man to man by mosquitoes. 
The soundness of this view has been abundantly confirmed 
by the results obtained in such fever -stricken localities as the 
Isthmus of Panama and elsewhere. It is admitted that the 
planting of a fast-growing tree like the blue gum may in- 
directly have been of benefit by drying up pools in which 
mosquitoes breed, and by forming a screen which stopped their 
flight. Beyond this, it is improbable that the blue gum 
possesses any value not equally shared by other fast-growing 
trees. Further, the wholesale planting of the blue gum in 
sub-tropical countries, except in some districts in California, 
has not been rewarded by the production of serviceable 
timber. 

E. Gunnii. Tasmania Cider Gum. Also found in Victoria 
and New South Wales. This was named by its discoverer, 
Sir Joseph Hooker, in honour of Mr. Gunn. In this species 
the leaves have scarcely any pungent odour, and on that 
account it is said that the foliage is liable to be browsed by 



AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 103 

cattle and sheep. The cider gum is interesting as being the 
first Australian tree that was cultivated in the open-air in 
England. Reference has already been made to the planta- 
tions comprising nine hundred trees of E. Gunnii, established 
at Brightlingsea and to a smaller collection at Broadstone. 
An article by Dr. Russel Wallace on this species appeared in 
the " Garden," Ixi. (1902). It may be regarded as quite 
hardy in the southern and eastern counties, although 
occasionally some of its branches are cut by severe frosts. 
Even when its top is injured it usually throws out abundant 
shoots at ground level. [A photograph of a fine cider gum 
at Brightlingsea, 50ft. high with a girth of 4ft., and 25 years 
old was shown.] A well-grown tree of E. Gunnii flourishes at 
Abbotsbury. It measures 70ft. in height with a girth of 5ft. 
At Marlborough Lodge, Bournemouth, Mr. C. H. Greaves 
has a tree 3()ft. high with a girth of 4ft. 

E. W hitting ehamensis. This is said to have been raised 
from seed brought by the late Lord Salisbury from Tasmania. 
It is closely allied to E .Gunnii, and by some authors is 
included under that species. It is said by Dr. Henry to differ 
usually from typical E. Gunnii in the absence of the glaucous 
bloom on the branches and leaves of the adult plant. The 
leaves are lanceolate, longer in proportion to their width than 
those of E. Gunnii, and never ovate as in that species. The 
fruit is slightly larger than in E. Gunnii, urn-shaped, with the 
rim overhanging the contracted part of the fruit just below 
it. Dr. Henry ventures the opinion that E. W hitting ehamensis 
may prove to be a hybrid with E. Gunnii as one of the parents, 
while the urn-shaped fruit suggests the probability of E. 
urnigera being the other parent, though the tree at Whittinge- 
hame does not resemble the latter in foliage. This re- 
markable gum tree, now more than sixty years old, is growing 
at Whittingehame, the seat of the Right Hon. Arthur Balfour, 
M.P., in East Lothian. The locality is three miles and a half 
from the ?ea and 384ft. altitude. The subsoil is gravel. In 
February, 1904, when measured by Mr. H. J. Elwes, the 
Whittingehame tree was 60ft. to 63ft. high, with a girth of 



104 AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 

13ft. 5in. at 2ft. from the ground, where it divides into three 
stems, which afterwards divide into six main limbs, of which 
the largest is over 5ft. in girth. It is stated that the seedlings 
raised from E. Whittingehamensis are equally hardy, and 
withstand frosts that kill other species. At Abbotsbury there 
is a specimen of this very interesting species now five years 
old and measuring 30ft. in height. I have also received 
specimens from trees at Wisley Gardens and Myddelton 
House, Waltham Cross. 

E. acervula. Swamp or Red Gum. Australia and 
Tasmania. This differs from E. Gunnii in its larger size and 
in the branchlets, leaves and flowers and fruit being never 
glaucous. Leaves larger than in E. Gunnii. This is not a 
common species. There are three trees at Menabilly in 
Cornwall. There is one moderately large tree growing on the 
Horse Shoe Common at Bournemouth, named by Dr. Henry. 
It does not appear in the list of the Abbotsbury Gardens. 

E. Muelleri. Mueller's Red Gum. This is confined to 
Tasmania, where it usually grows on high, bleak lands. The 
young branches are reddish with prominent oil glands. Leaves 
are alternate, thick and firm in texture. Flower-buds sessile, 
with the calyx tube angled and the operculum tuberculate. 
This species is said to be rather rare in cultivation. There 
is a specimen 15ft. high on the Horse Shoe Common at Bourne- 
mouth, and there were two trees 4.0ft. high flourishing at 
Abbotsbury and bearing flower-buds in 1911. The latter 
stood in an exposed situation, and are considered very 
hardy. A well-grown tree at Derreen, co. Kerry, in 1910, 
measured 63ft. by 4ft. It was then thirty-six years old. 

Eucalyptus cocci f era. Mountain Peppermint. In the 
mountains of Tasmania this reaches a height of 20ft. It was 
discovered in 1840, and in 1851 a plant, eleven years old, was 
growing in Veitch's Nursery at Exeter. According to Elwes 
and Henry this " is the hardiest and most successful of all 
species of Eucalyptus in Britain." It is so named from the 
whitish bloom on the branches and leaves, resembling the 
waxy secretion of some species of coccus. The leaves are 



AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 105 

about 2i inches long, with a long slender curved point. The 
fruits are half an inch long. A remarkable tree of this at 
Powderham Castle, Devonshire, in 1911, was 80ft. high with 
a girth of 16ft. The spread of the horizontal branches was 
90ft. It is probably over seventy years old. At Cuffnells, 
near Lyndhurst, there are trees 35ft. high, from which Mr. 
Hargreaves sent me some fruits a short time ago. At 
Abbotsbury there are many specimens which are hardy and 
thriving. 

E. cordata. Tasmanian Heart-leaved Gum. This is con- 
fined to Tasmania, where it attains a height of 30ft. The 
leaves, as the name denotes, are heart-shaped, almost orbicu- 
lar and glaucous on both sides, with crenate margins. At 
Abbotsbury this species is thriving surviving the severest 
winter and freely producing seed from which seedlings are 
raised. In the neighbourhood of Bournemouth several trees 
were in flower from December to February 1915-16. There 
were also specimens in flower about the same time at 
Broadstone. 

E. pulverulenta . Australian Heart-leaved Gum. Native 
of southern mountains of New South Wales. This species is 
not easily distinguished from E. cordata. Usually it has 
thinner and smoother leaves, and their margins are not 
crenate. The operculum of the flower is conical and long, 
while that of E. cordata is shorter and slightly convex. 
Further, the fruits are smaller with more protruding valves. 
It grows well in two localities in Ireland. I lately received 
a small specimen from Mr. E. A. Bowles from Myddelton 
House, and a typical leaf from Professor Henry. 

E. urnigera. Urn-bearing Gum. Native of Tasmania. 
This is by no means a handsome tree, often being bare of 
branches. It is also devoid of glaucous bloom on the branches 
and leaves. At Abbotsbury this is considered to be one of 
the hardiest species. Young plants have passed through 
three severe winters without injury and are now growing freely. 
There are several trees, the largest of which is 50ft. high by 
5ft. in girth. I have received specimens of this species from 



106 AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 

Mr. Hargreaves, Cuffnells, near Lyndhurst ; from Mr. E. A. 
Bowles, of Myddelton House, Middlesex ; and the Royal 
Horticultural Society's Gardens at Wisley. 

E. vernicosa. Dwarf Gum. Native of Tasmania. Usually 
this is an erect shrub with smooth bark and small leaves in. 
to 2in. long, equally green and shining as if varnished on both 
sides hence its specific name. In its native country this 
grows on the summits of the higher mountains. In Scotland 
it is reported to have never been injured by frost, and forms a 
beautiful shrub and not developing into a tree. Mr. Kemp- 
shall states that it has passed recent winters at Abbotsbury 
without injury. Specimens of this, by the kindness of Miss 
Balfour, were received from Whittingehame, East Lothian. 

E. paucijlora. Weeping Gum. Native of Australia and 
Tasmania. This is a handsome, small tree with long 
pendulous branches and producing an abundance of flowers. 
It is said to equal E. cocci/era in hardiness. A tree 16ft. 
high was killed at Abbotsbury in 1908. 

E. viminalis. Manna or White Gum. Australia and Tas- 
mania. Usually a tree of moderate size, but occasionally 
much larger. The only large specimens occur in the South 
of Ireland. Smaller specimens are reported from Devon and 
Cornwall. Young plants were killed at Abbotsbury in 1905. 
In Australia it produces mellitose manna which encrusts the 
stem like a coating of white sugar. 



PROPAGATION OF EUCALYPTS. 

Before passing to other Australian trees and shrubs it may be 
useful to add a few words as to the propagation of Eucalypts 
and the selection of species likely to prove successful on 
the South Coast. Where well-ripened seed is abundantly 
produced it might be sown in the open ground in April. This 
was successfully adopted by Mr. Bate man at Bright lingsea. 
The seedlings attained a height of about a foot in the first 
year and 3ft. to 6ft. in the second year. On the other hand, 



AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 107 

imported seed in small quantity might be more economically 
raised under glass. Mr. Birkbeck is quoted by Messrs. Ehves 
and Henry as recommending the following : Pot the seedlings 
when 2in. to Sin. high ; re -pot often, as the plants never do 
well after their roots are pot-bound. Give them bone-meal, 
keep under glass until 3ft. high, and plant out in good soil in 
May and June when they are about two years old. Keep 
them well-staked, as they are easily blown down ; but keep 
the fastenings loose, as the trees increase quickly in girth. 
None of the Eucalypts do well with overhanging shade. 
Mr. Bateman laid great stress on this point, and it was borne 
out by his success in large plantations of E. Gunnii. In 
very exposed situations shelter from strong south-westerly 
winds is necessary. 

SELECTION OF SPECIES. 

As to the selection of species, it may be gathered that as E. 
cocci f era, E. cor data, E. vernicosa, and E. urnigera are hardy 
and ornamental, and do not usually grow into very large trees ; 
they are well suited for garden cultivation. On the other 
hand E. Gunnii, E. W hitting ehamensis, E. acervula, and E. 
Muelleri, also hardy, are better suited as specimen trees or 
for belts and plantations. The blue gum (E. globulus), 
although ornamental, when quite young, on account of its 
comparative tenderness and untidy habit is not recommended 
where other species are avaiable. E. ficifolia, one of the 
most ornamental of all the eucalypts, with red flowers, 
has not succeeded, anywhere, out of doors in this countrj 7 . 
It flowers and fruits regularly in a conservatory at Abbotsbury. 



HARDY ACACIAS. 

The acacias or wattles include some fairly large trees, and 
also form an important portion of the scrub vegetation of 
Australia. The flowers, are small and collected in large 



108 AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 

numbers of yellow globular heads. The leaves in some 
species are twice or thrice pinnated, and present an elegant 
feathery appearance. In others, particularly those found 
in the drier parts of Australia, the true leaves are seldom or 
never developed. In their absence the leaf -stalk becomes 
flattened, and assumes a leaf-like appearance. These 
dilated leaf-stalks, termed phyllodes, fulfil the functions 
of leaves, and are singularly varied in form in the different 
species. 

Acacia dealbata. Silver Wattle. Australia and Tasmania. 
The leaves are hoary and pubescent, presenting a silvery 
appearance. There are ten to twenty pairs of pinnas, each 
bearing thirty to forty pairs of linear leaflets. The flower 
panicles are large with globose yellow heads Jin. in diameter. 
The pods are straight or flattened 2in. to Sin. long. The 
species is much cultivated on the Riviera for its flowers, which 
are sent in large quantities to this country in winter under 
the popular name of " Mimosa." It can be grown in the 
open-air along the South Coast of England. It has attained 
a height of 60ft. after seventeen years' growth from seed at 
Abbotsbury, where it produces flowers annually in great 
abundance, and good seed from which plants have been raised. 
A moderately large tree was in flower (in February) at 
Broadstone in the garden of the late Dr. Russell Wallace ; 
and a similar tree, also in flower, is flourishing in Alumdale 
Road, Alum Chine, Bournemouth. 

The bark of an allied species A . decurrens known as the 
Black or Green Wattle, is very rich in tannin. It is being 
largely grown in Natal and some parts of India as a tan-bark 
tree. 

A. melanoxylon. Black Wood. Australia and Tasmania. 
It is seldom that true leaves are produced on this species. 
Their place is taken by rather leathery phyllodes from 2Jin. 
to 4in. long. Very occasionally true pinnate leaves are present 
on young trees. Flower heads are minute, thirty to forty in 
a head. Pods linear, flat, 2in. to 4in. long. At Abbotsbury 
a tree planted twelve years ago was about 35ft. high, and 



AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 109 

seedlings have been raised from it. According to Mr. H. J. 
Ehves, in the South of France this is the best of the acacias 
for avenues, as it forms a tall tree of regular habit. It is 
completely naturalised in the Nilgiris. It is not common as 
an outdoor tree in this country. 

Besides the above, Mr. Kempshall reports the Golden 
Wattle (Acacia floribunda), the Broad-leaf Wattle (A. 
pycnantha), the Prickly Wattle (.4. verticillata), and the 
Blue-leaved Wattle (A. cyanophylla) as also growing at 
Abbotsbury. In Lady Ilchester's catalogue the names of 
twenty-six species of Acacia are entered as having existed 
there. A. Eiceana is a very handsome and distinct species 
with the graceful habit of a weeping willow. 

The wattle has been adopted as the floral emblem of 
Australia. It is represented on the national coat-of-arms 
and on postal notes ; it is also used for decorative purposes 
in a variety of ways. It is announced that when the war 
is over it is proposed to mark the burial-ground of the gallant 
Australians that fell in Gallipoli by planting the locality 
with wattle trees. Doubtless the wattles so planted will 
consist of species that are likely to be hardy, while at the 
same time notable for the beauty of their flowers. Something 
similar is proposed to be done in France to perpetuate the 
splendid services of the Canadians by planting maple trees. 
The maple leaf is the national emblem of Canada. 



CHANGE OF FLOWERING SEASON. 

As already mentioned, the seasons in Australia are 
reverse to those which obtain in the British Isles. Winter 
commences in Australia in April and ends in October. When 
we are expecting seasonable frost and snow at Christmas the 
Australians are enjoying warm summer weather with a 
temperature ranging from 60 degrees to 80 degrees Fahr. 
In the case of Australian trees and shrubs introduced to 
northern countries it is interesting to watch how they conduct 



110 AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 

themselves to meet new conditions. Do they still continue 
to flower according to the Australian season or is there a 
change noticeable to enable them to fit in with northern 
conditions ? In the case of plants grown under glass they may 
continue the Australian habit ; but plants grown out of doors 
and fully exposed to the weather appear gradually to adapt 
themselves to their environment and flower earlier or later. 
In this connection I may quote from the " Indian Forester " 
(VIII., 1882) General Morgan's account of the remarkable 
changes in the period of flowering of Acacia dealbata. He 
says in the Nilgiris the acacias flowered at first in October, 
which is the month in which the parents flower in Australia. 
In 1860 they began to flower in September ; in 1870 they 
flowered in August ; in 1878 in July, and in 1882 in June, 
which is the spring month in the Nilgiris corresponding with 
October in Australia. 

The observations here recorded by General Morgan do not 
appear to coincide with the general experience in regard to 
the flowering of the Silver Wattle in Europe. The change 
in the flowering occurs later and not earlier than in Australia. 
For instance, in the Riviera the wattles usually flower from 
December to February, \vhile out of doors in this more northern 
climate the flowering takes place still later, viz., from February 
to April. This change in the flowering of Australian and 
other plants from the southern hemisphere in order to adapt 
themselves to the climatic conditions of the northern hemis- 
phere is an interesting subject and deserves fuller investi- 
gation. 



OTHER AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 

Among other Australian trees and shrubs more or less 
hardy along the South Coast are several genera of Proteaceae 
which deserve mention. The more notable of these are 
Grevillea, Banksia, Hakea, and Telopea. None of these are 
native of any part of the northern hemisphere. In Australia 



AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. Ill 

nearly all the Proteaceae produce an abundance of nectar, 
and ths wood in some instances is valuable for cabinet 
making. 

GREVILLEAS. 

Grevillea robusta the " Silky Oak," is probably the most 
common species grown in greenhouses in this country on 
account of its very graceful foliage. It is also said to be the 
most easily grown of any trees of the genus. In sub-tropical 
countries where the tree is largely planted its bright orange 
panicles of flowers are very attractive. Grevillea rosmarini- 
folia has flourished out of doors at Abbotsbury. It has linear, 
rosemary-like leaves with red flowers ; the latter are disposed 
in terminal clusters, and appear in January and February. 
Perhaps the finest specimen in this country flowers, annually, 
in the garden of the late Dr. Russel Wallace at Broadstone. 
It is a singularly interesting plant. It has found a congenial 
spot under the shelter of a brick wall facing due south. The 
highest sprays reach to 7ft., while the spread of the branches 
from the w r all on to the lawn extends to a distance of 17ft. 
It is abundantly covered with red flowers. 

Two other species of Grevillea are mentioned in the 
Abbotsbury Catalogue, viz., G. longifolia, with pink flowers, 
often reaching a height of 12ft. to 15ft., and G. sulphured, 
with yellow flowers described as " one of the hardiest of all 
the Grevilleas." It is said to grow freely as a wall plant in 
the neighbourhood of London. 



BANKSIAS. 

The Banksias are named in honour of Sir Joseph Banks, 
the great naturalist, who accompanied Captain Cook on one 
of his voyages to the South Seas. He was afterwards closely 
identified with the early history of the Royal Gardens at 



112 AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 

Kew. The Banksias, known in Australia as " Honeysuckles," 
are all remarkable for the beauty of their foliage and their 
characteristic bottle-brush flowers. Two species are reported 
as growing at Abbotsbury, viz., the oak-leaved Banksia 
querci folia and B. integrifolia. The leaves of the latter are 
entire and silvery w r hite beneath. Of the hill-loving B. collina 
there are two well-grown bushes now in flower in the late 
Dr. Russel Wallace's garden at Broadstone. In this species 
the leaves are broadly linear with a jagged apex. The under 
surface as in other species is silvery white. The flower heads 
are about 6 to 8 inches long and about 2 to 3 inches in 
diameter. At the time (January, 1916) when the Broadstone 
plants were in flower, similar plants under cultivation in the 
Temperate House at Kew also were in bloom. An illustration 
of the latter appeared in the " Garden." Banksia collina 
was introduced in 1822, and the first plant to flower in this 
country was in the conservatory of the Duke of Northumber- 
land at Sion House, near Isleworth. In 1830 it flowered in 
one of the houses at the Edinburgh Botanic Garden. 



HAKE AS. 

The Hakeas, named after the botanist Hake, are known in 
Australia as " Needle Bush " and " Pin Bush " on account 
of their extremely sharp-pointed leaves. According to 
Maiden, good drinking water is obtainable from the fleshy 
roots of Hakea leucoptera. As this grows in arid sandy 
districts the water no doubt proved of great value to the 
early explorers of the Australian continent. The flowers of 
Hakea lorea are rich in a brown thick hone}'. Hakea 
pubescens is now growing at Abbotsbury. The most 
remarkable Hakea tree in this country is certainly that 
growing on the lawn at Cuffnells, near Lyndhurst. This is the 
dagger-leaved Hakea acicularis. Mr. Reginald Hargreaves 
informs me that originally the tree grew in a conservatory 



AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 113 

attached to the house. When by accident this was burnt 
down, the tree, which was not seriously injured, was planted 
out, at the beginning of the last century, on the open lawn, 
where it has remained ever since. Notwithstanding its great 
age it regularly produces its pale white flowers and snail-like 
fruits. Specimens of these are now before us. This interest- 
ing tree is about 20ft. high with a girth of stem of about 
4ft. Gin. A small plant of the same species is met with at 
Broadstone. Hakea eucalyptoides was formerly grown at 
Abbotsbury. This when in flower is a very striking plant 
on account of its abundant scarlet balls of flowers, which emit 
long styles that deck the branchlets. It does exceedingly 
well in the Mediterranean region, where it is called " Sea 
Urchin " by English visitors. It is referred to as " the glory 
of the gardens of the Riviera." At the well-known La 
Mortola gardens, established by the late Sir Thomas Hanbury, 
this species flourishes as a shrub 10ft. high with balls of flowers 
2^in. in diameter. Another notable member of the Pro- 
teacea is the Waratah (Telopea speciosissima) , with very 
red showy flowers. It sometimes appears in gardens as 
Embothrium. There are plants of this which occasionally 
flower at Abbotsbury and Broadstone. The Waratah is 
also known as the native tulip tree, and like, the kangaroo 
and acacia, is symbolic of the country. The aborigines were 
accustomed to suck its large tubular flowers for the honey 
they contained. The common bottle-brush tree Callistemon 
speciosus is hardy at Abbotsbury, and very attractive with 
its fine masses of red flowers. 



LESSER KNOWN TREES AND SHRUBS. 

As there are more than sixty Australian plants that are 
more or less hardy along the South Coast, it is impossible to 
describe them in detail. It will be sufficient if I pass them 
briefly in review. The musk tree (Olearia argyrophylla) 



114 AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 

flourishes at Abbotsbury. It is said to yield a brilliant sap 
green, and the timber has a pleasant fragrance and a beautiful 
mottled colour. The Wonga-wonga vine (Tecoma australis), 
with yellowish white flowers tinged with purple-red, is a half- 
hardy climber. The Flame tree (Brachychiton acerifolium), 
so called on account of its bright red flowers, is a most con- 
spicuous feature of an Illawarra landscape, and Captain 
Cook's tea plant (Leptospermum scoparium), with reddish 
lilac flowers, which attains at Abbotsbury a height of 8ft., 
and is 4ft. Gin. through, are all notable plants. There are 
three species of Australian Pittosporums commonly seen in 
southern gardens, viz., the native laurel (P. undulatum)^- 
the diamond-leaved laurel (P. rhombi folium), and the Cheese- 
wood (P. bicolor). An attractive climber allied to the 
Pittosporums (Sollya heterophylla) has rich blue flowers. 
This is said to be hardy also in some parts of Scotland, but 
is not cultivated so widely as it deserves. Amongst the 
most beautiful of the West Australian myrtles is Calothamnus 
quadrifidus an evergreen shrub with needle-shaped leaves 
and scarlet flowers. Chorizma angustifolium bears beautiful 
orange-red pea-like flowers, and two species of Hardenbergia 
also possess handsome flowers of a very similar character. The 
Glory pea of New South Wales (Clianthus Dampieri), with its 
glaucous hoary leaves and richly coloured flowers, is far 
superior to the New Zealand Clianthus puniceus. In Dr. 
Wallace's old garden there are several species of Correa, which 
are decorative shrubs with white and bright scarlet flowers. 
C. alba is native of South Australia and C. virens of New 
South Wales. Of the Melaleucas, Abbotsbury can claim 
success with four species, viz., the Hypericum- 
leaved (M. hypericifolia) with splendid scarlet flowers ; M. 
Wilsonnii, with red flowers ; M . decussata, with rather small 
lilac flowers, and the rather uncommon M . preissiana. Of 
the Australian veronicas Veronica formosa, a beautiful plant 
with pale blue flowers, and the Digger's Speedwell (V. per- 
joliata), with bluish-violet flowers, are occasionally grown in 
southern gardens. 



AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 115 

CONCLUSION. 

In closing I may add that from a scientific point there is a 
further reason why we should carefully study the Australian 
flora as represented in this country. It has been claimed 
by von Ettingshausen that he has found the leaf remains of 
such familiar Australian plants as Eucalyptus and Metrosideros 
in fossil beds contemporaneous with those of the Bournemouth 
cliffs. Also, Heer has described such Australian genera as 
Banksia, Eucalyptus, Grevillea, and Hakea from leaf remains 
in the Miocene formations of Switzerland. Although neither 
of these discoveries has been accepted by such leading 
authorities as Bentham and Hooker, it is possible that a careful 
comparison of the fossil remains and the living Australian 
plants accessible to us might help to solve the difficulty. 
Pal aso -botanists are agreed that the identification of fossil 
leaf impressions with an existing flora is a most difficult task. 
Even in the case of fresh specimens it is not a matter of surprise 
that experienced botanists in Australia hesitate to determine 
species of Eucalyptus from leaves alone. Flowers and fruit 
are always desirable. 



m 



In 



THE LATE HENRY COLLEY MARCH, M.D., F.S.A., J.P. 



By NELSON MOORE RICHARDSON, B.A. 




N the death of Dr. Henry Colley March, which 
took place at his residence, Nethergrove, 
Portesham, on Tuesday, February 15th, 1916, 
the Dorset Field Club has sustained one of 
its greatest losses in recent years. Though 
by no means one of the oldest members, his 
election having taken place on February llth, 
1896, he has always been in the front rank 
of its antiquaries, while taking also an interest 
in general Natural History and more especially in Geology, 
in which he has among other things brought together some 
valuable evidence as to the existence of an ice sheet in Dorset 
as well as in more northern latitudes. (See Proc. D.F.C., 
XIX., 130.) A paper on Lynchets (Proc. D.F.C., XXIV., 
67) dealt with the different modes of origin ascribed to them 
a nd the results of some of his investigations. With the 




Henry Colley March, M.D., F.S.A. 



IN MEMOEIAM DR. COLLEY MARCH. 117 

exception of his last paper viz., an introductory sketch 
on the excavation of the De \vlish Elephant Trench, written 
as Chairman of the Earthworks Committee of the Club (Proe. 
XXXVI., 209) all the papers by him contained in its Pro- 
ceedings are antiquarian and relate to the following subjects : 
" The Pagan-Christian Overlap of the Wise Bird, with 
Dorset Illustrations " (XVIII., 116) ; " Various Roman 
Pavements, their Ornamentation and Symbols " (XXI., 
162; XXI., 205; XXV., 17; XXVII., 239); "The Hill 
Fortress called Eggardun " (XXII., 28) ; " The Giant and 
the Maypole of Cerne " (XXII., 101); "The Gandhara 
Sculptures " (XXIV., 93) ; a paper read in connection with 
the visit of the Club on August 20th, 1908, to the stone 
circles and other prehistoric remains in the Portesham neigh- 
bourhood under his guidance, entitled " The Ritual of Bar- 
rows and Circles" (XXIX., 225); and " Scando -Gothic 
Art in Wessex " (XXXIV., 1). These papers do not, how- 
ever, by any means represent all his work for the Club. The 
short notes, recorded and unrecorded, the antiquarian and 
other exhibits, often accompanied by learned remarks and 
explanations, the occasions on which he acted as guide at 
the excursions of the Club and the information afforded 
in little discourses on the various objects of interest visited, 
are too numerous to mention. Under his superintendence as 
Chairman of the Earthworks Committee was successfully 
carried through the excavation of Maumbury Rings, which 
proved it to have been constructed for the purpose of a 
Roman Amphitheatre, the details being laid open to the 
view gradually in the course of the work, which was carried 
on during several years ; a full report by Mr. St. George Gray 
appeared in the Proceedings of the Club. In May, 1902, 
Dr. March was appointed Hon. Secretary of the Club, which 
office he held for two years with great advantage to the 
Club, as from his special knowledge and energy he did his 
best to encourage real work amongst the members, with more 
or less success. In 1904 he retired from the Secretaryship, 
being succeeded by Rev. H. Pentin the present Hon. Secretary, 



118 IN MEMORIAM DR. COLLEY MARCH. 

his term of office therefore corresponding with that of Lord 
Eustace Cecil as President. Besides the excavations under- 
taken by the Earthworks Committee of the Club under Dr. 
March's Chairmanship, a general prehistoric survey of Dorset 
was commenced under his auspices, and has up to the present 
been carried out to a small extent in a few parishes, including 
especially that of Portesham, in which the writer had the 
pleasure and interest of assisting him. This was performed 
with the thoroughness characteristic of his other works. All 
prehistoric remains that could be found in the parish were 
catalogued, measured, and noted down on the 6in. Ordnance 
Map, and even so lately as last summer a few lynchets which 
had been omitted at first were visited in spite of his growing 
weakness, so as to complete the map. Dr. March had a 
strong sense of humour by which he often added little touches 
to relieve the somewhat dry character almost inseparable 
from parts of a learned address, and sometimes much 
amused his hearers by original remarks on his own and 
other exhibits. He was always ready to discuss questions 
on which others differed from him and to give consideration 
to their arguments, though in many things he was most 
tenacious of his own views. He was very fond of music ; 
and though the writer never heard him play on any 
instrument, he manipulated his mechanical organ-player 
with skill, and, by some little contrivances of his own, so 
modified his gramophone that it produced less of the 
objectionable twang of that instrument than usual and a 
much more agreeable sound. He was devoted to his garden, 
in which he grew a great variety of plants and shrubs, 
especially many which he had brought back with him from 
abroad, and which are not often seen in this country, and 
no one would have believed that so mature-looking a garden 
could have been formed in the course of 20 years. 

Dr. March was born at Colchester in 1838, his father, the 
Rev. Henry March, having been a Congregational Minister. 
In 1860 he became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons 
and a Licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries, securing 



IN MEMOEIAM DR. COLLEY MARCH. 119 

honours in anatomy and physiology. He became M.B. in 
1862 and M.D. (London) in 1867. He went to Rochdale in 
1863, where he practised his profession for 33 years, retiring 
to Portesham in 1896. He married a lady who shared his 
interests and tastes, the daughter of Alderman James Booth, 
who, with his son and daughter, survives him. He was a 
Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (of which he was local 
secretary for Dorset), and a member of the Archaeological 
Institute and other Scientific and Antiquarian Societies. 
He was an original member of the Lancashire and Cheshire 
Antiquarian Society, and one of the founders of the Rochdale 
Literary and Scientific Society. When living at Rochdale he 
formed a fine collection of flint implements from the Neolithic 
floor, and would often rise before dawn and drive miles over 
the moor to reach some favourite " floor " and return to 
make his usual rounds, and this in spite of the fact that he 
was never strong, but his vitality and energy seemed 
inexhaustible. 

To the writer of this notice, the loss is that of an intimate 
friend, whom he always felt that he could consult with 
advantage in any case of difficulty that might arise in 
connection with the Field Club or more private matters, 
and whose opinion and advice, always honestly and fairly 
given, he greatly valued, in spite of the difference of their 
views on certain points. For his kindness and liberality in 
his neighbourhood he will be missed by all around him. 
One of his old friends writes of him " Not only by his own 
immediate circle, but by friends and scientific colleagues 
throughout the country, his loss will be deeply mourned, as 
one whose genuine kindliness and readiness to help all who 
sought his aid had endeared him to them, while his scientific 
attainments, love of truth, and careful observation and 
induction were characteristics that made him a model for all 
engaged in research." 

The memorial notices in the Rochdale papers, from which 
extracts are given below, shew the high estimation in which 
he was held during his long residence in that town. 



120 IN MEMOEIAM DR. COLLEY MARCH. 

For a number of years before he departed from Rochdale Dr. March 
was a Justice of the Peace for the Borough, and he brought to his work 
in that capacity all the zeal and zest which he displayed in other 
departments, public and private. For a number of years he w r as also 
police surgeon for the borough. 

Dr. March was not a native of Rochdale, but during the thirty years 
or more that he resided amongst us he identified himself with a variety 
of movements for the social and intellectual advancement of the 
town. He was an inspiring intellectual force among us, and made for 
himself a name, especially in medical and archaeological circles, 
honoured far beyond Rochdale's boundaries. 

Dr. March quickly won his way to a leading place among local 
practitioners, and long before he retired in 1896 he had one of the largest 
and most lucrative practices in the town and district. His patients 
had the greatest faith in his professional skill and knowledge. He 
took infinite pains to keep abreast of the modern developments of 
medical science, and he had that valuable type of scientific mind 
which was never afraid of new discoveries, and was, indeed, ever on the 
look-out for them. He wrote considerably on professional subjects. 

Locally he was among the earliest of scientific men to seriously take 
up the investigation of the archaeology and geology of the Rochdale 
hills ; and the extremely fine collection of flint implements, which he 
gathered from the Rochdale Neolithic floor and presented to the town 
in 1896, is practical evidence of his valuable work in this branch of 
science. 

It is not too much to say that no member of the Literary and Scientific 
Society made more valuable contributions to the society's literature. 



In JEnnoriam 



By NELSON MOORE RICHARDSON, B.A 




Rev. William Miles Barnes is the second Vice 
President whom the Dorset Field Club has lost 
in the course of five months, his death having 
taken place at his house at Doi Chester on July 
8th, 1916. Mr. Barnes was one of the older 
members of the Club, having been elected in 
1889, and was for many years, until partial 
blindness came upon him, untiring in his 
efforts to further its interests and to work out 
and record various matters connected with 
Dorset. The only official position held by him in the Club 
was that of Editor of its Proceedings from 1901 to 1906, 
in which period the volumes bear testimony to the care 
bestowed upon them, especially the accounts of the Meetings, 




122 IN MEMORIAM REV. WILLIAM M. BARNES. 

which he developed and amplified. He was made a Vice- 
President in 1904. Perhaps the most lasting and generally 
interesting work carried out by him is contained in the fine 
series of volumes of the Photographic Survey of Dorset, 
which survey has since been carried on by others, but was 
founded by him, the bulk of the beautiful photographs being 
his personal work. They are most valuable as records of 
much that has passed and is passing away. But photography 
was only one of many branches in which Mr. Barnes worked 
for the Club. His first paper appears in Vol. XII. of the 
Proceedings, and is entitled " A brief Historical and descrip- 
tive sketch of the Churches in the Rural Deanery of 
Dorchester," and a second one on the Roman Defences of 
Dorchester is in the same volume. Thenceforward one or 
more papers from his pen will be found in almost every 
volume for many years. Architecture was one of his strong 
subjects, and at Field Meetings he was often appealed to for 
information about the churches visited. A paper on the 
form and probable history of Saxon Church Architecture is 
contained in Vol. XXIII. The Pipe Rolls and Patent and 
Close Rolls (Dorset), especially of King John's reign, form 
the subject of papers in Vols. XIV., XV., XVI., and XIX. 

Mr. Barnes did much work in connection with the Church 
Bells of Dorset, some of the results being embodied in a paper 
at p. 97 of Vol. XXVII. His last paper is in Vol XXVIII., 
the subject being " The Liberty and Manor of Frampton. 
Rolls of the Court Leet and Court Baron." His energies 
were not, however, confined to his work for the Dorset Field 
Club, and this notice would be incomplete without a reference 
to his musical talents and his connection with the Dorset 
Orchestral Association, of which he was the founder and Hon. 
Secretary. Under his organization also as Hon. Secretary 
of the Salisbury Diocesan Choral Association many choral 
festivals were held in Salisbury Cathedral. The son of 
William Barnes, the Dorset poet, he was born in 1840 and 
educated at his father's school in Dorchester, and St. John's 
College, Cambridge, where he took his degree in 1863. For 



IN MEMORIAM REV. WILLIAM M. BARNES. 123 

42 years he was Rector of Winterbourne Monkton near 
Dorchester, and resigned the living owing to failing eyesight 
in 1908. 

Mr. Barnes was unsparing in the trouble and time he 
devoted to anything he undertook, and had considerable 
powers of organization, which, together with his interest in 
and knowledge of many subjects dealt with by the Club, 
made his loss a very serious one, when about 8 years ago he 
became unable to contribute to its Proceedings and to help 
it in other ways. His partial blindness must have been a 
great trial to one accustomed to make such good use of his 
sight, but was cheerfully borne. The writer is indebted to 
him for many acts of kind help and support in connection 
with the Club and otherwise during a friendship of many 
years standing. He leaves a family of two sons and two 
daughters. 



Ancient 



Brasses of Dorset* 



By W. de C. PRIDEAUX, F.S.A. 



PART 10. 
FLEET OLD CHURCH, HOLY TRINITY. 




REPRODUCTIONS of the Memorial Brasses at 
Fleet, from excellent direct photographs 
by our President, appear opposite page 55, 
in the Field Club Proceedings for 1898, 
illustrating an article by the B-ev. W. 
Miles Barnes on Fleet Old Church and its 
Brasses. 

These photographs show the greater 
part of the brasses clearly, representing 
them much as they appear to-day, plainly showing the 
tarnish of Time's fingers spreading from their edges, and, to 
the contemplative eye, are superior to the mechanical, but 
necessary, black and white reproduction. 

Although these memorials are in a church ruined in the 
" Outrage " of 1824 and unused, except for occasional burial 




INilGMAMOHVNETHlDt. 



HIC !ACET MARCARITA.VXOR (JWf 

VIM MCIMISSISI ROBERTI MOHVN ALZ MOVN DEBOTIC 
HAHfTON fN COMITATV DOKCESTENSI.ARM1CEM . 
. QVIDEM MASCARITA FVIT FILIA ETCOHK.RES 
HANI HYDE DE HYIK.IN EOOEM ETIAMCOMJ- 
V ARMICERI.HA.C.I7 LIBER 
MRF.Vi VIXIT. ANNOS CIRCITER9O AC IN n 
REOyiUCIT. OK)T PRINO DIE DECEHBRIS 
ANNO HECNI SERENISSIMI IACOBI.ANCLORV REGIS i 

AC SCOTIK. 36. SALVTIS.IfcO}. 




BRASS OF MARGARET MOHUN. 



ANCIENT MEMORIAL BRASSES OF DORSET. 125 

services, fortunately we do not need to say that it is a place 
of " fractured arch and mouldering wall." 

The Brasses have been partially reproduced, being given 
to illustrate an article on Mohuns Otter}', Devon, in 
" Memorials of the West," published in 1888, by W. Hamilton 
Rogers, F.S.A., whose recent death has removed a charming 
personality from the ranks of West Country antiquaries. 

For the sake of sequence, however, I bring them again to 
3'our notice, and show the usual plain black and white 
facsimiles of these square but interesting 17th Century plates, 
in their stone frames. 

Position. Within stone frames fixed against the Chancel 
wall on either side of east window ; the earlier brass being on 
the North side. A marble slab within a similar stone frame 
deserves notice ; it is on the South wall of the Chancel, and I 
reproduce it for comparison. 

Size. 1. Margaret Mohun, 1603, 27in. high by 20in. wide. 

2. Maximiliam Mohun, 1612, 20ins. high by 28in. 

wide. 

3. Francis Mohun, 1711 (Marble Slab), 24in. high 

by 19|ins. wide. 



INSCRIPTIONS. 

" Hie jacet Margarita uxor quondam castissima viri 
dignissirni Roberti Mohun alias Moun de Bothenhampton 
in comitatu Dorcestensi armigeri, quac quidem Margarita 
f nit filia et cohaeres Stephani Hyde de Hyde in eodem etiam 
comitatu armigeri. Hace 17 liberorum faelicissima fuit 
parens. Vixit annos circiter 90, ac in Domino requiescit. 
Obiit primo die Decembris anno regni serenissimi Jacobi 
Anglorum regis 1 ac Scotiae 36, salutis 1603." 

" Here lies Margaret once the virtuous wife of the most 
honourable Robert Mohun, otherwise Moun of Bothenhampton 
in the county of Dorset, esquire, which Margaret was the 
daughter and coheiress of Stephen Hyde in the same county. 



126 ANCIENT MEMORIAL BRASSES OF DORSET. 

esquire, and was the most happy mother of seventeen children. 
She lived about 90 years and rests in the Lord. She died on 
the first day of December in the first year of the reign of the 
most serene, James, King of England and his 36th year as 
King of Scotland ; in the year of our salvation, 1603." 

" Hie jacet Maximilianus Mohun armiger, filius Roberti 
Mohum alias Mouri de Bothehampton in comitat 
Dorcestrensi armigeri, qui quidem Maximilianus una cum 
uxore castissima Anna filia et cohaere de Johannis Churchill 
de Corton generosi tredecem liberorum faelicissimus fuit 
parcns. Vixit annos circiter 48* ac vita bene beateque 
peracta, in Domino requiescit. Obiit xiiii die Octobris 
anno regni serenissimi Jacobi Angloruin regis x ac Scotiae 
XLV anno Salutis 1612." 

'' Here lies Maximilian Mohun esquire, son of Robert 
Mohun, otherwise Moun of Bothenhampton in the county 
of Dorset, which Maximilian, together with his virtuous wife 
Anne, the daughter and coheiress of John Churchill gentleman 
of Corton, was the happy parent of thirteen children. He 
lived about 48 years, and after a well spent and happy life 
he rests in the Lord. He died the 14th day of October in the 
tenth year of the reign of the most serene James, King of 
England and his forty fifth year as King of Scotland ; in 
the year of our Salvation, 1612." 

" Vir dignissimus, Franciscus Mohun Armiger, filius 
Maximiliani qui fuit filius Maximiliani Mohun, obiit 25 to 
Feb. ii., 1711-12 mo., anno aetatis suae 84 to< 

Prisca fides, cultusque Dei, patriaeque mentis, 
Fidus amor primaerum excoluere virum." 

"The most honourable Francis Mohun Esquire, son of 
Maximilian who was the son of Maximilian Mohun died 25th 
February, 1711-12 in the 84th year of his age. 

The good faith of a day gone by, the worship of his God and 
loyalty to his country in jeopardy, made up a character of 
pristine excellence." 

Description. These brasses are of familiar quadrangular 
type, met with in the early part of the 17th Century, and 




BRASS OF MAXIMILIAN MOHUN. 



ANCIENT MEMORIAL BRASSES OF DORSET. 127 

show the usual family grouping ; the father in armour, with 
nine sons kneeling on one side of the table, the mother with 
eight daughters on the opposite side, and having their armorial 
bearings above. 

These late brasses may in this county be compared with 
Nicholas Martin and his wife of a decade earlier at Piddleton, 
and Mistress Clavell and her children, the first wife of John 
Clavell, at Church Knowle, having their effigies partly cut 
around ; but they are otherwise very similar. 

Arising from this description, I wish to draw your attention 
to the peculiarities brought to my notice while visiting Fleet 
last year with our member Mr. J. G. W. Clift, who would 
have been present to speak himself Mere it not that sterner 
duties call, his address now being R.E. Mess, Brompton 
Barracks, Chatham. Mr. Clift, as you may be aware, is 
a member of the Royal Commission for the Preservation ot 
Historical Monuments, and rightly considers he is translating 
theory into practice by offering his services to his country. 

To illustrate the peculiarities, I have taken impressions 
both in wax and foil ; I find the latter particularly useful. 
Mr. Clift drew my attention to the fact that these brasses 
appeared to have been executed in rather a different fashion 
to that usually adopted. He says in a letter of last week : 

"The most common form of work was undoubtedly executed 
with graving tools, and in the hands of a skilful man no finer 
method could have been employed for the production of clean 
good work and line. Somewhere about the early part of 
the 16th century, however, the style of brass changes some- 
what, and shadows are worked with cross-hatching in a very 
straggling fashion ; and if I am correct, a new method of 
producing the incised lines was introduced, namely, acid 
biting. I have from time to time noticed brasses of this 
period in which the lines show the characteristic ragged edge 
of the bitten line." 

From my experience of Dorset brasses, these examples do 
appear to differ from others in the county, and since Mr. Clift 
pointed out this difference, I have examined man}' and 



128 ANCIENT MEMORIAL BRASSES OF DORSET. 

failed to find another similar. I would ask you to compare 
the free and exact sweep of the letters and figures of the 
Martin brass at Piddleton with the halting outline of these 
Fleet examples, particularly the letter curves with their very 
ragged edges. 

The ground appears to differ from the engraved type, the 
depressions are shelving, not upright, nor in the least 
undercut ; if the graver was exclusively used for these brasses 
the letters and numerals are most carelessly cut, and yet the 
effigies, table, &c., are finely done, having fine cross-hatching, 
thus militating against the idea that the roughness is that of 
a careless craftsman ; but is possibly due to the process 
employed. Why should the floor of cavities be very fairly 
smooth, if the graver is allowed such licence in outlining ? 
Further data and examples must be obtained before one can 
speak with certainty, but I think Mr. Cliffs observations 
are deserving of the most careful consideration, especially as 
etching is known to have been discovered in the early part 
'of the 16th century. Francesco Mazzuoli, who lived from 
1503 to 1540 ( Vatari, Vol. III., pp. 508 and 356), is credited 
with first using acid-bitten plates. 

Heraldry. 

1. On a shield of arms, above effigies. G-ules, a maunch 
ermine, the hand proper holding a fleur de Us within a 
bordure or, a crescent for difference Mohun ; impaling, 
a chevron between three lozenges, on a chief an eagle 
displayed. Hide. Over the shield appears, " Insignia 
Mohun et Hide." 

2. On a shield of arms above effigies. Quarterly 1st 
and 4th, Mohun ; 2nd, Hide ; 3rd. a lion rampant 
debruised with a bendlet, a crescent for difference, 
Churchill. 

3. On a shield of arms over the marble slab. Mohun, 
impaling Argent, on a chevron gules three martlets, and 
a rose on a canton. Sheldon. 



ANCIENT MEMORIAL BRASSES OF DORSET. 129 

I now wish to state a few facts about the Mohun family 
of Fleet, and particularly about those members commemorated 
by the tablets.* 

A pedigree compiled in 1606 by William Dethick, Garter 
King of Arms, but not registered at Heralds College, appears 
to be the authority for deducing its origin from Sir Robert 
Mohun of Forlock, the second son of Sir John Mohun of 
Dunster Castle, who died in 1330. 

This Sir Robert is stated to have been the great-great- 
grandfather of Sir John Mohun, of Mohun Ottery in Devon, 
father of Richard Mohun, father of Robert Mohun with whom 
the official pedigree begins. 

I. Robert Mohun (or Moone) of Baunton or Bothenhampton 
died on the 14th November 1580, seized of the manors of 
Lodcr Matravers (formerly the property of Ford Abbey), 
Mangerton and Fleet, the rectory of East Chaldoii and other 
property in the neighbourhood (Inq. P.M.). He appears 
with his wife (born Margaret Hyde, of Hyde) and his children 
on the earlier brass. f Although there were no less than 17 
children, the names of only seven are known to me 

1. Robert, heir to his father. 

2. Maxmilian, heir to his brother. 

3. John, matriculated at St. Alban Hall, Oxford, in 1586, 
and was admitted a student of the Middle Temple in 1591. 
His daughter Anne died in 1600. 

4. Mary, 5, Joan, 6, Margaret, and 7, Alice. The last 
named daughter married William Symonds of Exeter and 
left issue. (Devon Visitation, 1620). 

II. Robert Mohun, son and heir of Robert and Margaret, 
matriculated at St. Alban Hall in 1577, being then nineteen 



* See A History of Dunster, by Sir H. C. Maxwell Lyte, K.C.B., 
who traces the numerous branches, and, in appendix B, gives examples 
of 13th and 14th Century Mohun Seals, bearing the Maunch. Also 
Hutchins's Dorset Vol. ii. 

f Robert himself was buried in the south aisle of Bridport church, 
near his parents, as directed in his will (P.C.C., 38 Darcy). 



130 ANCIENT MEMORIAL BRASSES OF DORSET. 

years of age. He married Meliora, daughter of Pitt of 
Blandford, and by her had issue three daughters. 

Meliora, born in 1587, married to John Daccomb.* 

Margaret, born in 1588, married to John Hele. 

Anne, born in 1594, married to Hele. 

Robert Mohun, the second, died in 1598, when the entailed 
estates passed to his brother. (Inq. P.M.) 

III. Maximilian Mohun matriculated at St. Alban Hall 
in 1581, being then 16 years of age. He afterwards became 
a student of the Middle Temple. He married on the 4th 
October, 1593, Anne, daughter and coheiress of John Churchill 
of Gorton. 

They and their 13 children appear on the later brass at 
Fleet. 

The names of twelve are known : 

1. Maximilian, heir to his father. 

2. Churchill, matriculated at Oxford in April, 1613, with 
his elder brother. He died 8. P. 

3. Robert, of West Buckham, near Beaminster, a Major 
in the Royalist Ariiry. He was taken prisoner near Bridg- 
water, and afterwards compounded for his estate. In 1634 
he married Elizabeth, daughter of John Hillary of Meerhay. 

4. John, born in 1605. 5. George, born in 1607. 

6. Mary, born in 1595 ; married in 1610 to Cornelius Weston 
of Colyton. 

7. Elizabeth, married to John Gollop. 8. Anne. 
9. Margaret, born in 1606. 10. Eleanor. 

11. Thomasine, born in 1610. 12. Catherine, born in 1612, 

IV. Maximilian Mohun, the second, was born in November, 
1596, and matriculated at Oxford in 1613. In 1631 he paid 
10 for exemption from the duty of taking knighthood. 
Having supported the King in the Civil War, his estate was 
sequestrated for about 7 years, during part of which he was 



* It is possible that Daccornb mairied Meliora the elder, widow of 
Robert Mohun. (P.R.O. Chan. Proc. Ser. ii. 333/6). 



ANCIENT MEMORIAL BRASSES OF DORSET. 131 

in prison at Weymouth. He was eventually allowed to 
compound for 1,540 18s. 4d. He died in 1673. By 
Elizabeth his wife, daughter of Francis Chaldecot of Whiteway, 
he had issue 10 children, the names of six being known : 

1. Maximilian, baptized at his mother's old home at Steple, 
in March, 1662 ; \vas living in 1651, but predeceased his father. 

2. Francis, heir to his father. 

3. Robert, a captain in the nav\ r . He died in 1667. 

4. William, who obtained a small property at Portishead 
and married Mary, daughter of Richard Morgan of that place. 
He died the 23rd March, 1691. His wife survived until the 
25th July, 1692. Their only son Maximilian seems to 
have died young, as their property passed to Elizabeth their 
daughter, who married Sir Edward Fust, Bart. 

5. Edith, who died in 1672. 

6. Elizabeth, who married Robert Yardley. 

V. Francis Mohun was born in 1628. The marble tablet 
above mentioned is to his memory. He was one of the 
principal men in Dorset who refused to support the repeal of 
the penal laws in 1688. Eleanor his wife, daughter of Ralph 
Sheldon of Stanton in Derbyshire, a niece of Gilbert Sheldon, 
Archbishop of Canterbury, survived until 1772. She bore 
him three children : 

1. Gilbert Maximilian, heir to his father, born 1675. 

2. Catherine, born in 1688, married Sir Edward Fust, Bart. 

3. Elizabeth, born in 1671, married in 1698 to Robert 
Brodrepp of Maperton. She died in 1708. 

VI. Gilbert Maximilian, born in 1675, was married twice. 
Will proved 1739. 

1. Gilbert Maximilian, the second, is stated to have been 
born in 1706. 

2. Francis Mohun was born in 1713 ; he was third lieutenant 
on the Victory in October, 1744, when the ship was lost, and 
his estate passed to Robert, the youngest of the brothers. (1 ^' 



(1). Admiralty List Book 24. 



'-'- A3ffCIK3fT B1K>RL1L BRASSES OF DORSET. 

3. Robert Mohan, the test male member of this branch 
of tlie family, w& born in 1715. He died unmarried in I75t 
and the remains of the property were divided between his 
two iMn. Hi* father* eldest daughter, Khzabeth Lyte 
(of Lytescary, Somerset), being only his hatf^swter, was not 
accounted one of the coheirs. The manor of Fleet passed to 
his sister Sarah, the wife of Thomas Harwell, and afterwards 
of John Gould of l>wey 

BBMM of another branch of the Mohan family may be 
seen at fanteglo*, by Fowey a knight in armonr of the 
middle of the 15th centry, another in armour with hi* 
wife, mho Mil died ill 150$ of the sweating sickness. Joan, 
Lady de Mohan, tcrnf*. Richard 11., rests below a stately 
marble effigy in the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral. She 
died October 4th, 1404. ( Jrq. P.M. 6 Hen. IV.) 

Among the Fry collection of documents in the l>orset 
County Museum are several deed* relating to the Mohuns ; 
they are catalogued under Fteet and \V> ke Regis. 




fools in (Earlp 6ut,in. 



THE REV. WILLIAM BAR***, B.D., HECTOR of 
Bon* A.D. 18111, DIED A I; 



Edited by CAPTAJH J. E. ACLAMD, F.S.A.;. 




IHK MS of thi* intmwtittg monograph ha* only 
been brought to light rewntly. It doe not 
appear in the Iwt of the author'* work*, 
pablihed or '* hand-writ " (not printed), 
by fcfc dAUfhter, Lxy Baxter, in " Tife A 
Harxsji" 1H**7, nor M it in the li*t in VoL 
VI II. of the Proceeding! !>*** F/' 

II MHMi of 32 odd het* of (taper, if 
inche by 4 inche*. held tosjpther by noetal 
clip*. The ootaide |Wfe f whieh beaw lu djfHlWP^ wa 
apparently a bookpont wrapper, or eireolar, a* it ha a hatf- 
penny tamp, the Dorefcetr prM Marit and the 
" Eer . W. Borne*, The Beetory, CMBC, Dorehenter 
date H An, 13, '32, Another beet M part of a 
hearing lit e date, MBL We ay 
that the paper waa written M that year, but fee 
wha* pvrpcMe 10 M0C IOWWM. CMMMI llHMn'ineyde'il Coy 



134 EDGE TOOLS IN EARLY BRITAIN. 

whom it is given to the Dorset County Museum) says it 
belonged to his father, J. C. Mansel-Pleydell, whow as very 
intimate with Mr. Barnes and in constant communication 
with him on archaeological subjects. The handwriting is 
large and irregular, with rarely more than two or three 
words in a line ; and, as will be readily noticed, the treatment 
of the subject and the phraseology are characteristic of our 
Dorset poet and philologist. 

TRANSCRIPT OF THE MANUSCRIPT. 

" There are words in English and Welsh that sound of 
things of the Stone Age of our race. We have a steel edge 
tool called a chisel, and we have by Portland a bank of pebbles 
called the Chesil or chisel Beach, and chisel in Anglo-Saxon, 
ceosel, now chesil or chisel, means a hard stone, such as a 
flint or pebble, and we may belie Ve that the edge tool was 
first called a ceosel when it was a chisel as a flint. 

" Then we have flint, and in Anglo-Saxon flean is an arrow, 
and fleanet would mean a little arrow, or the arrow head ; 
and fleanet would become shortened into fleant, or flint, 
and the flint is often called by the Dorset folk " a vlint- 
stwone " (a flint stone), since the word flint did not at first 
mean a stone at all. So the Latin celtis is a chisel or knife, 
and culter a knife, as for the ending -er strengthens the mean- 
ing of a word. But in Welsh celt is a flint, so called from 
caled, hard ; and the Fleam, the barbed lancet with which 
cattle are bled (in its early Saxon or Friesic shape fleame), 
meant a flying thing or an arrow head, to which in shape it 
is not unlike. 

" Our word Hammer seems to have meant in its first use 
and form a clump of hard stone. In the " Mittel hoch 
deutsches Worterbuch " by Adolf Ziemann (the middle 
high Dutch Word book) we have Hamer Harter Stein, Ham- 
mer, a very hard stone. In old Friesic it is Homer. 

" In the time of Homer, which might have been a thousand 
years ere the Nativity, for his lifetime was an unmarked 



EDGE TOOLS IN EARLY BRITAIN. 135 

length of a dark time in Greek history, Bronze smithery had 
been so far a wonted craft of the Greeks that a smith in metal 
was called by them a x.a\Kovpyos, a bronze or brass smith, 
Ztiritiovpyos long afterwards an iron-smith. 

" At what time Bronze tools came into the hands of Britons 
in this land, it is not easy to tell, nor are we sure by what line 
or form of traffic they were brought hither ; whether from 
Phenicians of Cadiz, or Phenicia, or through Gaul, or straight 
over the sea. Some bronze might have come through Gaul, 
and it may be more of it might have been brought over the 
sea by the Phenicians. There is a tradition in British lore 
that there came into Britain in early times a people whom 
the Britons call " Hir ei Peisieu," long coats, or " Long- 
coated men," but it does not say that they came in war, or 
where in Britain they abode, or whence or why they came. 
Strabo, the Greek geographer 44 years B.C., writes of the 
Cassiterides (Scilly Islands), whither it is said the Phenicians 
came for tin "The Kattiterides are indeed ten, and they 
be near each other towards the north from the haven of 
the Cornish Artabii. One of them is uninhabited, but on 
the others there are men with black coats down to their feet, 
belted round the waist, walking about with sticks or wands, 
and with beards like goats. They live mostly on cattle. 
They have as metals tin and lead, and they get for these and 
for their hides, crockery, and salt, and Bronze ware for the 
Chapmen. 

" This is interesting, as it shews that these " Long coats " 
were middle men between the Phenicians and the Chapmen 
of Britain who retailed the Phenician wares to the Britons. 
Now who should these men be but the long-coats of the 
Welsh tradition ? The tradition is that they were in-comers, 
and the garb of these men shows they were not Britons. 
They were most likely Phenicians, or successors of Phenicians 
who were put there at the head-quarters of their staple trade 
with the Britons, and who also catered for the Phenician 
crews, buying into their stores of tin and hides and selling 
out from them their own wares. In this way bronze tools 



136 EDGE TOOLS IN EARLY BRITAIN. 

and weapons had come into Britain, and if at that later time 
there was a less call for bronze edge tools, other bronze goods 
might still have been welcome to British buyers. 

" It was not suddenly or in a very short time that stonen 
tools were given up for bronze ones, or bronze for steel ones, 
by all tool-wielding hands. The tool of the new kind would 
be chosen instead of that of the older one on a rating of the 
cost of each, and the time and hand-force spent on the same 
work with each. 

The hand-skill of the British maker of stonen-tools was so 
high, and the bronze ones might be so costly, as reckoned in 
the work by which he could buy it, that he kept on a long 
while his old tool. 

" Although the English have been in North America for so 
many generations, and went thither, so to speak, with iron 
tools in their hands, and as their settlements have spread 
westward tribe after tribe must have known of steel, yet 
even now it seems there may be found red men who with 
the old skill in stone chipping make for themselves stonen 
tools instead of buying iron ones. 

" It does not follow that because stonen-tools found now 
in the hands of tribes of the South Seas are in shape and in 
angle of edge, and curve of the cutting side of the blade, most 
closely like those of the old tribes of Europe, that one tribe 
copied any pattern of the tools of the northern ones. The 
shape comes by experience from the laws of nature. A man 
without metal who wills to cut wood, and takes stone as 
the best matter within his reach for an edge tool, finds that 
if the edge is too thin for the stone it will break off, and if it 
be too thick it will hardly cut, and so by experience he will 
be driven to give his tool the thickness and curve of edge 
and side which is best between the two evils of breaking and 
bluntness, and these in the like stone would be alike all over 
the world, and would vary with varieties of stone ; and this 
force of natural law on man's work, and other doings through 
his experience, may be the cause of likeness of stonen tools, 
and weapons with ancient tribes and those of our days." 



Jtyenolo-guai Bcport on Jfirst 

of <8irlis, Insects, &c,, ant) 
Jfirst jfJotomn0 of 



IN DORSET DURING 1915. 



By W. PARKINSON CURTIS, F.E.S. 




UR records for this year shew the diversion of 
mental and physical energy from the 
pleasanter paths of scientific research to 
the sterner duties of citizenship in a State 
where freedom exists in something more 
than name, consequently these records are 
more meagre than is usual. 

As far as I know no apologies are due 
from me on this occasion for errors in the 
past report ; and although I have not got 
any new names to add to our list of regular observers, I am 
glad to say that Dr. Frank Penrose, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., is 
now sending me observations which will materially increase 
the interest of our bird notes. 



138 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

The names (arranged alphabetically) of those who have 
sent returns are as follows, the- initials prefixed in brackets 
to the names designate the responsibility for the record in the 
notes hereafter. 

(E.H.C.) E. Harker Curtis. 1 A 
(W.P.C.) W. Parkinson Curtis, } A y s g arth > Poole ' 
(S.E.V.F.) Rev. S. E. V. Filleul, All Saints Rectory, 

Dorchester. 

(R.D.G.) R. D. Good, Dorchester. 
(J.M.J.F.) Rev. Canon J. M. J. Fletcher, The Vicarage, 

Wimborne Minster. 
(E.F.L.) Rev. E. F. Linton, Edmondsham Rectory, Dorset 

(post town, Salisbury). 
(G.R.P.) G. R. Peck, Huston Manor, Puddletown, 

Dorchester. 
(N.M.R.) Nelson M. Richardson, Monte Video, near 

Weymouth. 

(E.S.R.) E. S. Rodd, Chardstock House, Dorset. 
(J.R.) The Rev. J. Ridley, Pulham Rectory, 

Dorchester. 
(E.E.W.) Miss Ellen E. Woodhouse, Chilmore, Ansty, 

Dorchester. 

With regard to the " Earliest Records " Mr. Linton writes 
to me (under date 21. 8. 1915) : " Some of the first dates of 
flowers seem remarkably early I have singled out three that 
are very curious, in case you may like to verify them. Of 
course, some plants are very erratic. Bush Vetch always 
has leaves before flower, so that this record of flowers earlier 
than leaves looks funny." Unfortunately I have lost the 
slip of paper on which Mr. Linton noted the three records, 
but our botanical contributors would oblige by keeping a 
very keen look out with regard to those plants which have 
records that strike them as unusual. 

With regard to the birds, I have adopted the order and 
nomenclature used in " A List of British Birds compiled by a 
Committee of the British Ornithologists Union," 2nd edition, 
1915, as being the latest and most authentic nomenclatoriallist. 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 139 

Since the above was written the Summer Time Act has 
altered clock time, which is no doubt beneficial to the com- 
munity, but I desire to state that obviously mean solar time 
must ba used for all scientific observations, so that in this 
report I shall adhere to mean solar time. 



MAMMALS. 

In the Wool and Wareham districts it has been an 
extraordinary season for foxes, stoats, and weasels, which is 
probably owing to there being less hunting and shooting than 
usual. We have 30 stoats hanging on a tree in one spot at 
the present time (S.E.V.F.). 

Muslela marles, Linn, Pine Martin. A record of this 
interesting little animal was sent during the year, but I am 
regretfully compelled to reject it for want of precision. As the 
animal has been recorded from Hants fairly recently the 
record is possibly correct, but as the animal was only seen for 
quite a short time and is unfamiliar, I should prefer, before 
admitting a record, to see the skin of a Dorset specimen. 
(W.P.C.). 



140 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 



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142 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 
BIRDS. 

Passer domesticus, The Common Sparrow. 

1 June at Poole, Mr. J. T. Curtis saw two common sparrows 
trying to catch a small geometer (probably Melanippe 
ilucluata), but as both birds went for it at once, neither got it. 
(W.P.C.) 
Fringilla ccelebs, The Chaffinch. 

9 May at Canford. This bird was sitting in a very accessible 
situation in an old dead turze hedge, so we decided to observe 
her closely 

15 May. She had hatched off. 

16 May. E.H.C. started work at this nest 1.10 and noted 
as follows . 

1.15 male fed young on what looked like small tortrix larvae. 

1 .25 male came to nest again with a beak and throat full 
of small larvae, some of which 1 recognised as geometers. 
All the larvae were dead. The food was in every instance 
the same, and 6 or 7 seemed to be the number of larvae 
brought each time. They were almost all of them green or 
pale yellow ; I saw no brown larvae at all. The pa.rent put 
the food right down the throat of the \oung, of which there 
were five, and 1 found tho young were unable to swallow r a 
small dead larva put into their mouth. They were little 
yellowish '' hairy '' nestlings, with mouths of crimson Avith 
pale yellow edges to their beaks. The male wos extremely 
quick in feeding the young, and no sooner had he finished 
than he bolted. The female behaved in a most silly manner 
throughout, fluttering in a very nervous way up and down 
beside the tent, and in and out round the nest. She came 
to the nest several times with food in her beak, entering the 
nest trom behind, and immediately bolted straight out of 
the front. 

1.35 male fed young. 

1.45 female bolted out of the nest, back to front. 

1.50 female came to ihe nest with food and bolted out 
without feeding. 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 143 

1.51 male fed young and cleaned young birds' excrements 
away. 

1.55 male fed young, entering irom back of nest as usual 
and afterward flying out of the front. 

1.58 male fed young. I whistled to him and he paused, 
afterwards finished feeding young and fled quickly. 

2.3 male came and fed young and cleaned nest. The hen 
fled about round the nest, but would not go on. 

2.5 hen pitched at back of nest and bolted straight out past 
the camera. 2.10 and 2.15 male fed young. 

2.30 male fed young and ate their excreta. The hen 
fluttered round nervously. 2.22 male fed young. 

2.23 hen pitched on the back of ths nest and bolted straight 
out. 2.24 she returned, fed the young and cleaned the nest. 

2.25 the cock, and at 2.33, the hen fed the young. 

2.51 hen came to the nest and then bolted. 

2.52 cock fed young whilst hen fluttered round nervously ; 
at 2.55, 2.58, and 3 p.m. female came to the nest, but 
did not stay. 3.1 she came again and fed all the young, 
but was in a highly nervous state ; she brought the same 
character of food as the cock. 

3.15 male fed young and cleaned the nest. 3.30 male fed 
young again. 3.25 hen came in and bolted again. 

3.30 male fed young and cleaned nest, while the hen kept 
around in a nervous state of flutter. 3.40 the cock fed young 
and cleaned nest. 

The young fidget all the time and whenever either parent 
comes they crane up their heads. At the sound of footsteps 
or even the bustling of a pigeon they are as still as death, 
yet they are only a few days old and can only, just to say, 
see. Still, they are not so knowing as one would assume, 
for while they are nervous of footfalls, yet if I disturb the 
leaves near the nest gently they think more food is coming. 

3.45 male took excrement away after feeding 3 r oung. I 
have only seen him consume it once. 

At 4 o'clock I put a bit of furze at the back of the nsst to 
try to make the cock come to the front (but he found his way 



144 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

in as before), whilst I was outside the cock came back and I 
surprised him feeding the young. He froze still, and as he 
did not offer to move lor about two minutes I crept into the 
back of my tent and got a very satisfactory picture of him. 

At 4.15, 4.20, and 4.35 the male came and ted the young, 
and thereafter I stopped obeerving. With regard to the 
behaviou r of the hen I came to the conclusion on reflection 
that I had alarmed her by accidentally letting off the focal 
plane shutter on my camera whilst arranging myself in the 
morning. 

23rd May. I had another try at this nest. I started at 11.10. 

11.10 male and female both came round the tent "pink 
pinking," neither of them had the courage to come to the 
nest, but fluttered round every once now and again. 

11.45 hen fed two juveniles and quitted in a hurry. 

11.46 cock fed juveniles and cleaned nest. Both birds by 
this time seemed reassured in a measure. 11.48 hen arrived 
with whole mouthful of green larvae, fed two juveniles and 
bolted very scared and "pink pinking." 11.49 cock came 
to the front of the nest with his mouth crammed with 9 or 
10 larvaa, all green one? ; he fed the yc ung and then stood 
fidgetting on the edge of the nest. 

The young birdo were hardly still a minute ; they were then 
so big that five of them in a small nest was a bit of a crush, 
and they kept elbowing one another about, but notwith- 
standing they seemed to keep their positions in the nest. Now 
and then one would heave itself up and flap its little wings 
after the manner of a duck, and the way the other little birds 
put their heads down out of the way was amusing to watch. 
T concluded they would soon be out of the nest, and, positively, 
when I left them in the evening their feathers seemed to have 
grown since morning. The young spent a great deal of time 
preening themselves. I doubt not that their growing feathers 
tickled them. When the sun was hot they kept their mouths 
open and showed bright crimson throats, but I never heard 
them make any sound except the little chirruping squeaking 
noise which seems in some form or other common language 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 145 

to many nestlings. The near approach of the parents was 
always announced by much head craning. The foregoing 
is a summary of my observations made from time to time in 
my note book, but gathered together afterwards. 

11.52 hen hurriedly fed the young. 12 (noon) and 12.10 
the hen fed the young. 12.15 the hen came to the nest and 
bolted straight out. Both birds seemed as wild as hawks 
this day ; it may possibly be the high wind, which caused 
the tent to flap a good bit, that alarmed them. 

12.30 and 12.32 the hen fed the young, but was very nervous. 

12.33 the cock fed the young and cleaned the nest. 12.37 
the hen came to the nest and fed young. The cock was as 
wild this Sunday as the hen was last, and I think the trouble 
with both birds is that they know that I am inside the tent. 

12.50 hen came to the nest, fed young and bolted, and then 
I went to lunch. 1.45 I went into the tent ; both parents 
were " pinking " round and saw me go in. 2.0 hen fed the 
young, after a few turns of bolting over the nest. 

2.11 the cock fed the young and waited at the nest. 2.30 
the hen was alarmed by a passer by. 2.35 the hen bolted 
over the nest. (It might be explained that this phrase is 
intended to convey that the hen entered the nest through 
the bushes at the back, but instead of staying to perform 
her duties she simply jumped straight over the nest and flew 
out at the front.) 

2.55 the hen fed one young bird and bolted. 2.56 the cock 
fed all the young, cleaned the nest and waited, paying no 
attention whatever to the shutter. 3.5 hen came to nest with 
food and left hurriedly. 3.15 both birds fluttered round and 
one of the young stood up, shook his wings and then spread 
them out fully. 

3.20 cock fed all the young. 3.25 both birds came to the 
nest and waited. 3.27 the cock came and fed all the young, 
after which the hen came and did the same. 3.28 the cock 
again fed the young. 

3.29 the hen came to the nest with food, but bolted without 
feeding the young. 3.33 the male fed the young from the 



146 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

front of the nest. The food brought by both birds was still 
green larvae. 

3.50 Hen came to nest, fed one young bird and bolted. 

3.55 The cock fed the young. 4. The cock fed the young 
and cleaned the nest. I then left. 

24th May. The young had quitted the nest by one o'clock 
when I went to inspect. (E.H.C.) 

(It will be noted that the young birds were only in the nest 
about 12 days). 
Acanthis cannabina (The Linnet). 

10th April, E.H.C. listened to a song contest by about 7 
or 8 males. They sat in the upper branches of an oak singing, 
whilst the females sat in the lower branches listening. (E.H.C.) 
Acanthis linaria cabaret (The Lesser Redpoll). 

2nd April. Two seen at Canford. (E.H.C. and W.P.C.) 
Motacilla lugubris (The Pied Wagtail). 

The only notes on this bird relate to downward movement. 
On 8th August at Handley Down it was evidently flocked and 
moved downwards, whilst on 22nd August at Swanage Golf 
Links between 20 and 30 were seen together in a party. 
(E.H.C. and W.P.C.) 
Motocilla rail (The Yellow Wagtail). 

Upward migration. 

7th April. One at Kingston Hill, Purbeck. (Dr. Penrose). 

Downward migration. 

7th August. Two seen at Canford. (E.H.C.). 

We have discovered that it is our own fault we do not see 
more of this bird than we do. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.) 
Anthus pratensis (The Meadow Pipit). 

27th March. An unusually large number in the neighbour- 
hood of Little Sea, Poole Harbour. E.H.C. came to the con- 
clusion that there had been an immigration. Dr. Penrose 
about this time noted an unusually large number in the 
Swanage neighbourhood. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.) 
Certhia familiaris britannica. (The British Tree Creeper). 

22nd May. We found a pair feeding young in a crevice 
in an open barn. E.H.C. saw the bird take in a geometer 




CERTHIA FAMILIARIS BRITANNICA Ridg. 
THE TREE CREEPER. 



d" at nest with a beakful of insects, 
Canford, Dorset, 1915. 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 147 

moth, Panagra petraria, wings and all ; it carried the insect 
by the terminal portion of the abdomen. The insect was 
dead and did not flutter. 

23rd May. At 1 .45 W.P.C. put up to this pair, but the sexes 
of the birds were nearly impossible to tell, and in W.P.C. 's 
notes which follow the sexes are given with reserve, and the 
determinations are based on behaviour as much as anything. 

2.0 Bird left. 2.2 Bird popped in very quickly. 2.5 Male (?) 
with a green larva. 2.30 Both birds together. 

2.35 and 2.40 One bird only. 3. Bird with 4 small grey 
moths, looked like Scoparias. 

3.7 Bird with what looked like a woodlouse. 3.15, 3.17 
and 3.26 Bird came in. 3.28 Bird came with larvae. 

3.30 Bird came with two grey geometers, looked like 
Lobophora halterata (this insect occurs very sparingly near 
the nest, and abundantly about 800 yards or so away from 
the nest). 

3.45 Male with large mouthful of insects (the enlarging 
camera shews that the insects were mostly diptera). 

3.48 Bird again. 4.12 Bird with a whole beakful of 
hymenoptera and diptera (the enlarging camera shews also 
a spider, some of the hymenoptera are ants). 

4.30 Bird again. I then stopped. 

The quick jerky movement of this bird is very discon- 
certing indeed, and unless one gets them in a position of rest 
between the jerks 1.22nd of a second exposure gives a mere 
blur. They seem unable to travel backwards easily, at which 
the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dryobates minor) is expert. 
They pitch below the nest and jerk up and in, and leave by 
jerking themselves upwards out of the nest. They seem very 
tame and fearless little birds, but usually announce their 
arrival with their mouselike little squeak. Of course a worker 
whose hearing w r as good would stand a much better chance 
than I should, as the scratching of the birds' claws on the 
bark would be audible. 

24th May. 1.25 I had another try at this pair of birds, 
and I let them come in once or twice before I settled to making 



148 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

notes, as I was anxious to see what the focus of my camera 
and the composition of the picture was like. 

1.35 One bird (subsequent behaviour made me believe this 
to be the hen) came in whilst I was endeavouring to make a 
ventilation hole in the tent which was insufferably hot. I 
could not see what she brought. She stayed on the nest. 

1.47 The cock arrived and the hen then left ; the cock 
entered the nest but only stayed a few minutes. 

1.52 Before I could change a plate or enter my notes, one 
bird was back with a beakful of small greyish micros like some 
Tortrix, say, about the appearance of Sericoris lacunana. 

1.53 The second bird, with more small grey moths. 

2.0 One bird came and went in very quickly the second 
came and I snapped it, but it flew off and returned almost 
immediately and entered the nest. I heard both birds give 
their squeaky little call before they came to the nest. 

2.4 One bird arrived with a bill full of larvae, mostly 
Geometrae, and the other bird left the nest ; the first entered, 
stayed about one minute feeding the young. How the second 
slipped in I do not know. I think however I can hear the 
young squeak. 

2.20 One of the birds arrived and left quickly, and the 
second before I could write my notes ; both brought small 
insects (? order). 

2.24 One came in, but dodged across from a position that 
did not permit of close inspection. This bird (? the female) 
stayed on the nest till at 2.31 the other came, and the bird 
that had been in hung on a pole outside the nest, vibrating 
its wings very rapidly, for all the world like a large hawk moth 
about to take flight. I was unable to get a picture of this 
attitude as they pop in and out very quickly. 

2.38 One bird came in, but I find they undoubtedly have 
a back wa}^ in, as they can pop in without coming to the front 
at all. Just as I was going out to investigate this the second 
bird arrived. I shifted the tent round a trifle and then went 
inside the log hut to find the nest quite open at the back, so I 
arranged matters to prevent the birds entering or leaving 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 149 

the nest at the back. I did not get settled again till 3 
o'clock. 

3.4 The cock came with 3 or 4 diptera and I felt sure a 
Nemophora swammerdamella. The hen was on the nest 
brooding, she came off to enable the cock to feed the young, 
and when he had done so she went back. I could see her 
tail as she turned about in the nest. The young then were 
mere little pats of black down. 

3.17 The female left the nest, she seemed very fidgdtty 
all the time she was there. 3.25 One bird back with a whole 
beakful of small insects, but I could not see what they 
were. 

3.25 Bird back with larvae and insects. 3.35 Bird back with 
larvae. 3.38 One bird back. It stayed and looked at the 
tent, and I was able to see that it certainly had woodlice in 
its bill. I felt sure it was the female, as she afterwards went 
to the nest and brooded. 

3.45 Cock came, hen left, and cock came to the entrance, 
evidently eating excreta. This was the first time that I 
saw any evidence of any method of cleaning the nest. He then 
left through the shed. 

3.55 Bird came in, and just as I was writing my note the 
second arrived, but as they have taken to go out sideways 
between the poles of the hut I had to go out to close that 
exit. 

4.10 One of the birds came in, but left again almost 
immediately ; it had a mouthful of small insects, including 
two moths. 

4.20 Both birds came, but I could not see what food was 
brought. 

4.22 Cock with larvae. The hen came off the nest and 
fluttered about outside. The cock and the hen sported 
together a minute or two. The hen's tail was visible all the 
time she was on the nest, and she fidgetted a great deal. 

4.30 The hen came out, but before I could write my note 
the cock came in and fed the young. 5.5 Another bird came 
in. after which I left. 



150 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

The birds are easy to photograph if you get them at the 
moment of rest, but if you happen to snap them just as they 
jerk on there is nothing but a straight streak on the plate ; 
l-50th of a second being quite useless to arrest the movement. 
An examination of the bad plates shewed that the bird 
jerks itself forward by a flexing action of the leg, aided by the 
tail, as in several cases the tail shewed slight movement, the 
bird much movement, and yet the feet were quite sharp. The 
turning movement in entering the nest also shewed on several 
occasions that practically the whole bird had turned before 
the feet were moved. (W.P.C.). 
Sitta caesia (The Nuthatch). 

llth April, E.H.C. observed a bird on the outskirts of Bere 
Wood, collecting mud from a ditch. It got a lump about one 
inch long and about J of an inch in diameter and took it into 
the wood ; we followed for 300 yards and found the bird 
plastering an old woodpecker's hole, 18 feet up an aspen 
poplar. 

17th May. A nest was finished in an old woodpecker's 
hole at Canford, but on the 22nd May the birds had been 
dispossessed by Picus viridis, which cut out all the mud, 
did some chipping and then abandoned the hole. Sitta caesia 
is a dear little bird and most inoffensive, and its attachment 
to its nest is particularly strong, yet it is as much persecuted 
by starlings, woodpeckers, and squirrels as any bird we know. 
(E.H.C. and W.P.C.) 
Parus ater-ater (The Continental Coal Titmouse). 

In the later part of January two specimens of this bird 
came into an araucaria on several occasions outside my 
window at the nursing home in Parkstone, where 1 was confined 
with appendix trouble ; as my l)ed was within 20 feet of the 
tree I am satisfied as to identity. (W.P.C.) 

Parus aler-briiannicu* (The British Coal Titmouse). 

22nd May. On this date our nesting box No. 32 at Canford 
contained a whole brood of young birds. 

24th May. E.H.C. put up his tent to this nest. His notes 
were as follows. : 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 151 

"' This nesting box had been specially placed with a view to 
" photography. Although the light registered 25 sees, on 
" the meter at the nest, in bright sunlight through the trees. 
' c it is really wondereful how the green leaves soak up the 
" sunlight. I found I was unable to distinguish the sexes. 
" On every occasion the food brought was green larvae, 
" except once when the bird was so quick that I was unable to 
"identify the food. The times of feeding were 1.40, 1.48, 
'1.50, 1.51, 1.54, 1.56, 1.59, 2.1, 2.4, 2.8, 2.10, 2.14, 2.15, 
" 2.16, 2.20. At 2.25 I went outside the tent to test the light, 
" which had become very dull, and it was three o'clock before 
" I heard the birds having a consultation near the nest, then 
" they went away till 3.10, At 3.11, 3.15 and 3.21, the birds 
" fed the young, after which I had to leave." The birds 
are very quick in their movements, but not very difficult, as 
they pause and stay quite still for a moment, and one can 
judge their movements. (E.H.C. and W.P.C.). 
Parus palustris dresser i (The British Marsh Tit). 

After examining a very large number of nests of this bird 
we have come to the conclusion that its favourite material 
is roebuck hair (where available), which partiality is also 
shared by Parus ater-bntannicus. As it is necessary to clean 
every nesting box at the beginning of each season, and as we 
have careful charts of the boxes and what bird is using them, 
there is every opportunity of forming a satisfactory conclusion, 
since the materials keep well in the dry boxes, and after the 
young birds have flown one can examine the nest at one's 
leisure. We have had boxes out for 4 seasons, anything from 
20 to 50 in a season. So far P.c. obscurus and P.m. newtoni 
with equal opportunity have eschewed this material. 

23rd May. This bird was feeding young in one of our 
nesting boxes at Canford. (W.P.C. and E.H.C. ). 
Parus borealis kleinschmidti (The British Willow Titmouse). 

This bird has not, so far as I am aware, hitherto been 
recognised in this country, but Dr. Penrose gave us some 
particulars of it and suggested that it should, so we kept a 
sharp look out. I am pleased to be able to record that we are 



152 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

satisfied that we have seen at least two pairs. The differen- 
tiation is to be found in Hellmayr Orn. Jahrb XI. p. 212 (19) /O) 
a not very accessible book, written in a language not generally 
cultivated just now. 

Dr. Penrose, however, writes to us as follows : 

12th May, 1915. I went to the Natural History Museum 
and had out the series Parus palustris dresseri to compare 
with P.b. kleinschmidti and made the following notes. 

P.p. dresseri (The English Marsh Tit) . 

The feathers of the blackcap on the crown of the head are 
crisp and short, which gives a definite bright, satiny 
appearance. The end of the tail is almost square. 

P.b. kleinschmidti (The English Willow Tit). 

The feathers of the head are longer and looser, and give a 
much less glossy a more velvety appearance. The end of 
the tail is distinctly graduated. There is a reference to the 
distinctions mentioned above in " British Birds " Vol. I., p. 44, 
by W. Rothschild. 

Dr. Penrose illustrated his letter by sketches shewing that 
the tail of P. b. kleinschmitdi was, when spread, very decidedly 
excurved in contour at the extremity and very decidedly 
crenulate. 

We came to the conclusion after watching one pair for an 
hour or two and comparing them with P.p. dresseri in the 
neighbourhood that the latter had the appearance of having its 
" hair " nice and tidy whilst the former had " towzled hair." 

4th April. At Canford we observed a pair busily boring a 
hole out in a rotten oak limb. 

1st May. One of a pair at Canford that had selected and 
partially hollowed out a decayed holly stump was scrutinized 
by Dr. Penrose and pronounced by him to be P.b. kleins- 
chmitdi. This pair laid 4 eggs and then for no apparent 
reason disappeared, possibly they came to an untimely end. 
(W.P.C. and E.H.C.). 
Aegithalus caudatus roseus (The British Long -tailed Titmouse). 

4th April. A nest partly lined with feathers at Canford. 
(W.P.C.). 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 153 

10th April. A completed nest at Canford. (W.P.C.). 

A completed nest at Durlstone Estate Garden, Swanage. 
{Dr. Penrose). 

25th April. A completed nest at Berewood with the 
entrance facing full south and open to the midday sun, not a 
usual aspect in our experience. (W.P.C.). 

1st May. On this date the nest found on the 10th ult. 
was occupied by the hen bird sitting with her tail stuck out 
over the top of her head in the customary manner, and on the 
15th May birds were feeding young. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.). 
Lanius collurio. (The Redbacked Shrike). 

25th July. A pair with their family of fully fledged 
young were seen at Canford Bottom, Poole. (W.P.C. and 
E.H.C.). 
Sylvia communis (The Whitethroat). 

Upward migration. April 30th May 1st. Dr. Penrose 
reported that the foggy night had brought down at Swanage a 
large number that were evidently on migration. We saw one 
at Canford on the 1st May, shewing that the birds had moved 
in off the coast fairly promptly. 

2nd May. These birds were in great numbers on Pentridge 
Down. 

6th June. On the edge of Poole Harbour E.H.C. found a 
pair feeding young. The young were nearly ready to go. 
The nest was well concealed in a furze bush, although there 
was an abundance of bramble at hand. 

Downward migration. 8th August. In companies on 
Handle y Down evidently moving downwards. 

9th August. One seen at Canford Bottom, if the same 
bird that had been there all the summer, some distance from 
its breeding place, but hardly migrating. 

22nd August. 10 to 12 seen at Swanage in company with 
other Sylvias and M. grisola (q.v.) 

Five seen on the Studland side of Swanage golf links. 
(W.P.C. and E.H.C.). 
Sylvia curruca (The Lesser Whitethroat). 

We got no satisfactory record of arrivals. 



154 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

5th June. A pair seen feeding young at Bad bury Rings, 
but we had insufficient time to locate the nest exactly. 
Downward migration. 

8th August. In companies on Handley Down, evidently 
moving downwards. 

22nd August. One seen at Swanage in company with the 
other Sylvias and M. grisola (q.v.) (W.P.C. and E.H.C.). 
Sylvia simplex (The Garden Warbler). 

Upward migration. 

1st May. One seen at Canford (see note under S. communis). 

13th June. A nest found and photographed. We feel 
sure the young had left, yet the cockbird was singing delight- 
fully quite close to the nest. We noted in 1914 that a cock 
8. simplex was in full song after the young had left a nest at 
Winchester. 

On the 16th June 8 a.m. This same bird was still singing 
beautifully. 

Downward migration. 

22nd August. Four seen at Swanage in company with 
other Sylvias and M. grisola. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.). 
Sylvia atricapilla. (The Black Cap Warbler.) 

22nd and 23rd May. This bird was singing well on these 
dates at Canford but otherwise escaped our attention. (W.P.C. 
and E.H.C.). 
Melizophilus undatus dartjordiensis. (The Dartford Warbler). 

4th April. One seen at Ham worthy. 

5th April. Two seen at Canford. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.). 
Phylloscopus trocnilus (The Willow Warbler). 

Arrivals were as follows : 

17th April. Broadstone Golf Links, a number seen. 

18th April. A good number at Berewood. 

20th April. There were good numbers at Broadstone. 

22nd April. They were singing very vigorously at Broad- 
stone. 

30th April. Dr. Penrose reported that the foggy night 
brought down at Swanage a large number that were on 
migration. 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 155 

Nesting. 

8th May. A nest with 3 eggs at Canford. 

23rd. This bird was still sitting. 

5th June. A pair seen feeding young at Badbury Rings. 

12th June. A nest-full nearly ready to go, at Broadstone. 

27th June. This bird was singing well. 

Departures were as follows : 

8th August. In companies on Handley Down, and 
evidently moving Southward. 

17th August. One in Bournemouth Pleasure Gardens, 
obviously a downward migrant. 

22nd August. One seen in company with Sylvias and 
M. grisola (q.v.) at Swanage. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.) 
Phylloscopus sibilatrix. (The Wood Warbler.) 

Arrivals. 

24th April. One seen at Broadstone. 

1st May. Heard singing at Canford, but not the full 
song, only the stridulatory trill. 

9th May and 24th. This bird was in full song at Canford. 

20th June. The same bird was singing a few bars of song, 
but without the long drawn "dear, dear, dear dear." at the end. 

27th June. The same bird was still singing a little. 

The downward migration escaped notice. 
Phylloscopus collybita (The Chiff chaff). 

The winter resident referred to in last year's report was seen 
on February 21st, and replied to W.P.C.'s whistling ; it was 
busy catching small flies in a willow tree in the Royal Victoria 
Hotel Garden, Swanage. 

On 23rd February we again watched it from the window of 
the room occupied by Dr. Penrose. 

Upward migration. 

March 23rd. Dr. Penrose 's note above (see schedule) 
shews the arrival of the true immigrants, which were 
noticed by Mr. Peck at Dorchester on the 31st. 

April 4th. At Canford we heard four singing, but saw none. 

April 10th. No increase had taken place in the Canford 
District, as only two were heard. 



156 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

April llth. Several were heard in Berewood (about 6 or 7). 

April 10th llth. Although the night was misty, Dr. 
Penrose records a further arrival at Swanage. 

April 17th. Two only at Broadstone. April 18th. In 
good numbers at Berewood. 

April 24th. We came to the conclusion that there was still 
a number of birds at Broadstone which had not settled down. 

April 30th May 1st. Dr. Penrose reported that a fog on 
this night brought down at Swanage a great number which 
were on migration. 

Nesting. 

8th May. The start of a nest at Canford. 

9th May. One nest with 3 eggs and one building at Canford . 

15th May. This last bird was sitting. 

22nd May. The nest was deserted because a spruce tree 
had been felled near, and the other two nests were never 
finished. (In this connection might be considered the fact 
that the feathers of this bird were present in some numbers 
in the Sparrow Hawk's larder referred to under A. nisus.) 

12th June. A nest full of young at Broadstone. 

27th June. Heard singing at Broadstone. 

10th July. A pair were feeding young out of the nest at 
Badbury Rings and the cock was still singing. The down- 
ward migration escaped notice. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.) 
Turdus musicus clarkii (British Song Thrush). 

14th February, 1915. This bird was in rather larger 
numbers than usual at Parkstone-on-Sea, and was in full song. 

5th April. A completed nest was found at Canford. 

26th December, 1915. One of these birds had started to 
sing at Poole. (E.H.C. and W.P.C.) 

9th January. At Edmondsham the thrush sings ; rare 
this winter, only December 28th lately. (E.F.L.) 

8th January. Heard singing at Pulham. (J.R.) 
Turdus merula. (The Blackbird.) 

14th February, 1915. E.H.C. came to the conclusion that 
there was a migratory movement in progress at Parkstone- 
on-Sea, as he counted 14 birds in one field. 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 157 

20th June, 1915. At Poole Mr. J. T. Curtis made the 
following observation : 

" 8 a.m., whilst watering the front garden I saw a cock 
blackbird catch a brown moth and eat it. There was no 
mistake about it, the bird was only 4 or 5 feet from me." 

15th November. There was an abnormally large number 
of these birds at Canford ; we counted 50 in one small clear 
patch in one wood. Suggesting a Southerly movement. 
(E.H.C. and W.P.C.) 
Erithacus rubecula melophilus. (The British Redbreast). 

4th April. We found a robin had already brought off a 
brood in one of our nesting boxes at Canford, and we saw 
another carrying nesting material. 

llth April. Two observed building at Berewood. 

8th May. At Canford one observed feeding young, and one 
observed building. 

9th May. This latter bird had completed and laid one 
egg. W.P.C. endeavoured unsuccessfully to get a really good 
colour record, but the lighting of the situation was so very 
difficult that he failed. The nest was very peculiar ; it started 
quite low in the bank and was built up quite 10 inches till a 
fairly good platform was obtained,on which the nest proper 
was placed. We have never seen quite so elaborate a 
structure by a robin and the birds must have been wonderfully 
industrious to get the material together, since there was more 
than sufficient material to make six ordinary blackbirds' nests. 

15th May. This bird was sitting, 5 eggs. 

22nd May. W.P.C. endeavoured unsuccessfully to photo- 
graph this bird sitting, but robins are very knowing, and 
whilst she would sit complacently as long as W.P.C. was not 
in the tent, she resolutely declined to come if he were inside. 

18th June. At Canford W.P.C. observed this bird taking 
Cabera pusaria into its nest about 7.30 a.m. 
Luscinia megarhyncha. (The Nightingale.) 

Common in the valley of Kit Brook. (E.S.R.) 

8th August. A couple seen on Handley Down moving 
Southward. 



158 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

Be it noted that notwithstanding the numerous alleged 
nightingales recorded in the Poole district (we \vere only 
working the Poole area and not Berewood), we saw none 
"as usual." (W.P.C. and E.H.C.) 

" Nightingales are not common about here (Weymouth), 
" but are occasionally heard in some of the woods. We have 
" only had one in this garden a very few times in 30 years, 
" and there is no other place within half a mile that has any 
" trees worth mentioning, so a good many birds come here." 
(N.M.R.) 
(Enanthe cenanthe. (The Wheatear). 

Inward migration (see schedule). 

10th llth April. A further arrival was observed at 
Swanage by Dr. Penrose. 

Downward migration. 

22nd August. This bird was still in evidence on the Light- 
house Down at Swanage. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.) 
Muscicapa grisola (The Spotted Flycatcher). 

Arrival. 

12th June, one seen at Waterloo, near Poole. 

Departure. 

22nd August. About 40 seen, both adults and juveniles, 
on the road from the Quarries to Peverel Down in a distance 
of about 400 yards. They \vere hawking flies and kept calling 
to one another, apparently to keep company. They were 
accompanied by numerous Sylvias (q.v.). 
Hirundo rustica (Swallow). 

Inward migration. 

llth April. Although we only saw one at Berewood, 
Dr. Penrose saw seven arrive at Swanage during the Sunday. 

29th April. However, 6 or 7 were observed over the Stour 
at Canford, and two paired at the Court House, Canford, so the 
major body had evidently arrived and commenced to settle in. 

Departure. 

2nd October. Ten to twelve seen at Broadstone. 

3rd October. Two seen hawking in the High Street at 
Poole. 




DRYOBATES MAJOR ANGLICUS Hartert. 
THE GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 



c5 at nesting hole, 
Canford, Dorset, 1915. 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 159 

This bird is much less common than formerly. (W.P.C. 
and E.H.C.) 
Delichon urbica (The House Martin). 

21st August. At Arish Mell numbers were hawking round 
the cliffs, but as there were quite a number of nests under the 
overhanging ledges they were probably residents. (W.P.C. 
and E.H.C.) 

Dryobatcs major anglicus (The British Great Spotted Wood- 
pecker). 

2nd April. This bird had made another hole in the tree 
that it nested in at Canford last year. (E.H.C. and W.P.C.) 
(We will call this nest B). 

25th April. On this date we found that the bird had been 
dispossessed of nest B by a starling of the usual o bscene habits. 

1st May. The birds had started a new hole in the rotten 
birch in which we first found them (Nest A). 

15th May. The birds had been dispossessed of nest A 
by a Pic-us viridis (see notes under that name). The y had, 
however, started to complete an incomplete boring commenced 
by Pic us viridis in solid living birch, which must have been 
exceedingly hard work, as the wood they had taken out was 
solid and fibrous. 

10th June. E.H.C. went down to this pair ; he notes as 
follows : 

2. Both birds are beautifully broken to the camera. They 
do not care twopence for me arranging the gear ; they stayed 
off and " churked " for two or three minutes and then went 
on feeding the young as if nothing had happened. The 
young went on " Queek queek queek " to the Nth power ; 
they were at it all day and never stopped for a minute. I 
judged there to be 5 or 6 young. 

3.20 Cock came to the nest, fed young, but did not go right 
in. 3.30 Hen fed young, entered nest and cleaned it. 

3.35. The cock, and 3.36 the hen fed young. 3.39 The 
cock fed all the young and gave me the opportunity of seeing 
the food, which was grey moth bodies as far as I could judge, 
as I do not know any other material it could be. 



160 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

3.45 The male, 3.52 the female, 3.53 the male, and 3.58 the 
female fed young, one of which at least came to the mouth of 
the nest. 

4.1 Cock arrived with what I thought was a whole crop 
full of chammed up moths, that is what I took it to be. The 
young were at this stage fed almost entirely by regurgitation. 

4.2 The hen, 4.8 the cock, at 4.9 the hen came to the nest. 
At 4.12 I gave up. While I was packing up the gear the birds 
came to the nest and fed the young as long as 1 was not 
actually standing under the tree. Their movements are 
frightfully quick and they are never still for a moment. 

13th June. W.P.C. took this bird in hand, and by dint of 
adding additional tent poles to the tent and lashing three 
5 foot poles to the tripod, and importing a pair of steps into 
the tent to stand on to reach the camera, we managed to get 
nearly level with the nest and only about 14 feet from it. 
While we were getting all this safely and firmly settled 
both birds came to the nest repeatedly and fed the young 
whenever we were behind or inside the tent ; and since 
these reputedly timid and wary birds did iiol seem 
to mind our presence an atom, we concluded that they 
remembered the same performance conducted last year. Picas 
viridis is infinitely more shy and suspicious. (Here I digress 
to say that to hoist the whole tripod camera and everything 
to a height of about 14 feet from the ground in the way we 
did, and yet get the whole apparatus stable, demands an 
exceptionally powerful and well-built tripod ; I used a two- 
fold Ashford 7ft. stand with a lOin. top, which is quite the 
most powerful and rigid stand I know, the ample size of the 
top being a godsend under such conditions). 

9.55 Male with moth (species?) and about 8 geometer larvae. 

10.5 One bird, could not see sex or food. 

10.15 Female arrived with a mouthful of larvae. I made a 
noise putting up my hand to get at the shutter, and the bird 
cleared off for about 5 minutes. (E.H.C. doubts this being the 
reason why she cleared off and states that at this time he 
was standing under a starling's nest in the immediate neigh- 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 161 

bourhood, and that the starlings were making a tremendous 
fuss ; he suggests that this was the real reason why the bird 
went off). The bird uttered her alarm call, and during the 
time she was uttering it the young in the nest were very 
quiet; but as soon as she left off they recommenced their noisy 
chatter. The bird finally came to the nest and departed after 
feeding the young. 

10.22 Male arrived and fed young ; he announced his 
arrival with a single " churck." 10.32 One of the parent 
birds arrived ; could not see what was brought, but noticed 
that the young raised the pitch of their note on the parent's 
arrival. 

10.37 Male with small insects and larvae ; he was too quick 
for certain identification of the food. 10.43 Young stopped 
calling (This is really a very noteworthy event, for this brood 
were quite as vociferous as the one referred to in 1914). 

10.44 Young resumed calling ; female arrived, fed them, and 
then they became more vocal than ever. The female was 
quite silent. The young are now about half the size of their 
parents, and their crests are quite red. 

10.45 Male with insects and larvae, including what looked 
like a large geometer moth of grey color (IBoarmia consortarid) 

10.52 Male fed young. I gave him a very quick instan- 
taneous exposure, and at the " ping " of the shutter he 
" churcked " for about half a minute, but did not leave the 
nest ; afterwards became quiet and then left. The young 
ceased calling while the male was speaking. 

10.55 One of the birds fed the young and popped off again 
quickly. 11.1 Female, with some very small food. 

11.3 Male fed young, but hen came before I could move 
and fed the young again. 11.10 Male, 11.15 male again, 
followed immediately by female. 11.19 One of the 
parents. 

11.20 Male again, followed immediately by the female, who 
took no notice of the noise of changing the plates, and was very 
leisurely. 11.29 Female again. 11.32 Male came. I tried 
to get him to look up and stay still by calling and shouting 



162 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

to him ; but he took not the smallest notice, and went on 
feeding the young with his head in the hole. 

11.34 Male again ; he fed the young by regurgitation. 11.36 
Female with very small food. 11.40 Female, with two large 
green noctua larvae, undoubtedly the larvae of Taeniocampa 
slabilis ; they were carried in the base of the bill, and were 
passed up by the tongue to the young bird. Both larvae 
were given to the same young one. 11.43 Female with 3 
or 4 larvae of Cheimatobia hrumata. 

11. 50 Male, with a great number of small insects quite 
indistinguishable ; he fed two young birds with them. 

11. 55 Male with several larvae and at least one Tephrosia 
punctularia. As the light then went completely off the tree I 
left to do some general photography I was desirous of doing. 
4.0 I came back to get a photograph of the tent at full height, 
and whilst I was photographing the tent the male came in 
bringing 4 large gray geometer moths ('! Boarmia repandata). 
Note. I had seen B. repandata at rest on a tree not far from 
the nest, so I know it was out. 

June 16th. E.H.C. visited this pair of birds and was 
ready at 7.45 a.m. His notes were as follows : 

7.50 Hen came to the nest with larvae and other food. 

7.51 Cock brought larvae ; on both occasions the feeding 
was partly by regurgitation. The young birds have been 
behaving as usual, chattering away all the time since we 
got within earshot. The cock and hen did not feed the young 
birds while we were getting up our gear, but stayed about 
" churcking " as I have before noted, and very much after the 
the manner of a blackbird's alarm note. 

8.5 Female fed young with larvae. 

8.10 Cock, 8.13 hen, and 8.25 cock, fed young. 8.29 Cock 
fed young partially with food in his beak, which I could not 
see, and partly by regurgitation. 

8.35 Hen brought body of a grey moth and a large geometer 
larva. 8.39. Cock brought brown larva which did not 
look to me like the larvae of lepidoptera. 8.44 Hen fed 
young in great haste. 8.48 cock fed young very rapidly. 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 163 

8.55 Hen ; 8.58 cock ; 9.1 hen ; 9.6 hen ; 9.12 cock ; 9.20 cock 
again fed the young. The young have not stopped chattering ; 
the noise rises and falls, growing most vociferous when the 
parents arrive with food, but the young are no reliable guide 
as to the arrival of the parents, as they give so many false 
alarms. 

9.27 Hen ; 9.28 cock ; 9.33 hen ; 9.34 cock ; 9.40 hen fed 
young. The sun now went off the nest so I left ; but while 
I was packing up, both birds came to the nest and fed the 
young ; they "churcked" whilst I was outside; but the moment 
I went inside they took no notice, notwithstanding that my 
feet were in full view. 

18th June. E.H.C. had another try at these birds. His 
notes were as follows : The hen fed the young twice while 
we were getting the gear up, which work we completed at 
7.20. 7.25 Cock came to the nest with a good deal of 
" churcking ; " both birds " churcked " a good deal whilst 
we were setting up. 

7.28 Cock ; 7.37 hen ; 7.42 hen again. The young chattered 
all the time. I did not hear more than t\vo at a time, and 
usually only one, they are silent for a few seconds at rare 
intervals. 

8. Cock and hen came in quick succession and fed one young 
bird that came right up to the entrance and craned out so far 
that I thought he would lose his balance. 8.5 Cock fed young. 

8.7 Hen fed young. From what I could hear and surmise 
as to the behaviour of the young, as soon as one has been fed 
a few times there is a good deal of scrambling and elbowing 
in the nest and another young one comes to the entrance. 

8.10 One young bird put his head and neck a long way out, 
and I could see his lovely little red crest. His head and 
neck are well feathered. 

8.14 Hen fed young by regurgitation. 8.22 and 8.30, hen 
fed young. 8.34 the cock. 8.39 The hen came with food, 
and there was a struggle between two young as to which should 
have the food. One of the young was looking out and 
chattering, and I calculated he uttered 250 cries per minute. 



164 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

8.46 and 8.47 and 8.57 the cock fed the young. 9 Hen ; 
9.4 hen ; 9.10 cock, 9.14 the hen fed the young. 

20th June. W.P.C. paid further attention to these birds. 
He notes as follows : 

7.30 Settled in with all the gear ready. 7.32 Bird fed young, 
which have made marvellous progress in a week ; they very 
nearly resemble the adult birds, and keep looking out of the 
hole, and are much more noisy than they were a week ago. 

7.40 One of the birds fed the young by regurgitation. 7.46 
Another of the parents came. 7.50 One of the birds brought 
a number of Dipterous flies and hymenoptera of no great 
size. 7.57 Cock ; 7.58 hen and 7.59 cock fed the young. 

8.3 Hen brought larvae for the young which appeared to 
be Hybernias. 8.8 Hen and 8.14 cock fed. 8.20 One of the 
birds fed the young on larvae. 8.25 Cock fed young, but 
seemed alarmed at something, hen followed on quickly, but 
left in a hurry. 8.34 The hen again. 8.35 The male with 
two small moths about the size of a Melanippe jluctuata 
probably Melanippe montanata or possibly Coremia ferrugala 
and various other oddments. (I think since that these moths 
were almost certainly Coremia ferrugala, which was at rest 
on the tree trunks in the neighbourhood in fair numbers, that 
is to say, I found several at rest at varying heights on birch 
trees mostly from 4 to 7 feet from the ground). 

8.42 The cock fed. 8.47 The cock came to the nest, but 
dropped straight down to the ground suddenly and made off 
in a zig-zag direction, which I put down to the advent of a 
hawk, as all the birds were silent. (E.H.C. saw a female 
A. nisus go over just about this time, evidently on the war 
path). Both birds gave their alarm notes. 

8.49 The hen fed. 8.50 the cock. 8.54 The young were 
quiet for a few seconds. 8.54-30 The female fed. 8.56 Male 
brought a grey noctua rather smaller than an average sized 
Acronycla psi and about the same colour ; male " churcked, " 
but not in alarm, he apparently was calling the female. 

9.0 Female fed, while male called a little way off. I went 
out to get more plates. 9.30 Male fed young. He afterwards 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 165 

went down amongst the bracken and hunted the low stems of 
small birch ; he roused a little Scoparia off one and chased him 
down to the ground ; but I did not see whether he caught it, as 
a lot of bracken intervened. I afterwards saw him searching 
on the ground for food, and he seemed to be making a meal 
for himself. Now and again he gave a " churck, " which made 
the young renew the vigor of their chatter, which was not so 
incessant as usual. 

9.55 and 10.5 The hen fed young. At 10.6 the male, after 
which I left the nest for a time, as E.H.C. wanted my high 
tent and stand moved up to a Picus viridis. Before doing 
this, however, we thought we would test the liking of the 
young for a moth, so we put a Cabera pusaria in a slit at the 
end of a stick and offered it to one bird ; as we came close 
to the nesting hole to do this the young bird drew back, but 
as soon as the youngster caught sight of the Cabera pusaria he 
went for it with all the vigour of a hungry bass going for a 
smelt, extracted the moth from the slit in the stick, bolted 
it wings and all, and emphatically showed his appreciation by 
chattering and craning out of the hole and looking in our 
direction for more. 1 returned to the nest and set up a small 
tent to watch from with the binoculars, as I hoped that I 
would be able to determine the food brought with greater 
accuracy. 

1.40 The young were very active and noisy. 2.7 Male 
brought small food, fed the young. This young bird is evidently 
learning to speak, and has now added a chirp like a sparrow, 
repeated in a warbler fashion, and not altogether unlike a 
robin's warning note. The time that elapses between meals 
for the young as the day advances, as compared with the early 
morning, all goes to shew in my opinion that the food of 
these birds is insects, including lepidoptera taken at rest. 
It is notorious that unless you go trunk-searching and fence 
searching before the sun is high your success is small, and 
apparently the woodpeckers find the same difficulty as we do. 

2.22 Male fed. 2.27 Male fed the young by regurgitation. 
2.29 Female fed also by regurgitation. 



166 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

2.40 Hen fed young partly on a larva or two and partly by 
regurgitation. I am convinced that the latter process was 
resorted to, as the bills of the young bird and parent bird 
were parted. I distinctly saw a rope of saliva from the one 
to the other. The bill of the young bird is much greyer than 
that of the adult, especially about the lower mandible, and the 
white of the plumage is very yellow, almost primrose 
coloured. (E.H.C. suggests that the yellow may be a result of 
continual contact with the birch tree.) 

2.55 Male brought moth that looked like a Bupalus piniaria 
female for size and colour. 3.20 Male fed young. 3.22 male 
fed young by regurgitation. The young are now chirping and 
also making a noise like a whitethroat scolding, The latter 
noise they always make after having food. I was out of the 
observation tent from 3.25 till 3.55 when the female fed the 
young by regurgitation. 3.57 One of the birds fed, and was 
gone before I could get the glasses up. 4.20 The male fed 
young very quickly, and again at 4.35. Neither bird had 
returned at 4.40 when I left. 

27th June. The birds had flown, and the neighbourhood 
seemed curiously empty and silent after their departure ; 
noisy as they are, they are cheerful little birds, and most 
amusing to watch. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.). 
Dryobates minor (Lesser Spotted Woodpecker). 

19th February, 1915. One seen at Sandbanks Road, Poole. 
(W.P.C.). 

5th April. One had commenced a nesting hole in a rotten 
beech at Canford. 

1st May. Dr. Penrose's chauffeur Hanson watched this 
bird at work on this hole during the afternoon. 

22nd May. We again watched the hole in the hope of 
seeing the bird, but did not do so, and we found subsequently 
that the hole was abandoned. 

13th June. W.P.C. spent some considerable time watching 
this hole, but as no bird appeared he concluded that the 
close proximity of some filthy starlings had been too much 
for the little bird. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.). 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 167 

Picus viridis (The Green Woodpecker). 

15th May. One of the holes (nest A) started by D.m. 
anglicus has been taken over by this bird. 

10th June. Nest A was given attention on this date by 
E.H.C. He notes as follows : 

" Soon after I got up the tent, one of the birds went in, 
the hen I think, but she did not stay long. 

10.0 Both birds were prowling round in the vicinity, some- 
times hunting on the ground for food. 

10.15 And sometimes on the pines and birches close at hand. 
Every little while they would call affectionately to one 
another. 

11.21 The female came to the nest. 12 The female returned 
and was still on the nest at 12.40, so I went out for some 
lunch. 1.0 I returned, but there was no sign of the birds. 

1.30 The male hopped round and the female looked out 
and exchanged a few notes of conversation with him. He 
stayed close to the tent flustering around in the dead leaves, 
together with a blackbird, but it was very easy to distinguish 
the heavy hops of the P. viridis from the lighter footsteps of 
the blackbird. 

1.35 to 2. 1 amused myself taking the large wood ants which 
had invaded my tent out of my clothing, and then as the hen 
seemed either to be sitting or covering very young chicks, 
and neither bird was fruitful from the observation point of 
view, I gave up. 

13th June. I put up to this pair again, but after great 
difficulty with my apparatus I found such preposterous 
exposures would be required under the thick foliage that I 
gave the idea up. The young had just been hatched, I think, 
as they set up a faint bee -like humming when I scratched the 
tree with my finger nails. The female looked out of the nest 
once or twice and the male came round and gave his " alarm" 
yaffle. This was the last time I paid attention to this pair 
of birds. 

20th June. This brood had progressed to the stage of 
making a noise like a swarm of bees. The old birds dug so 



168 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

far into the tree that they got through the dead wood into 
the living wood behind, with the result that the birch sap 
had oozed and is still shewing signs of oozing, so evidently a 
certain amount of dampness is not detrimental to the young. 

3rd July. This nest was empty and the brood had departed. 

13th June. I went down to nest B (see under D. m. 
anglicus). The P. viridis had at the end of April turned the 
starlings out lock, stock, and barrel, thrown the nest and 
young on to the ground, cleaned the cavity up thoroughly, 
and enlarged it to suit their own requirements. This treat- 
ment of the starlings we regarded as indicating a very proper 
sense of decency and a just wrath on the part of the P. viridis. 
They were the only pair of starlings that defiled a very 
beautiful birch copse, which, excluding a few blackbirds, is 
usually tenanted only by the aristocracy of our bird world. 
One bird only came to the tree containing the nest, but I was 
unable to see which, as it pitched in the tree and did not come 
to the nesting hole : it stayed in the vicinity from 2 to 4.30. 
I was unable to determine if it was the male hanging round 
whilst the female sat inside. 

20th June. E.H.C. commenced on this nest ; from 2 to 3 
one of the birds was calling in the distance and once another 
answered. The young made a little noise between the 
buzzing of bees and a grating sound. 

3.30 W.P.C. took on for a short time. 3.35 One of the 
birds passed close to the tent and called " quock quock 
quock." 3.45 One of the adults spoke in the distance. E.H.C. 
came back and took on. 4.30 Female came to a tree near 
at hand and called and moved to and fro at intervals. 

4.35 She came to the nesting tree and spent 5 minutes 
examining the tent, and then backed down the tree to within 
a few feet of the ground. 4.45 She prowled about on the 
ground looking for food. 5.15 I gave it up. 

25th June. E.H.C. again visited this nest and noted as 
follows : 

3 p.m. The young were making a rasping noise not unlike 
a file being rubbed slowly along the edge of a good sized piece 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 169 

of stiff paper ; the noise is rather deep. The male was calling 
in the distance, and then came into a tree close at hand and 
called at intervals, the young answering with a rasping hum. 

4 p.m. Male came to nest ; the young must still have been 
very immature, as he went inside. The male did not actually 
announce his arrival on the nesting tree, and had I not heard 
his wings and the noise he made pitching and clambering 
down the tree backwards he might have come unnoticed. 

27th June. E.H.C. went over to the nest, hoping to get some 
colour photographs, and noted as follows : 

3.25 The light became very dull whilst I was setting up, as 
thunder was rolling about everywhere. The male called at 
intervals while I was setting up. 

3.35 to 3.55 He called at intervals of about 5 minutes from 
one of the dead branches of the nesting tree. 3.55 He moved 
to another tree. 4.5 He came to the nest and after some 
hesitation entered. The female was close at hand and called 
whilst the male was in the nest. The young now make their 
rasping buzz loudly. 4.10 The female came and sat up near 
and remained in the neighbourhood, calling occasionally. 
5 The female came to the nest, fed some of the young at the 
entrance, finally entered the nest and cleaned it. Thereafter 
I left. 

3rd July. W.P.C. thought he would try his luck on this 
nest with Lumiere Autochrome and Paget Colour plates. He 
notes as follows : 

3.30 I got started ; the female bird arrived shortly after. 
She came to the hole, but was very fidgetty indeed and gave 
me no chance of trying a plate on her. She started to feed 
the young and then got a fit of nerves, and went on to a high 
bough, whence she called repeatedly for the male. She waited 
about half an hour, during which time I debated whether I 
would swing the camera round to try a shot at her, but she 
never stayed still a fraction of a second, twisting her head in 
all directions, and every once now and again calling. Her 
head action and movements remind me very much of the 
Great Northern Driver (Colymbus immer). 



170 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

4 p.m. The male arrived and the female left. The male 
was fairly bold till I fired an Autochrome at him, when the 
noise of plate changing sent him up aloft to consider matters. 
In five minutes he was back. I gave him 4 seconds on an 
Autochrome and the result is passable. I induced him to 
stay still for this period of time by whistling short sharp 
blasts at him. After that he went to the nest, and I tried 
4 Paget Colour plates at him with exposures of 1 second, 
but he moved in two out of four, and the plates have failed 
to record his colour with the accuracy of the Lumiere plate. 
He afterwards fed the young by regurgitation. He was fairly 
leisurely over it, but seemed to have an immense supply of 
food. I noticed that when he considered any individual 
chick had had a fair share he refused to give it any more, and 
drew back each time the chick tried to reach him, until place 
was given for a fresh one. The green of both birds, but 
especially that of the female, is so faded that the Brown 
Woodpecker would be a more accurate name than green. The 
crest of red, however, seems to retain its colour well. One 
young one is very advanced and has a very handsome red 
crest, but the others (I was only able to distinguish three) 
are more backward. (Two of the large species of Tabanis 
played havoc with my ankles whilst I was watching the birds 
and militated against my success, as they made my ankles 
bleed to such an extent that I could not refrain from movement 
once or twice.) 

5 p.m. E.H.C. took on and waited till 6, but neither parent 
came. He noted that the young had grown a great deal in a 
week and still made a noise like rubbing a file on the leaves 
of a book. In addition to this noise they made a loud, high- 
pitched croak. 

4th July. E.H.C. had a try at this bird again, as we were 
very anxious if possible to secure a good colour photograph, 
as none of the plates in books that we have seen give the 
colour accurately, or give a really good idea of the character- 
istic poses of the bird. E.H.C. got set up at 2 p.m. in a 
good light, and notes as follows : 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 171 

2.15 The male came to the nest and fed one young one only 
three times by regurgitation. When he had finished I whistled 
to him to try to detain him, but he only peered about, and 
fidgetted, and then went up the tree, where he stayed awhile 
and left. I heard nothing more of the birds until 3.40, when 
one of them spoke up to the right about 100 yards away. At 
4.10 the female which had been wandering round came to the 
tree, but never went into the rest ; after climbing about for 
two or three minutes she settled down on one of the high 
boughs. I managed to shift the camera up, get it round 
and alter the elevation and take some photographs of her, 
but they are not very satisfactory. 

7th July. These young were still in the nest, but 10th July 
they had gone. 

Picus viridis is quite the most suspicious bird we have 
observed at close quarters, and the female is highly nervous, 
not having a tithe of the pluck of the male, who for all his 
suspicion and caution is in some respects a bold bird. The 
way he seemed to divine one's presence in the tent was 
extraordinary. On at least two occasions (curiously enough, 
although we were surprised and discussed the matter with 
each other, neither made a written note of it) the male came 
into the tent to investigate matters. As the tent is only a 
matter of 10 feet high at its maximum and the material 
forming the sides 11 feet high in order to get level with the 
nest, it was raised by additional large bamboos driven into 
the ground a further 5 feet, the camera being worked by 
standing on the top of a high pair of steps inside the tent ; 
it will therefore be observed that from the foot of the material 
to the ground there was an open space of 4 feet, and we banked 
this in on the front and sides with birch growth, bracken, and 
and the like, leaving the back open as an easy meant of ingress 
and egress. The male used to come to the back of the tent on 
the ground and walk in, and look up round to sec if anyone was 
inside. He did it twice when E.H.C. was in the tent and once 
when W.P.C. was in it, and both of us feel sure he communicated 
the fact to the hen in some way. (W.P.C. and E.H.C. ). 



172 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

lynx torquilla (The Wryneck). 

22nd April. Two heard at Broadstone. (W.P.C.) 
Cuculus canorus (The Cuckoo). 

Arrivals. 

18th April. One only at Canford. 

20th April. One only at Broadstone. 

24th April. One only at Broadstone. 

9th May. Numerous at Canford. 

24th May. Two heard at Canford. The departure was 
not noted. W.P.C. considered this bird scarce, but E.H.C. 
says the numbers are normal. As W.P.C. cannot hear the 
bird call, he is likely to form an incorrect conclusion. (W.P.C. 
and E.H.C.) 
Micropus apus (The Swift). 

Upward migration. 2nd May. 8 or 10, over Poole, first 
thing in the morning. 3rd May. There was a decided 
increase at Poole. 

Downward migration. 15th July. Very few round the 
houses, but a large body hawking over the lake in the Park 
at Poole, evidently beginning to flock. 
Caprimulgus europaeus (The Nightjar). 

7th July. We saw a pair of these birds in Canford Bottom. 

llth July. We spent one hour and a half in searching for 
the nest of this pair (A) and found it with two eggs of the 
spotted type. 

A further pair with two eggs was also found a short 
distance away (B). These eggs were of the heavily blotched 
type. 

13th July. We were walking across to nest (A), and both 
of us spotted a third bird (C) sitting. We tried to snapshot 
her, but she got up, disclosing the fact that she was sitting 
on a single egg of the marbled type. 

Nest A. 

18th July. E.H.C. took this bird in hand. 

He got set up to the nest by about 8 a.m. and noted as 
follows : A few minutes later the hen arrived and sat down 
about 10 feet on my left and stayed there with her eyes some- 



-fO 




FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 173 

times quite shut and sometimes just to say open. After 
three-quarters of an hour she moved towards the nest with 
a sinuous mode of walking that seemed more like a glide than 
a walk. When she first arrived she made a curious noise 
like a little growl, but afterwards made no sound. About 
8.50 the bird reached the nest and sat down between the 
camera and the nest, where she appeared to have gone fast 
asleep. A few minutes later she went on to the nest and 
covered the eggs, first turning them. I stayed in the tent till 
11 o'clock, when, as there was nothing more to be seen than 
that the bird was still fast asleep, I slipped out without 
disturbing her. 

25th July. I again visited this nest with the intention of 
trying to photograph the bird leaving the nest. I w r as 
successful in snapshotting her as she flew away, but 1 -225th of 
of a second is not quick enough exposure to ensure absence 
of movement. W.P.C. afterwards spent 4 hours in the tent 
in a frightfully hot sunshine, but the female did not return 
to the nest ; she had gone to sleep with the male bird under 
a fir tree close at hand. 

9th August. These young were fully feathered and about 
half grown, laid down side by side about four feet from the 
tent, and the same distance from the nest, which shewed the 
remains of the egg shells. The female, which rose from the 
young birds, only flew a short distance with feeble flight and 
sank into the long grass. Both the young kept quite still 
until W.P.C. touched one with his finger, when it became 
very fierce and spread its wings, and opened its mouth very 
wide and made a hard breathing sound. 

Nest B. 

18th July. W.P.C. took this nest in hand at 9 a.m., and 
it then had two downy youngsters about 2 to 3 days old. 
The young were in the long grass within a few inches of the 
nest, which still contained the broken egg shells. Up to 
one o'clock the female had not returned, so W.P.C. came 
out for lunch ; whilst he was away the female returned, so 
we tried to get her as she rose, but had no luck. W.P.C. then 



174 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

stayed in the tent till 4.45, up to which time she had not 
returned, so he gave up. 

25th July. The young had travelled some distance from 
the nest and were hiding in the bracken, where E.H.C. 
found them through the female jumping and retiring to a 
fir tree not far off, where she was mobbed for about 10 
minutes by chaffinches, blue tits, and coaltits. E.H.C. tried 
to stalk her with a 16in. lens, but she refused to allow him 
to come near enough to get a satisfactory picture. So he 
returned and captured the young birds in order to photograph 
them ; they resented interference, made themselves look as 
fierce as possible and made a noise something like that of 
a kitten swearing, but hardly as loud. The females, quitting 
young, fly very weakly with wings down and tail depressed, 
often pitching within 20 yards with wings spread on the 
ground ; on following, the females behave not unlike a plover 
seeking to entice strangers from the proximity of the nest. 

Nest C. 

18th July. This bird had hatched one young one, which 
we noted grew very rapidly, presumably by reason of 
its having a monopoly of the entire food supply brought by 
the parents. 

9th August. This young one was 2-3rds grown and was 
able to fly 100 yards. It was still in the nest, but quitted 
immediately we approached, having been roused by the hen 
which was still attending it, and who flew off and then stood 
about 200 yards away watching us. An examination of the 
insect remains in the nest revealed a large number of moth 
remains, but we were only able certainly to identify Agrotis 
pronuba, Agrotis comes, Agrotis tritici, Feltia exclamationis , 
Xylophasia polyodon. The large noctuse were apparenth r 
sucked dry through a hole in the posterior end of, the abdomen, 
the smaller ones were only evidenced by wings in such a 
battered condition that identification was impossible. 
Carine noctua (The Little Owl). 

Mr. S. H. Wallis, of Chesterfield Place, Weymouth, writes 
(under date 4th February, 1916), " You know how the Little 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 175 

Owl is spreading. Three pairs have been killed under my 
notice recently. These owls are destroying the nightingales, 
and probably other night warblers." I corresponded with 
Mr. S. H. Wallis on the subject of this bird, because it is 
not a common bird, and I felt, too, some diffidence about 
accepting the statement that a small bird like Carine noctua 
would tackle anything the size of a nightingale. Mr. Wallis 
was most patient in answering my pertinacious enquiries, 
and wrote to me under date 17th April, 1916 : "I sent to the 
Dorchester Museum offering a pair of Athene noctua which 
were shot at Chickerell on Mr. Jesty's (County Councillor's) 
farm. The Museum people said they had received three 
already." Again, on the 23rd April Mr. Wallis wrote to me 
" I can see Mr. Jesty, jun., for data. I heard yesterday that 
Keeper Hicks (Middleton Estate, Bradford Peverel) shot one 
eighteen months ago. A man working on the Park farm at 
Hooke has seen them. They occupied a hole in a stump and 
frequently pitched on a wall ; he said he could have caught 
them, they were not a bit shy. Respecting the destruction 
of nightingales, Howard Saunders in his Manual of British 
Birds says they destroy thrushes. Nearly every little cover 
about these parts had nightingales the year before last, but 
last summer there was scarcely a pair here. My son, who is 
in practice at Wrexham and keen on observing birds, tells me 
the little owl is rapidly spreading and destroying the nightin- 
gale, and I have been told by the keepers that they were vastly 
more scarce, some kind of owl probably killed them." 

On going into the life history of this little bird, I fear he 
must be put down as a murderer of all our evening songsters 
and insectivorous birds, and I hope in the 1916 report, if I am 
still responsible for these notes, to make some more extended 
notes. (W.P.C.) 
Circus pyargus (The Montagu's Harrier). 

8th August. At Handley Down W.P.C. and E.H.C. both 
saw on different occasions a hawk which E.H.C. did think 
was a Honey Bizzard (Pernis apivorus) when he first saw it, 
because it looked so big ; however.it flew up into a tree, and 



176 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

E.H.C. concluded after examining it that it was a Montagu's 
Harrier (Bird of the Year). The fact that there was a newly 
killed, part eaten Columba palumbus juv (the Wood Pigeon) 
on the ground confirmed this. When W.P.C. saw the bird 
he had a good chance of watching it as it was picking up 
insects in a ride ; he was quite close to it and felt sure it was a 
young Montagu's Harrier, so far as one can be sure of a 
Harrier. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.). 
Accipiter msus (The Sparrowhawk). 

May 9th. Having found a Sparrowhawk's feeding place 
at Canford we decided to try to photograph the bird, so put 
up a hiding tent and decorated it very carefully to make it 
look as much like a rhododendron bush as possible ; this we 
left there for a week. W.P.C.'s notes were as follows : 

" I had very faint hopes of a shot. I put up the Ross 17in. 
Telecentric and found the exposure required was about 1-1 1th 
of a second. The Telecentric is too heavy for the camera 
front and required supporting to relieve the strain. I imagine 
that so long as the birds are singing round there is no sign of a 
sparrowhawk ; there is a wren singing vigorously. At 9.45 
there is dead silence, broken only by an occasional doubtful 
hiss from a robin. A woodpecker has just called in the 
distance, but there is no sign of A. nisus anywhere close at 
hand. 10 a.m., an Accentor modularis has just squeaked with 
that wiry whine which they make. At 10.4 a wren was 
singing vigorously, and a chaffinch too. At 10.30 it seemed 
very quiet, and I took a lookout of each peephole carefully, 
I caught sight of the sparrowhawk in another tree some 
distance away. She was a fine old female. She made a 
meal of a squab blackbird, but took only three minutes over 
it and was very quiet. What made me look up in her 
direction was the curious hollow sound of the tearing flesh. 
She simply tore the squab in fair size pieces and bolted it 
without ceremony, and then rubbed her bill clean on a rotten 
branch of an oak. She went as silently as she came. How 
long she was there I do not know, as after she went the birds 
started singing again. 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 177 

I could not bring her on to the plate except at the extreme 
top, in such a position that the picture would have been 
quite useless. As the birds are now quite noisy I suppose 
she must have been in the neighbourhood some little time 
even if I did not see her. At 11.15 I left the tent." 

(Note. Readers must bear in mind that when in a bird 
tent it is only possible to have quite small peepholes to see 
out of, otherwise birds can see in, and freedom of movement 
is practically absent). 

16th May. W.P.C. had another try to get a photograph, 
but his hearing is so faulty that he failed, and formed the 
opinion that it requires a person of very acute hearing to 
handle the proposition satisfactorily. W.P.C. 's notes were 
as follows. 

10.30 I went into the tent: The light was rather poor and 
heavy clouds veiled the sun, which peeped through weakly at 
times. The birds were very quiet this morning, as it was so 
dull perhaps ; but since the sparrowhawks have frequented 
the copse which formerly had a very full orchestra it now seems 
strangely silent. At 11.15 I had observed no sign of the 
hawks, but a cock pheasant was querking, and then a large 
shadow came over. This was the female, but she only wiped 
her bill on a rotten bough. I swung the camera round very 
slowly, but the maximum swing I could get only enabled me 
to get half the bird with an image about 56mm. high on the 
plate, and before I could even think out a scheme of getting 
round further she slipped quietly away as noiselessly as she 
arrived. One wants a tent with a revolving turret top for the 
job. 

At 11.10 the cock arrived from nowhere in the same 
mysterious fashion and sat high up in a tree some distance 
away. I swung the camera back and put the full rise and tilt 
on, and had got him comfortably on the plate, although the 
image was somewhat small, and was doing the finishing 
touches to the focus, when he slipped off. 

I came out, and then E.H.C. and I hunted with a butterfly 
net and an old bird cage for a young blackbird or thrush to 



178 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

act as a lure, but to-day were unsuccessful in finding one, 
though the preceding day the whole place had seemed to 
swarm with them. We did not care to take a nestling which 
would have been unable to fend for itself if turned loose. 
After lunch I returned to the tent and waited patiently till 
3.30, when the light was hopeless, and then gave the thing 
up as a bad job. I was really bitterly disappointed, because 
a few more degrees of swing would have done the trick ; but 
the exigencies of bird photography don't allow freedom of 
movement, and I think it is probable that it would be 
exceedingly difficult to arrange an apparatus which would 
give an effective horizontal swing of more than 90, though 
it is possible it could be done with one of the cameras with a 
fixed front, which only rack backwards, such as the " Arctos." 
On the whole, I believe that type to be the most suitable for a 
bird photographer for stand work, though it throws the weight 
well forward, and therefore requires an exceptionally good 
tripod, such as a heavy " Ashford." 

It might be explained that E.H.C. considered W.P.C.'s 
greater photographic experience would more than compensate 
for his inability to hear well. On the result attained W.P.C. 
thinks otherwise. 

Falco aesalon (The Merlin). 

6th June. One seen on the edge of Poole Harbour, working 
the gorse bushes for linnets ( Acanthis cannabina) and after- 
wards its favourite roosting place was found. (E.H.C. ). 

Falco tinnunculus (The Kestrel). 

30th May. Having ascertained that a pair we had been 
acquainted with for many years were feeding young in a 
sand cliff, within the prohibited area, we repaired to the duly 
appointed authority and were able to get a permit after 
satisfying the powers of our bona fides, loyalty, and discretion. 

The first job, and a very difficult one, was to excavate and 
build a sufficient platform for the hiding tent, which we were 
successful in doing after a fashion a matter of 30 feet up the 
cliff, but a rather long way below the nest ; there was no help 
for that, as the nest was under an overhanging portion of ths 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 179 

cliff in a hole, and the face immediately below the hole was 
perpendicular and afforded no foothold, leave alone the 
possibility of erecting a suitable platform for a tent. The 
setting and securing the tent and camera was a matter of 
great difficulty, as one had to bear in mind that a sudden 
descent of 30 feet backwards into the furze bushes below 
might be fraught with serious consequences to oneself, and 
would certainly have meant a heavy bill for camera repairs. 
W.P.C. took charge and got settled about 10.45 after H hours 
spent in erecting the tackle. 

11.22. The cock kestrel came and settled down to watch 
the tent from a small projection of the cliff face. He was 
decidedly inconspicuous on the brown cliff side, and, like all 
birds of prey, seemed very suspicious. The young kept 
fairly quiet. 

11.34. The female came to have a look at things, but was if 
anything more timid than the male. 200 yards appeared 
to be the limit as far as she was concerned. After a time she 
sailed round the back of the tent to inspect it ; unfortunately 
it was not stretched sufficiently tightly, so that it swayed a 
good deal in the breeze. 

11.36. The male came back and kept watch from a distant 
part of the cliff ; he looked just like a scar on the cliff. After 
a time he seemed a little less shy, as he preened himself and 
walked along the cliff face to a shady spot ; he scrambled 
along much like a swallow clinging to a wall. 

11.50. The female joined the male and preened herself; 
she, however, had some kind of prey in her talons, and was 
apparently holding to the cliff face by one foot ; both birds 
had shady positions. 

11.55. The male took wing and came across to the tent, 
apparently to investigate it. 

11.57. The male came to the nest. I was much too excited 
and full of admiration for his beauty to press the bulb. He 
is evidently an old bird, and I could only see him when actually 
at the entrance to the nest, but his barring was exceedingly 
pronounced and clean cut, and his eyes were very handsome. 



180 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

A dead or stuffed bird, or even a bird viewed through the 
glasses, gives little idea of the handsome dignity of appearance 
that the living bird possesses, and of course can give no idea 
of ths leisurely lithe ness and extreme grace of movement. 
The kestrel is a bird usually treated with scant courtesy and 
looked down upon as compared with his congeners ; but no 
one who has had the living bird within 12 feet of him, and had 
leisure to examine it critically, c?.n fail to be struck with the 
fact that he really possesses all the aristocratic beauty usually 
associated with the Falconidae. I was very delighted with 
him, and it was quite a revelation to me what a beautiful bird 
the kestrel is. 

He stayed about one minute and then sailed off. 

12.0 The cock went back to the hen, apparently to reassure 
her, and sat in the heather at the cliff edge in full view. The 
hen fell off her perch and then scrambled up to the cock. 

12.5. The hen came to the nest, but was so nervous she 
barely stayed half a second, certainly not long enough for 
me to squeeze the bulb, although I was ready. The click of 
my watchchain as I moved sent her off in a fright. 

12.10. The male came in with a great cloud of sand and I 
gave him an instantaneous at full speed (E.H.C. said he heard 
the metallic ping of the shutter closing 300 yards away, like 
the singing of a rifle bullet). The bird cleared at the noise 
and went round calling " check, check, check, check." He 
is much the bolder bird. 

12.15. One of the birds came into the sandpit with either 
a young bird or else a mouse in its talons (subsequently 
proved to be Mus sylvaticus). What looked like the white 
fluffy head of a young bird was visible at the entrance 
(subsequently proved to be a casting). 

12.32. Male came to the nest, but had not the courage to 
stay. He evidently did not like the big eye of the camera 
looking at him. Whilst I was writing the note, however, he 
returned bringing the hinderpart of a Meadow Pipit ( Anthus 
pratensis). I got a picture of him which clearly shews the 
identity of the leg by the hind toe and claw. 12.35. Hen 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 181 

came and stood in the entrance of the nest for 
some time. She was very handsome, very blue grey with a 
strongly marked cheek band ; after letting her stand some- 
time I gave a sharp instantaneous exposure. She winced at 
the sound of the shutter and finally took flight ; but was 
evidently less nervous. 

1.0. One of the birds, I thought the cock, came to the 
entrance of the nest, apparently without food. He remained 
about 5 minutes scrutinizing the tent very minutely ; 
apparently it was the lens to which he objected, as I felt sure 
he was unable to see into the tent. E.H.C. took on at 1 
o'clock ; he notes as follows : 

2.0. Neither bird back. Before I came into the tent the 
male and female soared off in great circles, rising higher and 
higher, and floating away on the wind, which was N.E., until 
they were mere specks in the sky, and I lost sight of them. 

I think all birds have a slack time from 12.30 until about 

3 o'clock. As a rule everything is fairly quiet in the birdy 
way between those hours. 

2.30. I heard one of the birds saying " Ttchock, tchock, 
tchock, tchock," but the juveniles did not answer. I could 
not see the bird anywhere. 

2.40. I heard " tweek, tweek, tweek, tweek," 4 syllables 

4 times running at intervals, to which the juveniles replied. 
2.45. No further sign of the bird, but the juveniles kept 

on with a little call of " cheep, cheep, cheep, " like little 
gentle chickens, but a little harsher, still, not at all in 
accordance with their role in after life. 

2.55. W.P.C. arrived to see how I was getting on, and the 
female quitted the nest, so she had evidently slipped in 
between 2.45 and his arrival. 

3.55. One of the birds came to the nest, but did not 
settle. 

4.0. The female came and I prepared to give her a quick, 
quiet time exposure ; but she did not stay many seconds, as the 
tent wagged and she left, but took up a position on a ledge 
close at hand. 



182 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

4.10. I got my chance, the only one I had ; the female 
came to the nest and I gave her a second or two to compose 
herself, and then gave her a quick quiet time. She stayed a 
few seconds after the shutter had gone and then left ; she 
brought no food. She floated in like a shadow, and left as 
quietly as an owl, that was why I did not hear her come in at 
2.50. 

4.45. W.P.C. relieved E.H.C. in the tent and noted. 
During the time E.H.C. was in the tent both birds went off 
about four miles, and on the second occasion the cock, having 
returned first, waited for some time for the hen in a bush at 
the back of the tent. They neither of them seemed to approve 
of the tent ; partly I think because, by reason of its awkward 
position, it was not at all well set and swayed about a good 
deal. 

4.55. I heard one of the birds give a " check, check." 
5.20 One of the birds wheeled across between me and the 
sun. 5.35. One of the birds came and alighted in front of 
the nest for a minute or so. I let it stay, but it bolted again 
very quickly. 6. The sun went off the cliff, so I packed up. 

6th June. We had a further try at this pair of birds, but 
it all came to nothing. The weather w r as dull, the wind was 
high, we had to work two hours before we could even get the 
tent set on the ledge, and then had to erect so many guyropes 
that it looked like a wireless station ; and finally when W.P.C. 
got settled various police constables, looking for an 
unauthorised snapshotter, kept everything in the neighbour- 
hood so much on the move that the birds declined to come 
near, and as the police did not effect a capture till late in the 
afternoon the day was spoiled and W.P.C. had a 6 hours 
wait for nothing. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.). 
Anser. 

About the middle of March several flocks of wild geese 
passed over Dorchester by night. Migrating northward, they 
were apparently attracted by the glare from the camp for 
German prisoners, and circled about screaming and whistling 
for some time before they struck northward again. (R.D.G.).- 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 183 

Nyroca ferina (The Pochard). 

Jan. 3. Winter company of 25 on Poole Park Lake. Later 
increased to 50, and on 14 February, to 100. 

Nov. 14. 25 to 50 were again occupying the Poole Park 
lake. (E.H.C.). 
Nyroca fuligula. (The Tufted Duck). 

Male shot near Dorchester in the beginning of December. 
(R.D.G.). 
Clangula hyemalis Linn. (Longtailed Duck). 

29 November, 1915. Geo. Brown, of Poole, shot and brought 
up to me four specimens of this bird. They were shot in 
Poole Harbour and are now in my skin collection. No. 370, 
371, and 372 are immature males in first winter plumage, 
whilst No. 373 is an immature female in the same state of 
plumage. They had been feeding on shrimps. (E.H.C.). 
Gallingo gallingo (The Common Snipe). 

llth April. Three nests with 4 eggs each found at Bere- 
wood. W.P.C. and E.H.C. tried to photograph two of 
these nests on the 18th April. Oddly enough the two nests 
selected to work at were ultimately both hatched off, but the 
one nest which we left severely alone was deserted. The 
day was warm, but the wind was rather high and very un- 
certain. W.P.C. 's bird came to the neighbourhood of the 
nest several times, but did not go on. E.H.C. had trouble 
with his camera owing to the boggy nature of the ground 
where he was at work, but ultimately got started at 2 o'clock. 
2.15 the bird returned and fed in the rushes close to the nest ; 
she left several times for no apparent reason, but always 
returned saying " tchick tchick tchick " in a whistling note, 
repeating it many times without pause. About 3 o'clock 
she came and sat down in the grass close to the nest, but did 
not go on. At 3.30 she was disturbed by people passing over 
the hill, at 3.45 she was back, fed down through the swampy 
ground, and ran straight onto the nest. E.H.C. gave her ten 
minutes, exposed a plate, and after 5 minutes tried to change, 
but the noise entailed in plate -changing frightened her off. 
She returned very quickly. " A snipe is a bird that can stand 



184 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

"no movement, and I should think very little noise, but my 
" bird showed no fear of the tent whatever, feeding even close 
"to my feet. The snipe is a very charming bird to watch at 
" close quarters, and she seems to feed almost entirely by 
" feeling, although she uses her eyes to find likely little spots 
" between the growth to thrust her bill into. On the nest she 
"sits very still." 

On the 25th April both nests had hatched and the young 
had gone. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.). 
Tringa alpina (The Dunlin). 

During November there were immense numbers of these 
birds in Poole Harbour, flocks running into 1,000 or more. 
(W.P.C. and E.H.C.). 
Calidris arenaria (The Sanderling). 

Oct. 3. Several seen in Poole Harbour by Dr. Penrose. 
(W.P.C.). 
Totanus hypoleucus. (The Common Sandpiper). 

22nd April. At Dorchester. (G.R.P.). 

14th July. At Poole. Two on downward migration. 
(W.P.C.). 

3rd October. At Poole. A great number in the Harbour. 
(W.P.C.). 
Limosa lapponica (The Bartailed Godwit). 

Oct 13th. Several seen in Poole Harbour by Dr. Penrose. 
(W.P.C.). 

Squatarola squatarola (The Grey Plover). 
9 seen at Whitley Lake, Poole Harbour. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.). 
Vanellus vanellus (The Common Plover). 

llth April A nest with 4 eggs at Bere Wood. (W.P.C.). 
Haematopus ostralegus (The Oyster Catcher). 

Mr. Lloyd reported two seen near Edmondsham in a 
stream, 2 May. Mr. Lloyd knows the bird. (W.P.C.). 
Larus ridibundus (The Blackheaded Gull). 

6th June. On Poole Harbour I noticed at 3.45 a bird 
flying in a peculiar manner as if it had suddenly lost its 
balance and sense of direction. It was flying about South to 
North, at 5.30 it returned flying North to South, when it 




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FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 185 

seemed to lose all sense of direction and landed at a point 
far West of its original line of flight. I think there must have 
been something the matter with its semicircular canals as the 
course followed was, so far as I can see, as shown on the 
annexed drawing. The vertical plan of the second flight 
was much the same as the vertical plan of the first, but the 
horizontal plan I cannot recollect in its entirety. I do not 
remember seeing a bird carry on quite like this, although I 
have seen them amuse themselves doing fancy flying in fine 
weather. This was very unusual, or I feel sure I should have 
noticed it before. (E.H.C.). 
Alle alle (The Little Auk). 

16th Nov. An adult male in winter plumage was captured 
in Poole Harbour by one of the Wills family, who brought it 
up to me dead. No doubt the little bird was worn out 
buffetting the recent gales ; it was very thin and apparently 
starved, though the plumage was in good order ; the stomach 
contained nothing but a little seaweed. (E.H.C.). 
Colymbus siellaius (The Redthroated Diver). 

I watched a Redthroated Diver in Poole Park on 14th 
February, 1915, through the glasses ; he had just a spot or 
two of red plumage showing on his neck below his chin. I 
saw him making his toilet ; he preened his feathers right down 
to his belty, this last he did by rolling over in the water and 
turning on to his back. After completing his belly, he 
resumed his normal position and washed his back by thrusting 
his head under water and giving a few strokes forward with 
his feet throwing the water over his back. Then he would 
raise himself up flapping his wings and almost getting into 
an upright position, then launching himself into the water on 
his chest again. (E.H.C.). 

1st March. One seen in Swanage Bay. (W.P.C.). 
Crex crex (The Corncrake). 

I hardly ever hear one now. (E.S.R.). 

Heard at Pulham. (J.R.). 

15th August and 22nd August. One seen on the Swanage 
Golf Links about the same place every time. (W.P.C.). 



186 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

Fulica air a (The Coot). 

By 14th March, the large winter flock in Poole Park, usually 
500 strong, had shrunk to 20. 

On Oct. 10th. They had returned and \vere 200 strong. 
(E.H.C.). 
Slreptope.lia turtur (The Turtle Dove). 

Common in the valley of Kit Brook. (E.S.R.). 

T\vo pairs at Canford all the season. This bird is very 
decidedly scarce near Poole. (E.H.C. and W.P.C.). 
Perdrix perdrix (The Common Partridge). 

3rd July. A partridge with 14 tiny mites, seen in a grass 
field at Canford, struck me as a very late brood. 

10th July. I saw this brood again, and it was still 14 in 
number, so evidently the mother was fairly careful. (W.P.C.). 



REPTILLA. 

Rana tempora (The Frog). Spawn at Pulham, March 10th 
(J.R.). 

Toad spawn at Dorchester, February 25th. (S.E.V.F.). 

In a tributary of the Bredy at Svvyre I found hundreds of 
toads spa\vning on March 15th. The males outnumbered 
the females, and masses of any number up to a dozen were 
rolling about in the water. There were certainly several 
hundred specimens, and a ceaseless croaking could be heard, 
whilst the stream was black with spawn. (R.D.G.). 
Pelias berus (The Viper). 

1st March. 1 killed at Dorchester. (S.E.V.F.). 

5th March. 1 killed at Maiden Castle. (R.D.G.). 

llth April. 2 lulled in Bere Wood. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.). 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 



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188 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

INSECTS (NOTES BY W.P.C.) 

As a result of my illness I was nearly debarred from field 
work during the first six months, as I was unable to stand 
about or walk far. 

During the latter part of February and early March I 
found several empty cocoons of Dicranura bifida at Swanage, 
and I am sure this insect is commoner in the county than is 
supposed. The majority of the cocoons have evidently been 
torn open by birds. 

The early spring was dull and cold, but Tephrosia bistorta 
turned up on the 21st March and Hybernia leucophaeria on 
the 27th. 

The 2nd April was a trifle better, and Panolis piniperda was 
found on a fir tree, whilst a solitary Vanessa io disported 
itself during a sunny interval, but as a whole the month was 
dull and sunless. 

29th April was, however, beautiful, and I saw Cyaniris 
argiolus at Bournemouth, and on the 30th Pieris rapae at 
Poole. 

2nd May. On Pentridge Down I saw numbers of 
Gonepteryx rhamni, Pieris brassicae, P. rapae, Vanessa io, 
and Aglais urticae. 

The hot first week in May produced marked progress, 
bringing out Euchloe cardamines, Cyaniris argiolus, and 
Boarmia cinctaria in good numbers on the 9th. 

On the 10th May Nisiondes tages, Syricthus alveolus, and 
Argynnis euphrosyne put in an appearance at Canford. 

May on the whole was lovely weather. 

On June 5th Lycaena icarus and L. adonis were out at 
Badbury Rings. 

On June 8th I saw Pyramei-s cardui, and on June 9 Pyrameis 
atalanta, and as the winds had recently been southerly and 
south-westerly I concluded there had been an immigration. 

The first week in June was dull but oppressively hot, and on 
June 13th Callophrys rubi was about in good numbers and 
Diacrisia sannio was out, but worn. 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 189 

19th June. At Badbury Rings P. atalanta and P. cardui 
were much in evidence, the latter being a conspicuous feature, 
which confirmed my surmise of the 8th. 

27th June. I captured one H. ianira with pale borders to 
the wings, and saw several others amongst the crowd that 
were to be seen at Broadstone Golf Links, but had not the 
wherewithal to catch them. 

4th July. At Canford very late in the afternoon I saw 
Macroglossa stellatarum flying at Bramble. It was a very 
hot day and Argynnis adippe was out, and the larvae of 
Hemaris fuciformis were about a quarter of an inch long. 

On the 8th July I have a note on the marked tendency of 
H. ianira to bleach this year. 

On the 4th August I procured a single Nudaria mundana 
in the Queen's Road at Svvanage, and noted the great abun- 
dance of Macroglossa stellatarum. 

On the 22nd August the second broods of L. astrarche 
and L. adonis Avere on the wing at Swanage. 

On the 26th September at 4.30 o'clock in the afternoon 
Luperina cespitis was busy ova depositing on Handley Down. 

On Oct. llth I saw Pyramei atalanta in Poole Park, and 
this was the last time I. saw any signs of lepidoptera. 

Any night work was deemed to be injudicious and likely 
to cause trouble, having regard to the Defence of the Realm 
Regulations. (W.P.C.). 

Cyaniris Argiolus, the Holly Blue, swarmed in May. 
(N.M.R.j. 

FLOWERS. 

Neottia nidus-avis. The Bird's nest Orchis. 

Linton's Flora of Bournemouth gives two stations, one on 
the chalk and the other on the Wealden Clay, whilst Mansel- 
Pleydell's Flora of Dorset gives quite a number of stations, 
as far as I can see almost exclusively on the Cretaceous and 
Oolitic Systems of Rocks. I have already noted a station 
under beech trees on Creech Hill, on the Chalk, and besides 



190 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 

have seen at least 30 in bloom at once under beech trees in 
Lord Shaftesbury's park at St. Giles, which is on the Upper 
Chalk. To this I should like to add what is, I believe, an 
entirely new station at Canford on a piece of land marked 
Bagshot on the Geological Survey, but which is, I think, 
really London Clay, as the soil and vegetation is most unlike 
Bagshot, so are the insects, e.g., Noctua stigmatica. 

The plant is there growing in a rich humus of spruce needles, 
oakleaves, and hazel leaves, and is not excessively rare. 
(W.P.C.). 

Spiranthes autumnalis (Lady's Tresses). Mr. A. E. Moule 
writes recording this plant on 22nd August, 1915, at Church 
Hill, Little Bredy. (This record, it will be noted, is on the 
Cretaceous Beds ; the vast majority of localities given by the 
late Mr. J. C. Mansel-Pleydell were on soils where carbonate 
of lime predominates, and I have never seen it, though I keep 
a sharp look out for it, on any soil except a soil overlying a 
carbonate of lime rock or a clay admittedly belonging to one 
of the series of chalk or limestone rocks). (W.P.C.). 



GENERAL NOTES. 

Mr. E. S. Rodd, of Chardstock House, writes : 

Jan. and Feb. very wet, little frost or snow. March, dry 
generally from the middle to end of month. Dry and fine in 
April, N.E. winds prevailing. Very late spring, the Dawn 
Choruses feeble and weak on cold mornings at 4 a.m. 

May beautiful. All crops looking well during May and 
June. 

A wet July and August, and much hay spoiled. Fine corn 
harvest from about August 20th. Very little fine, hot weather 
this summer. November, a sharp frost for a few days, and a 
wet December. 

The year 1915 closed in very wet, stormy, mild weather 
the last week. 

The Rev. J. Ridley, of Pulham, writes : 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 191 

Two very slight falls of snow only, and a very little 
thunder. 

15 of frost on November 27th. 

From May 20th to June 27th. No rain, and but one very 
slight shower. Average barometer for the year, 29.52. 
Highest 33.2 on November llth, the highest I have ever 
registered. Lowest, Nov. 13th, 28.33. 

A beautiful meteor, followed by a second, on July 5th about 
8.30 just after sunset, whilst there was a thin veil of cloud. 
It was of a most beautiful peacock blue, and travelled from 
West to East ; it seemed to break into light at the zenith and 
was visible through 30 degrees. I never saw a finer. 

E.H. Curtis noted as follows on 18th April at Bere Wood. 

"There were three little whirlwinds, one was about 100 
yards across and carried leaves up into the air to the height 
of 250 feet. They followed one another at intervals of about 
half an hour and were quite moderately violent, the last being 
nearly sufficient to carry away my bird tent had I not held 
on to it. They travelled from S.W. to N.E." 



192 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 



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FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 193 



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L. I^af. I. Flower F. Fruit. 
(1) In cases where January 1st is given as tne earliest date there are in some cases records of flowering, &c., in tne preceding December, but I do not see how 
I could start a year earlier than January 1. (2) Marsh Marigold flowering in some quantity ; date of first flowers uncertain. (E.F.L.). (< ainens seen 
closely incurved on 22nd ; hy 26th several flowers .iad thoir stamens erect and in three cases the pollen had gone (E.FL.). (4) At Godlingstone, 1 urbecK, 
two flowers one out about 3 davs (W.P.C.). (5) At Poole. (6) At Wool, the meadows very bedecked (W.P.C.). (7) Only one blossom seen . }")! 1 
Quite ripe and seed vessels open (W.PC.). (9) Fruit abundant. (10) Late 1914 blossom, not a 1915 flower. (ED.). (11) Late. ( 
Scabious is usually on this heavier soil not out till August : it may however flower much earlier on other soil, a3 for instance in a sandy padiiock at 
A'lnvral, Hants, where I saw it in full bloom on 29th June (K.F.L.). (13) Four flowers out. 


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By E. W. SWANTON. 




JTlHE following notes chiefly concern a series of 
shells, now in the Haslemere Museum, col- 
lected by myself within recent years in the 
Stowers district. They may stimulate further 
investigation of the molluscan fauna of the 
county. Some very rare and interesting forms 
have been taken of the white lipped banded 
hedge snail, Helix hortensis, which is remark- 
ably abundant in that neighbourhood. They may be 
classified under 6 headings. 
1. Band mutations. 

The method devised by Herr von Martens for recording the 
mutations is to designate the normal number of bands (5) by 
numerals, the uppermost band to be reckoned as No. 1, the 
lowest as No. 5, fused bands are indicated by enclosing 
in brackets the numerals representing them, missing bands 
by a cypher. That method is here employed in indicating 
the following rare and uncommon forms taken at Stour Row. 
10345, also from Marnhull ; 103 (45) rare both in Britain 
and on the continent ; 0(23)45, hitherto unknown to science ; 



SOME DORSET LAND SHELLS. 195 

10305 ; 00345 ; 00340 ; and 00300. (It is of interest to note 
that of the possible eighty-nine bands variations in this 
species and its neighbour the dark-lipped hedge snail, Helix 
nemoralis, all the possible mutations of the latter have been 
recorded, but no less than twenty-eight of those of H. 
Hortensis had not been observed or reported in 1911. Mr. 
J. W. Taylor's elaborate Monograph of the L. and F. 
Moll, of the British Isles (vol. III.) should be consulted for 
full particulars). 

2. Variations in form of shell. 

Var. trochoidea, spire elevated. Stour Row. 

Var. depressa, shell very depressed. One specimen with 
partially pigmented bands taken at Stour Row. 

Var. minor, B.F. 10345 ; (12)3(45), and v. olivacea, all 
from Stour Row. 

3. Variations in Colour of shell. 
Var. alba, sub-var. grisea, Stour Row. 

Var. lutea. Shell more or less yellow. Stour Row, the 
series includes some minor forms. 

Var. fusca ( = baudonia). Shell fawn-coloured, with B.F. 
10345, Marnhull and Todber. 

Var. olivacea. Shell deep olive-brown. Stour Row. 

Sub-var. hepatica, shell liver-colour. Stour Row, with 
white and pink-lipped forms. 

Sub-var. de corti, shell greenish-black. A very rare variety, 
of which there are at present but two British specimens, both 
taken from a roadside hedge between Todber and Marnhull. 
(One is figured in Taylor's Monograph, Brit. L. and F. Moll., 
Vol. III., pi. xxviii.) 

Var. incarnata. Shell bright rose colour. Stour Row, the 
series includes forms with white, rose, and brown peristome 
and lip ; and the sub-var. colorata, shell somewhat fawn 
colour with brown lip and a yellow area bordering the outside 
of the rib. 

4. Variations in banding. 

Var. fasciata. Shell with coalesced or interrupted bands. 
B.F. (123)(45), (12345), (123)45, all from the neighbourhood 



196 SOME DORSET LAND SHELLS. 

of Marnhull ; pink-lipped forms with the preceding B.F. also 
(12) 3 (45) from Stour Row. 

5. Variations in Colour of Banding. 

Var. fascialba. This interesting form has been recently 
described by Mr. J. W. Taylor (see Monograph III., 486) 
from a single example found some years ago near Bristol. It 
is " characterized by the presence of a white and calcined 
supra-peripheral zone, upon which the third band of the 
pentataeniate formula is placed." We have three specimens 
taken from a hedge at Stour Row (2 adult, one immature), 
flesh-coloured shells with B.F. 00300. 

Var. rufozonata, shell yellow with red broAvn bands. Stour 
Row. 

Var. arenicola, shell pale yellow with translucent unpig- 
mented bands, Stour Row ; sub-var. lurida, with band partially 
pigmented, also from Stour Row. 

6. Variations in colour of lip and peristcme. 

Var. roseolabiata. Aperture pink or rose colour. Stour 
Row, frequent. 

Var. violaceolabiata. Shell with purple or lilac lip. We 
have forms with bright lilac, others with deep purple lip, 
all taken at Stour Row. It is a very beautiful variety, but 
the violet tint is fugitive, and after a short time the shells 
resemble either var. roseolabiata or var. fuscolabiata, according 
to the intensity of the original coloration. 

Var. fuscolabris. Aperture brown, Stour Row, including 
var. incarnata with violaceous peristome ( = sub-var. 
sauveuri), a beautiful form which is also represented in the 
Museum collection by specimens collected by Mr. C. P. Hurst 
at Great Bedwyn, Wilts. 

Var. nigrolabiata. Shell with black lip. A single specimen 
from Stour Row. Apparently dark violet-lipped forms are 
only one stage removed from this variety. It is a very 
rare form ; hitherto only recorded from Ratham, near 
Chichester. 

Var. bimarginata. Shell with coloured outer lip, bordered 
internally by a white rib. Stour Row. This is another 



SOME DORSET LAND SHELLS. 197 

extremely rare variety, there being only two records in 
Taylor's Monograph. 

Passing on to the other species in the collection, there are 
two specimens of H. nemoralis, var. fascialba (rubella 00300), 
taken by Mrs. Swanton in Duncliff Wood. This interesting 
form has also been observed in Somerset.' 

A series of Helicigona arbustorum, a frequent species in 
hedges about Todber and Marnhull. The following varieties 
are included : fuscescens, shell lacking the supra-peripheral 
band ; alpicola, smaller than type, spire more raised ; luctuosa, 
sub-var. nigrescens, shell thick, black all over. One specimen 
from the neighbourhood of Marnhull. This very interesting 
form, hitherto unknown in Britain, is described in my " Pocket 
Guide "* (p. 45) as var. picea, which differs, however, in being 
very thin. The following varieties of the ubiquitous Helix 
aspersa have been found in the Stowers district : flammea, shell 
with pale flame-shaped markings and blotches of dark areas, 
fasciata, s.v. albofasciata, with a white band at. the periphery, 
s.v. puncticulata, reddish, spotted with yellow, and having a 
narrow yellow peripheral band ; also specimens approaching 
the var. clathrata, in which the dark ground colour is broken 
up into squares and oblongs by pale transverse yellowish 
lines. The collection also includes shells of H. aspersa broken 
by thrushes and by field mice ; in those attacked by mice the 
spire has been neatly removed, they ware found in mouse 
" runs " amongst long grass. 

Hyalinia cellaria, Pyramidula rotundaia var. scalaris, 
Hygromia rujescens var. albocincia, and Helicigona lapicida, 
all from Stour Provost, and the rare Vertigo minutissima 
taken by Dr. H. Brooksbank at Weymouth. 



* I shall be pleased to send a copy of the " Pocket Guide to the 
British non -marine Mollusca " to any conchologist who may feel 
inclined to apply for it. The postage, fourpence, must be prepaid 
by the applicant. It contains descriptions of all the chief varieties, 
of the fossil species which occur in Post Pliocene deposits other than 
the Forest Bed series, and of introduced species. 




Beturns of Bainfaii in Dorset 
in 1915. 



By the Rev. H. H. TILNEY BASSETT, R.D. 




HE prevailing meteorological conditions of 1915 
were remarkably similar to those that prevailed 
during 1914. The summers of both years 
produced no very high temperature, and 
summer conditions continued late into the 
autumn of each year ; both winters were 
exceptionally mild. Abnormal rainfalls were 
registered in December of both years. Slow 
moving storm areas constantly moving inland 
from our W. and N.W. coasts, invariably associated with 
secondary systems, were characteristic of both autumns 
and winters ; these secondary systems were chiefly responsible 
for the heavy rainfalls over the W. and S. of England. 

A feature, however, to be noticed, peculiar to 1915, is the 
great number of days in which an inch and more of rain was 
registered in the 24 hours throughout the county. 

On July the 3rd, between 2 and 3 p.m., a remarkable storm 
of hail (the hail stones of which were of abnormal size), 



RAINFALL IN DORSET. 199 

visited parts of Somersetshire, much damage being done 
to property. Weston-super-Mare and the neighbourhood 
seem to have been the centre of the disturbance. It appears 
to have passed over Bristol and Clifton, and finally dispersed 
over Gloucestershire. 

The longest spells of rainless weather were from May 20 
to June 24, Aug. 18 to 30, and Nov. 14 to 28. 

The average rainfall for the year calculated from the 16 
stations marked with an astsrisk in the tables is 40.870 
inches ; the average for 60 years 1856 to 1915 is 34.119 
inches, showing 6.751 inches above the average. 

The wettest day throughout the county generally occurred 
on Oct. 24, the greatest fall being registered on that day 
at 17 stations. 10 observers record the greatest fall on 
Oct. 2?, 6 on Dec. 14, 4 on July 16, 4 on Oct. 31, and 2 on 
Feb. 16. 

The greatest fall in the 24 hours was registered at Chardstock 
Vicarage, 2.96 inches, Oct. 23. 

Days with one or more inches. The exceptional number 
of days in which an inch and over of rain were registered has 
already been referred to ; 4 stations record 10 such days, two 
stations 9, nine stations 8, ten stations 7, six stations 6. The 
lowest returns of such days record 2. 

The maximum of wet days were recorded at Broadwindsor 
198, Chardstock 196, Sherborne Castle 191, and Broadstone 
190. The minimum 124 at Fleet House, Chickerell. 



OBSERVERS' NOTES. 

HAMILTON LODGE, BEAMINSTER. The average Beaminster 
rainfall for a period of 42 years =38.29 ; the fall of 1915,6.06 
above the average number of rainy days. 178 was relatively 
small, due to the numerous heavy falls in single days ; notably 
2.06 on December 14, 1.99 on Oct. 23, and 1.94 on Feb. 16. 
The fall of 14 Dec. was the heaviest in the 24 hours here since 
August 28, 1910. 



200 RAINFALL IN DORSET. 

Two extraordinary readings of the Bar. were obtained 
during 191528.40 Feb. 13, and 30.71 Nov. 20. 

CHEDDINGTON COURT. Our average rainfall for 18 years 
is now 38.96. Heaviest fall for one month 10.21 in December, 
1914. 

Wet Years 1900 42.33 on 163 days 
1903 49.02 191 
1910 45.27 196 
1912 49.46 213 

1914 50.75 194 

1915 46.80 174 

CHICKERELL, MONTEVIDEO. Jan. 22 the ground was 
slightly covered with snow this morning, but it soon melted. 
Snow fell on Jan. 21 and 22, Feb. 22 and 23, March 27 and 29, 
and Dec. 12. 

March 28, Lieut. Gordon, Royal Scots, Montevideo Camp, 
Chickerell, saw a very large and bright meteor a few minutes 
before 8 p.m. going from E. to W. 

June 27 and Sept. 21, thunder a long way off. 

Rain fell on 25 days in the year in too small a quantity to 
be recorded. These days are marked with.* 

DORCHESTER, WOLLASTON HOUSE. The rainfall of 
December is w r orthy of special mention. The total 11.30 is 
the highest monthly record during the last 20 years at 
Dorchester. 

I might also draw attention to the fact that although the 
latest calculation average of annual rainfall for Dorchester 
is 35.80, the total for 1914 was 45.55, and for 1915 46.24. 

GUSSAGE MANOR. On May 7 the rain registered, 0.73, fell in 
less than 30 minutes. 

BAILIE HOUSE, WIMBORNE. 1915, Jan. 22, Friday, snowed 
fast from 8 a.m., to 9 a.m. ; first snow this winter. 



RAINFALL IN DORSET. 201 

13 May, the 1.03 was made up 0.53 at 5.45 p.m. ; 0.25 at 
7.30p.m. ; 0.25 at 9a.m. 

July 6, Tuesday, fine day ; very fine, large halo round sun 
at noon ; heavy rain began at 7 p.m. ; strong wind next 
morning and rainfall, 0.54. 

SHAFTESBURY. Greatest rainfall on one day, 1.43 inches 
on 23 Oct. Greatest monthly rainfall, 6.42 in December. 
Least, 0.65 in June. 

EAST LULWORTH. Taking the 10 years period the rainfall 
for 1915 has only twice been exceeded, 43.06 in 1914, 45'33 
in 1912. 

Nov. was the coldest and driest in this ten years period. 

Dec. the wettest and roughest. The two years in which 
Dec. rainfall approached this large total were December, 
1914, 8.17 inches, and Dec., 1911, 8.32 inches. 

There were few hard frosts, severest was Jan. 29 ; the 
heaviest 24 hours rain was July 16, 1.60 inches ; the heaviest 
in a brief time Oct. 24, 0.84 inches in four hours. 

June, with 0.92 inches, the driest in ten years ; except 
1908 with 0.45, which fell on two days. 



WlNTERBORNE WHITCHURCH. 

JANUARY. The month as a whole was mild. The temperature 
rising on the 13th to 56.5 in the shade, higher 
than I have ever observed in January. There 
were 15 days on which rain fell ; the heaviest 
fall in the 24 hours was measured on the 6th, 
0.75. The lowest temperature was registered 
the night of the 29th, 21.0. The coldest day 
was the 29th, when the thermometer did not 
rise above 34.0 in the 24 hours. Snow fell 
heavily during the early hours of the 22nd. 
Total rainfall, 3.81. 



202 RAINFALL IN DORSET. 

FEBRUARY. A wild stormy month, rain fell on 19 days, the 
heaviest fall, in 24 hours occurred on the 16th, 
when 1.37 inches was measured. The highest 
shade temperature was registered on the 3rd, 
50.0, the lowest the night of the 24th, 19.0. 
The coldest day was the 24th, when highest 
temperature was 39.0, the warmest night was 
that of the 4th, when the thermometer did not 
fall below 45.0. Snow showers were frequent 
on the 22nd and 23rd. Total rainfall, 6.70. 

MARCH. Dry and cold conditions prevailed throughout 
the month, the wind blew from N.W., N. or 
N.E. on 28 days. Rain or snow fell on only 
6 days, the heaviest fall in the 24 hours was 
0.45 inches on the 22nd. Snow fell on the 8th 
and 27th, but in small quantities. The highest 
temperature was registered on the 24th, 57.0 
in shade. The lowest, during the night of the 
29th, 20.0 ; the coldest day was the 18th, when 
the temperature did not rise above 42.0 ; the 
warmest night was that of the 4th, when the 
thermometer did not fall below 45.0. Total 
rainfall, 0.55. 

APRIL. Cold conditions prevailed generally till the 26th, 
from that data to the end of the month the 
weather was warm. Rain fell on 13 days ; the 
heaviest fall in 24 hours occurred on the 6th, 
when 0.60 was measured. The highest tem- 
perature was registered on the 28th, 72.0 
in shade ; the lowest occurred during the night 
of the 5th, 26.0. The coldest day was the 
14th, when the temperature did not rise above 
49.0 ; the warmest night was that of the 3rd, 
when the thermometer did not fall below 45. 
Total rainfall, 1.62. 



RAINFALL IN DORSET. 203 

MAY. There were 10 days on which rain fell, the heaviest 
fall in the 24 hours occurrad on the 13th, when 
1.03 was measured. The temperature reached 70 
and above on 9 days in the shade ; the highest 
recorded was 79.0 on the 26th, the lowest 30.0 
during the night of the 30th. A slight thunder- 
storm passed from E. to W. to the N. between 
2 and 2.30 on the 7th. 

The rainfall from beginning of the year to end 
of May amounts to 15.39, exactly the same as 
was measured in the corresponding period of 
last year. 

JUNE. The long drought which commenced on May the 
20th broke up on the 23rd. Rain fell on 8 days, 
heaviest fall in 24 hours occurred on the 29th, 
0.53 inches ; a short thunderstorm passed from 
W. to E. far to the S. between 12.15 and 12.30 
a.m. on the 8th, the lightning was very vivid. 
Distant thunder was heard frequently from 
1.55 p.m. to the W. and N.W. on the 27th. 
The thermometer reached 70 and above on 
14 days, the highest registered was 79.0 on the 
8th ; the lowest was recorded the night of 
the 19th, when the temperature sank to 31.0 
the lowest I have ever observed at midsummer. 

JULY. From the 1st to the 6th the weather was warm and 
summerlike, but from the 6th to the end of the 
month unsettled and cold conditions prevailed. 
Rain fell on 14 days, the heaviest fall in 24 
hours was registered on the 16th, when 1.37 
inches was measured. Slight thunderstorms 
occurred on the 24th, 27th, and 28th, all of 
which travelled from W. to E. 

Temperature reached 70 and above on only 
6 days ; the highest point registered was 79.0 



204 RAINFALL IN DORSET. 

the 4th, the lowest during the night being 
the llth, 42.0. 

AUGUST. Rain fell on 12 days. The heaviest fall in the 
24 hours occurred on the 2nd, 0.40 inches. 
Slight thunderstorms passed from N.N.W. to 
E.S.E. on the 13th and 15th. The temperature 
rose to 70 and above in the shade on 12 days, 
the highest was reached on the 26th, 77.0, the 
lowest occurred during the night of the 29th, 
42.0. 

SEPTEMBER. Warm and summerlike throughout. Rain fell 
on 8 days ; heaviest fall in 24 hours was 0.63 
on the 24th. Thunder was heard to the S. 
from 6 to 8 p.m. on the 21st. Temperature 
reached 70 and above on 11 days ; the highest 
record was 77.0 registered on the 18th, the 
lowest occurred during the night of the 4th, 
33.0. 

OCTOBER. The weather was fine and dry generally till the 
20th, but from the 21st to the end of the month 
no less than 5.78 inches of rain fell. 

Rain fell on 13 days, the heaviest fall in 
the 24 hours was measured on the 24th, 1.44 
inches ; falls of an inch and over in the 24 hours 
occurred on no less than three occasions during 
the month. The highest temperature in the 
shade was registered on the llth, 56.0 ; the 
lowest during the night of the 29th, 28.0. A 
good deal of lightning was observed during the 
evening of the 21st. 

NOVEMBER. From the 14th to the 28th the weather was 
wintry for the time of the year. Rain fell 
on 7 days ; the heaviest fall in the 24 hours was 



RAINFALL IN DORSET. 205 

measured on the llth, 1.20 inches. On 9 
days the temperature failed to reach 40 in the 
shade. On 20 nights the temperature fell 
to the freezing point and below. The highest 
temperature for the month was registered on the 
llth, 55.0, the lowest during the night the 26th, 
16.0, a very low temperature for November. 

DECEMBER was remarkable for its rainfall and its likeness 
to December in last year and its number of wet 
days-. Rain fell on 25 days with a total rainfall 
of 9.01 inches ; the heaviest fall in the 24 hours 
was registered on the 14th, when 1.30 inches 
was measured. The highest temperature Avas 
recorded on the 9th, 54.0 in shade ; the lowest, 
25.0, during the night of the 19th. 

There was a heavy hurricane on the 27th, 
many trees blown down, and thers was a re- 
markable hail storm about 8.45 a.m. on the 
31st ; it was of long duration for a hail storm. 
The ground became covered to the depth of an 
inch or more with hail stones. 

Captain Acland has a valuable note on December's rainfall 
under Dorchester. 

The max. and min. thermometers from which the 
above rscords were taken are new corrected instruments 
placed in a Stevenson Screen 4 feet above ground (one 
gross). 



206 



RAINFALL IN DORSET. 



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Civilisation in Oorset* 



By ELLEN E. WOODHOUSE. 

(BEING THE MANSEL-PLEYDELL PRIZE ESSAY FOR 1915-16.) 




county of Dorset is a pleasant land. It is 
famous for its rolling downs ; well-wooded 
valleys and rich pastures ; its wide moorlands, 
and fretted sea-coast. It has a climate that 
suits all manner of people ; its hill tops being 
so breezy, its combes so sheltered and sunny. 
It is not to be wondered that many races have 
made their homes there, mercilessly dispossessing 
each other as they have coveted the goodly 
land. 

Its county name and many of the names of the hills, valleys, 
and fortresses bear witness that the Ibers were early possess- 
ors of the soil. The river names, too, retain their Celtic 
origin. It is sometimes found that the name of a hill has 
become changed in the course of time, but the names of 
rivers remain unchanged. The name of a hill affects but 
comparatively few people, speaking generally, those only 
who live near it. Any fresh name, therefore, soon becomes 
circulated and known. A river belongs to all the districts 






PRE-SAXON CIVILIZATION IN DORSET. 211 

through which it runs ; therefore to change the river's name 
would make a great deal of confusion. 

In studying words and names we do well to bear in mind 
that names were known by their sound long before they were 
known by their spelling. All the people talked, while only 
the few \vrote ; and it might be a long time before there arose 
any occasion to express the sound of a name in written letters. 
Also, as in early times there was no fixed standard in spelling, 
the letters used to convey the sound of a name depended 
entirely on the writer's own ideas. 

The art of bridge making was not practised in very early 
times. The rivers formed natural boundaries, and to cross 
them Avould be usually undertaken as a hostile raid. In 
these cases a tree trunk thrown across the banks of the river 
sufficed for most purposes where fording was not possible. 

The Romans, however, when they settled in the land, 
opened up the country with their straight, well-constructed 
roads, and could not have felt their work completed without 
bridges. There remains only one authenticated Roman 
bridge in the county. It is at Preston, three miles north 
of Weymouth. There must have been many others which 
were ruthlessly destroyed in the troublous times which 
followed the Roman evacuation of the island. At Fife head 
Neville a small, rudely-built pack-bridge stands beside the 
ford, the core of which might possibly be Roman, but there 
is nothing by which its age can be determined. 

The Roman Emperor Hadrian built a bridge over the river 
Tyne at Newcastle, A. D. 120. A few years ago the wear of 
time and traffic made it necessary to re place Hadrian's bridge, 
with a new one. Mr. Wheeler took the contract for the bridge 
inserting a clause which secured his right to the oak piles of 
the old bridge. He gave one of these piles to his son, Canon 
Wheeler, then Rector of Haselbury Bryan, who took great 
delight in fashioning it with his own hands into the oak 
lectern now standing in Haselbury Bryan church. 

These instances apparently complete the record of Roman 
bridge building in Dorset. 



212 PRE-SAXON CIVILIZATION IN DORSET. 

FORDS. 

The Roman roads crossed rivers by a Trajectus in the form 
of a paved ford, the road being thus carried under, not over, 
the stream ; and beside this construction there often was a 
Pons for foot passengers. With the return of lawlessness, 
however, these Pontes went to ruin, and were sometimes 
replaced by rafts for foot passengers which retained the 
earlier name in a modified form " punts." 

The paved ford remained and was called a Brig (Celtic 
Briga), but was essentially an under -water structure, so that 
Filey Brig, near Scarborough, a ridge of rocks dipping 
gradually under the sea, fairly represents the early idea of 
what a bridge should be. 

A typical example of a paved ford with the foot-bridge 
beside it is seen at Mappowder Water, the paving of which 
has been renewed as the stones have worn away. 

A few Dorset fords retain their Celtic names. Fiddleford 
recalls the time when the land was a forest (Gaelic fid, a forest). 
Hanford was the old ford (British Henfordd). Redford 
was a ford, pure and simple (B. Khyd.) Winford, the white 
ford (Welsh Gwen, white) while Blandford stood in front 
of the. ford (B. Blaen y fordd). 



BOUNDARIES AND MINOR ROADS. 

The ancient Britons had two kinds of roads or trackways. 
The first, a roadway for wheeled vehicles, was formed by 
throwing up a wide bank or causeway with a ditch of 
considerable depth on either side. The minor roads were 
much narrower, being used only for horse and foot traffic ; 
and the term hollow or covered way has been given to them 
because the high banks gave shelter and concealment to the 
wayfarer. These were formed by digging a moderately 
broad and deep ditch and throwing up the soil into a bank 
on one or both sides of the trackway. 



PRE-SAXON CIVILIZATION IN DORSET. 213 

It has been suggested that many of the earthworks may 
have served a double purpose, being available as roadways, 
and also as boundary lines and divisions between the property 
of neighbouring tribes, just as there are borough boundaries 
in these days. The Rev. W. Barnes, in speaking of these 
dykes and boundary roads, says : " Who can believe that 
the Britons or Belgse could have manned scores of miles of a 
low bank or shallow ditch over which men or boys might have 
gone anywhere with a single stride ? " They represent evidently 
divisions of districts amongst the tribes, as decided by mutual 
agreement. These ancient trackways converge towards two 
centres in Dorset. Badbury Rings, near Wimborne, is the 
northern centre ; while Maiden Castle, near Dorchester, is the 
southern. Amongst those leading to Badbury Rings is one 
of great antiquity, still discernible descending the slopes of 
the southern bank of the river Stour in the direction of the 
British settlements on the chalk downs of Littleton and 
Charlton parishes. On the opposite side of the river several 
similar ways may be easily distinguished leading eastward to 
Badbury Camp, from the sites of the British villages on the 
downs of Tarrant Monkton, Rawston, and Keynston. 

Starting presumably from Shaftesbury and leading from 
the British fort on Winklebury Hill is a grass lane sunk deeply 
between high banks which goes towards Cranborne. When 
it reaches the hill side it enters a typical British road with an 
entrenched track, where travellers are completely hidden 
from sight as they climb the hill. It makes a very safe 
and secret way into the stronghold from the north. The 
track winds up and round the hill in spiral fashion, and opens 
at length upon the south slope of the down into the Ox drove 
or Ridgeway. It was evidently a cattle track from one 
settlement to another, for it kept to the hill top as being the 
only safe way to avoid surprise attacks. The lowlands, with 
their tangle of forest and swamp, afforded most excellent 
covert for marauding men and beasts. 

A Celtic or Belgic boundary called Comb's Ditch begins 
a little south of Clenston church. It ascends the brow of 



214 PRE-SAXON CIVILIZATION IN DORSET. 

the hill opposite Whatcombe and, running parallel to Lalee 
and Whitechurch, extends to Colwood and Anderson, beyond 
which no traces of it have been observed. It is composed of 
a single bank and ditch, the former being always on the 
western side. In the best preserved places it is 10 feet high, 
and in some parts the bank is broad enough to have formed 
a road. It is not made in a straight line, but forms bends 
and curves, as if with a design to avoid obstructions such as 
trees and bushes. 

A Roman road apparently went from Poole to Badbury 
Rings. It has been traced in a private lane at Upton. The 
dorsum is plain a little beyond Cogdean Elms, where two 
large barrows stand to the west of it. The Romans probably 
made a convenient landing-place at Poole, whence they 
directed their marches to and from the station at Badbury. 
Tracks of the Roman road, called Ackling Ditch or Dyke, are 
found in the direct line of their traditional route from Sarum 
to Badbury. It is noticeable at Woodyates, where lies the 
county boundary. It is very perfect for four miles running 
across the downs, a parish boundary following it for three 
miles. It is five yards wide across the top, and four, five, or 
six feet high. Traces of side ditches remain, and in several 
places they cut into the bank and ditch surrounding a barrow. 
This is perhaps the most striking example of the embankment 
of a Roman road remaining in the country. It runs for miles 
in a straight line in bold and sharp relief over the open down, 
and the magnitude of the work and its situation are alike 
imposing. When it leaves the down it appears as a hedgerow 
at the side of a lane with the parish boundary beside it. It 
is traceable in Crichel Park and on Witchampton Common ; 
a road has been made along the course of it, which is then 
followed by a lane for two miles near to Badbury Rings. 

Leaving Badbury the ridge runs through Shapwick, crosses 
the Stour a little below the church, and on through Little' 
Coll Wood to high ground ; it can be traced through fields 
in Winterbourne Kingston, as in Tolpuddle. There are remains 
of the ridge on Puddletown Heath and in Kingston Park. 



PRE-SAXON CIVILIZATION IN DORSET. 215 

The Roman Road to Ilchester left Dorchester through the 
west gate, following a straight course to Bradford Peverel, 
then crossing the Frome to Stratton and on to the high 
ground north of .Frampton. It was described in 1796 as a 
" dor sum broad and high and paved with flints " and it is 
still plainly to be seen in the fields beyond Stratton and at 
Grimston Common Field as an elevated ridge. 

At a distance of half a mile from Dorchester, a straight 
Roman road runs for two miles and a half to a tumulus on 
Bradford Down a parish boundary follows it in its course 
to Eggardun Hill in many places it is quite conspicuous. 
It was the old Exeter road, and traces are found of it 
beyond Chideock, mounting Chardown Hill, passing over 
Stonebarrow Hill, through Cold Harbour, and on to 
Charmouth. There it divided, one branch continuing along 
the coast, the other going by Axminster to Honiton. 

The plough discovered a vicinal way from Eggardun to 
Abbotsbury by unearthing the paving stones. It is also 
known that a vicinal way went from Dorchester to Monkton 
at a right angle with the Icening Way. It appears to have 
led to Weymouth, as there seem to be a few traces of it on 
Ridge way Hill. 

Beside the road from Bindon to Weymouth there runs 
for several miles a ditch like Wansdike. It is found at the 
west end of Moigne Down. It runs parallel with the road, 
crosses it, and disappears at a short distance beyond Pokeswell. 
It w r as probably an ancient roadway for wheel and cart 
traffic. The Rev. W. Barnes thought that the old hollow- 
road near Came rectory was a branch of this road, and that 
an ancient trackway on Whitcombe farm might also be part 
of it, as traces of a very old Celtic road have been found in 
two places in Dorchester leading in the direction of the 
Ware ham road. 

A whiteway of great antiquity with formidable banks on 
each side has given its name to a farm in the parish of Knoll, 
in the Isle of Purbeck. It leads northward across the heath 
nearly to Wareham, and in a south-west direction it crosses 



216 PBE-SAXON CIVILIZATION IN DORSET. 

near Steeple church and proceeds to Steeple Leaze. Another 
branch diverges through Harpstone Lane to Kimmeridge. 
It appears to have been at one time the principal thorough- 
fare in that part of Pur beck, but some portions of it are now 
wholly deserted. 

A boundary line between Egleston to West Tyneham 
appears to commence at a place called Tyneham Cap on the 
summit of the South hill, and to extend in a direct course 
to the top of the opposite hill northwards. 

One of the oldest trackways, according to Canon Bingham, 
starts from Iwerne, the Ibernio of the Romans. It joins 
another from Banbury Hill near Ibberton Park, and climbs 
Bell Hill, passing Bulbarrow and on through Ansty, Hart- 
footlane to Chesilborne, and from thence through two of the 
Piddles to Maiden Castle. It was the here path or warpath 
of Britons and Romans alike, and it is so called in Chesilborne 
in the enumeration of the Saxon boundaries. The lane is 
very narrow and bounded by high banks ; and Canon Bingham 
says further that within his memory the waggoners who came 
for hurdles blew cows' horns vigorously, so that the way 
might be cleared before them. The day's march of a Roman 
soldier was " twenty-four miles in eight hours, neither 
more nor less," says Kipling : a Roman mile being 1,000 
paces " Head and spear up, shield on your back, cuirass 
collar open one hand's breadth and that's how you take the 
Eagles through Britain ! " The principal camps and fortresses 
throughout the county are approximately that distance apart, 
so this herepath must have been trodden by the Durotriges 
on the war path, armed with flint weapons and terrible to 
behold in the ferocity of their war paint. After them, by 
Britons in woven garments brandishing their superior bronze 
weapons, and subsequently by Roman warriors in their 
glittering armour inarching with their long slow stride 
" Rome's Race Rome's Pace." 

From Rawlesbury Rings a deep old trackway leads from 
the camp by a gentle slope southwards to the valley beneath, 
used evidently as a cattle drive. After passing through fields 



PRE-SAXON CIVILIZATION IN DORSET. 217 

it joins the London road. This is not a road at all. but merely 
a bridle path, and could have no connection with London. 
Possibly the name may be derived from the Celtic. Llyn or 
pool (Llyn claen being the derivation of Londinium) with the 
dun or hill rising above it, as those are its exact conditions. 

The London road reappears running still southward through 
three Ansty meadows, crossing the Divelish brook, and 
finally merges into the herepath in Hartfootlane. 

A very narrow trackway leads eastwards from the top of 
Ibberton Down to Houghtori Stubbs. It ran on the top of the 
down and then led the way into the old Milton village, until it 
was lost above Milton mill. Another branch runs through the 
corresponding valley on the north side, through Houghtoii 
and across the dow r n eastward, where it is still known as a 
right of way and is used as a halter path. 



PLANT NAMES. 

" Excellent herbs had our fathers of old, 

Excellent herbs to ease their pain." 

Very few plant names can be traced to our Celtic fore- 
fathers. We know they grew flax, for the Druids wore linen 
garments, and it grows wild in many parts of the county. 
They called it Lin from which is derived our word linen. 
Vetches, they apparently grew for fodder, because its name 
comes from the Celtic gwig. Slellaria Holostea had the fatal 
effect of leading the wearer astray and causing them to be 
pixey-led. Digitalis purpurea recalls the fairy folk, or at 
any rate their gloves. Carrots they ate, for they called them 
red (car) ; ferns they noted grew in swampy places, so they 
named them verne. Ranunculus repens with its creeping 
roots reminded them of ravens' claws (hram, a raven) so 
rams-claws is still its name in country places. Apples they 
grew, for Avalon received its name because of its famous 
apple orchards. Osier beds (gwern), too, were very necessary 
in those days of wattle and daub. 



218 PRE-SAXON CIVILIZATION IN DORSET. 

Woad, Isatis tinctoria, does not grow wild in Dorset. It 
has given its name to Glastonbury in Somerset (Glastum from 
glas, blue) because of its fields of woad ; its original name 
being Glastum sativum. It is a biennial, so would quickly 
die out when not cultivated. 

Many of the most abundant flowers have been given the 
prefix of some animal or bird. Those named after the dog 
impty that it has not much value, but grows in great profusion. 
The dog violet is most abundant, but scentless ; the dog 
mercury grows freely, but is useless ; dog roses have many 
thorns and grow high above reach. 

Cowslips bloom when cows go out to grass ; cow wheat has 
a seed of no food value, but cow parsley and pig parsley are 
delectable fodder. Buttercups grow in good pasture land, 
bull rushes are large and unapproachable in their marshy 
surroundings. 

The calf's snout appears on arable land ; hart's tongue 
and adder's tongue ferns are found in moist places. Cat's 
tails festoon the hazel bushes, and a humble mouse-ear 
frequents waste places. 

A flower with the prefix horse shows that it is a large 
one. The large field daisy is a horse daisy. Horse radish 
has a coarse leaf and root. Colt's foot and horse tails are 
gross growing and troublesome weeds. 

Birds, too, have their special flowers. There is a lark spur, 
a crane's bill, a crow foot, and goose grass. 

The cuckoo's arrival is heralded by two flowers called 
cuckoo flowers (lady's smocks and wood sorrel) and by the 
cuckoo pint (arum maculatum). 

Snakes, too, have their flowers. The stitchwort makes a 
pleasant bed for them. Snakes' weed has a twisted root, 
and the snake's head fritillary has very similar mottled 
markings. 

All these pleasant familiar names must be of great antiquity, 
for they are in general use, and modern scientific botanists 
have wisely retained them, knowing that no Latin names 
could replace them. 



PRE-SAXON CIVILIZATION IN DORSET. 219 

The oak (Celtic Tanri) was worshipped by the Druids, 
who maintained a perpetual fire from its wood. Once a 
year all fires were extinguished, to be relighted from the 
burning wood on the sacred altar. This is the origin of 
the Yule log. The reviving brand was generally of oak, 
but sometimes of ash, and thus it comes about that in 
Dorset we still burn the Ashen or Christmas brand on 
Christmas Eve. 

The mistletoe is also associated Avith the Druids, who 
thought it was a remedy for many diseases and an antidote 
to poison. It was ceremoniously cut by a white -robed Druid 
with a golden hook, the precious branches falling on a white 
cloth spread beneath the tree to receive them. 

The mountain ash was also beloved by the Druids, and 
is found growing in the places they frequented. It was 
reputed to have the power of saving people from the 
power of evil spirits, and so was planted near habitations. 
Its Gaelic name was caerthaun, the quicken tree or quick 
beam. 

Vervain ( Verbena officinalis) was a plant of great repute, 
and looked upon as a holy herb by the Druids. It had to be 
gathered at the rising of the great Dog Star, when neither 
sun nor moon was above the earth to see it, and under those 
conditions was able to bestow the power of prophecy. The 
Romans honoured it also, and used it when casting lots, 
telling fortunes, and foretelling future events. It could drive 
away evil spirits, and would cure no less than thirty diseases. 
A piece of vervain hung round the neck by a white ribbon 
would avert infection. The Romans strewed their temples 
with its sprays, and its flowers were laid upon their altars. 
It is often found growing in England nea.c some Roman 
settlement. 

The devil's bit, or scabious, must have been always a herb 
of note, because its root contained a cure for every evil that 
man is heir to. The devil thought a plant of that character 
would be fatal to all his schemes, so he bit off the root and 
the marks of his teeth are to be seen to this day. 



220 PRE-SAXON CIVILIZATION IN DORSET. 

PLACE NAMES. 

The name Dorset itself gives rise to much discussion. 
Dor is the Welsh Divr for water. 

Cornish Dour Gaelic and Irish Dur and Dobliar, water ; 
set the settlers, the seat or place inhabited. Dorn saetan 
settlers by the water, i.e., by the sea. Johnson gives another 
origin, Dorn saeta, seat or settlement "among the thorns." 

The inhabitants, the Durotfiges, we have on the authority 
of Ptolemy, A.D. 150, were given their name because they 
were " dwellers by the water " but Professor Rhys gives 
the meaning of the Celtic Duro as door, gate, or porch. 

Welsh Dor and Drws, a door Irish Dorus. This word 
seems to survive in the word Durn which is used for the 
uprights which hold the door in place. 

The character of the streams and rivers is disclosed by 
their names and the villages through which they flow. The 
Piddle or Trent, which gives its name to seven villages, 
describes itself as Pydeau, a draw well or mire. Trent 
(Trouent) a winding river. 

The river Allen or Trent comes from Aluin, foir and lovely. 
Frome is either derived from the Welsh Ijraw, brisk or lively, 
or from the British Var, a stream or river. In the one form 
it gives a name to Chilfrome and Frome Vauchurch and as 
the Var, we have Woodsford, a ford over the Varia. Winfrith 
from the Welsh Given, ffryd is the white clear stream ; Terig 
(British Terog) is the clear stream. 

Stour comes from the British steir, a river. 

Ladden, lade den is a stream in a vale. Charmouth from 
Car, the head or mouth of a river, and Lyme even in those 
times was a city of ships, Lhon borlh. Dewlish is taken 
from the Dhu dark, and lish is a corruption of the Welsh glais, 
a stream. Deverill is the dark stream. Durweston (Dwy 
wys] is a place of deep water, while Iwerne (ywerri) is a swamp. 

The shore between Portland and the " Fleet " where the 
bridge carries the traffic is called the Kamber, probably 
from Camb, Celtic for crooked, curved, in reference to the 



PRE-SAXON CIVILIZATION IN DORSET. 221 

curve or bend of the shore. At Portsmouth a similar part 
of the foreshore by the Hard opposite Gosport, is also called 
" the Kamber " for the same reason. The river Cam, or 
crooked river, derives its name from the same source. 
Portland suggests Portus (British Forth), a harbour. The 
stone slingers must have been formidable foes, and excellent 
guardians against hostile visitors, with their strong views on 
the intrusion of Kimberlins or strangers. 

The river Wey, as well as the river Wye, is from the Welsh 
Gwy, a river, and especially a slow river. It bubbles forth 
at the Wishing Well at Upwey, widens out at Broad wey, 
forms the tide pool at Radipole (rcdeg-pool), and finds the 
sea at Weymouth. There seems no explanation as to the 
meaning of the river Cerne which points to the supposition 
that it may be pre -Celtic. 

Poole and Bradpole take their names from pwl, the marsh 
or pool. The Rev. W. Barnes thought that Wareham, or 
Durngueis, as it was called by the Durotriges, is derived 
from Dwrin diminutive of dwr, water meaning a little sea 
or a little water. 

Owermoigne is either from g'ower, a small enclosure, or 
g'over, a small spring or stream. 

One of the most poetical and homelike Dorset words is 
Combe. The Welshman wanted to give a pleasant place a 
pleasant name, and so he called a valley a cum. Dorset 
abounds in combes, and they are aptly described by their 
prefixes. 

Thus Encombe is the great valley, Corscombe, the bog- 
valley ; Compton, a town situated in a valley ; Lyscombe 
(lhv$), a secluded valley ; Kimmeridge (Cymmre), the place 
of hills and hollows ; Nettlecombe ( Nettel), a valley where 
the toll was taken ; Melcombe (Moel), a conical or round 
hill above a valley ; Plush (plis), a comb or dell ; Batcombe, 
the pasture valley. 

When we reach the uplands we find that Tout or Towte 
was a watcher's hill, so Nettlecombe Tout was an observation 
station of much importance where tolls were gathered. 



222 PRE-SAXON CIVILIZATION IN DORSET. 

Keynston comes from cefn, a ridge or rock. Badbury, bad or 
abad, was a Celtic habitation or town. Chaldon, celvandum, 
a retreat or hiding place in the down. Pentridge is a wrinkled 
hill, from Pen, a head, and Kridge, creased or crumpled. 
Pensilwood, the wood of a height like a chimney (sel) or 
smoke hole. Creech is old Welsh for a stack heap, or hill. 
Shaftesbury, or Caer Pnlladour, meant the same in both 
tongues the staff of a spear ; which might be derived from 
its appearance, as it stands like a promontory or point above the 
vale, on an almost perpendicular hill. Maiden Castle (mai 
dunun) was well described as the Hill of Strength. 

The pleasant pastures of Purbeck, as distinct from the 
heath lands, give its name, Porbeck. Tilly Whim caves, 
Touten Vegn, describe themselves as holes in the rocks. 
Durlstone is a perforated rock, and the Druid stones can 
never be forgotten at Little Mayne (maen, a stone). Wcotton 
Glanville is suggestive of the Blackmore forest (Coit. a 
wood) in which it is situated. Evershot recalls the time 
when wild boars roamed its woods. 

Pimperne is a puzzling name. It has been suggested 
as being derived from Old Welsh Pimp, five, and Werne, a 
meadow, or ern, a pledge. The parish in 1790 comprised 
four arable common fields beside pasture, the Pimperne 
Mead of thirty-five acres, some enclosures and coppices. 
In Doomsday Book it is entered as Pimpre, the ' Pre ' being 
apparently equivalent to the Latin Pro turn, French Pre, 
a meadow. 

Pokeswell might be Puckswell, or Pixies well, for the 
Celts made a special cult of holywells, believing them to have 
the gift of healing. It is not an uncommon name, because 
in the parish of Langton Matravers there is a farm called 
Pucklake a place near Ilminster is named Puckiiigton 
and in our younger days we were taught when gathering 
flowers to leave " some for the Nixies and some for the Pixies." 

There are few Roman place names in the county. Those given 
have generally a Celtic addition. Dorchester was another 
lioinan camp by the water dwr, or the river Varia, Celtic 



PRE-SAXON CIVILIZATION IN DORSET. 223 

" v&r." Sfcratton recalls the Roman street through which 
the paved road ran. It has been thought that Wimborne 
was the town called by the Romans Vindocladia, which was 
their way of pronouncing the British Vind or Vint, the 
head of two rivers, and da dh, a ditch or rampart. Dr. Stukeley 
says, however, Vint is white and Gladh is a river, hence our 
word glade, the birthplace of a river. The river Tarrant 
or Trent has a bilingual derivation, British Dwr went, white 
or clear water Roman, Torrens, a rapid stream. 

There is one place which still retains its Roman name. 
It is the woody height of Mount Silva in Buckland Newton. 



CELTIC FAMILY NAMES. 

These names give an indication of the occupation of their 
owners or of some special personal characteristic. 

The Dorset peasant is still very skilful in bestowing nick- 
names, most of which are very apposite. 

We find a good many sidelights thrown on the conditions 
of life in early Britain through these names. One was a 
King (Wren, Welsh vrenhin), another a Knight or a Ser\ant 
(Gill. Gael, Gillie.). A smith was needed (Gover, from 
Gobhar), also a greysmith (Lithgow, Brit.) A cobbler was 
in great request (Creed, Welsh Crudd). A gardener was 
necessary for growing herbs and simples (Gard, W.), and for 
the flocks a sheepfold was imperative (Kail, W.) That 
they were law-abiding folk is seen in there being an oath 
giver (Crerar, W.) 

One was fair of face (Cluett, W. Glywdd), another was 
crooked (Croom, W. Crwmm), a third was curved or bent 
(Crew, W. Crw), the unfortunate Mog was a slave, and 
worst of all there was a contemptible fellow (Doggrell, Gael. 
Dogwra) . 

True men were there as in all communities, for one was 
a brother Fro\vd (W. Frawd), and another possessed a heart, 
Creed (Gael. Cridhe) ; and, as all sorts go to make a world, 



224 PRE-SAXON CIVILIZATION IN DORSET. 

there were red people (Goff, B. Gougty ; a fat man. Tuffen 
(W. Twlfen). 

Smart men of fashion wore trousers (Lodder, W. Lloda), and 
a cloak (Tory, W. Taryn, and one warrior was celebrated 
for his dagger (Tuck, W. Twca). 

We see, too, where they lived. Belben lived at the end 
of the pass (Beal Ben, Gaelic) Hall on the hill or slope 
(Hallr, G.) Combes came from a valley and Lear from the 
sea (Llyrd W.) Howe overlooked a tumulus (hangr) and 
Havard recalled high summer (Hafard, W.) Fooks lived 
in a damp foggy place (Fwg W.) and Ross on a moor, 
Rhos, moor or heath. Dobar's house was by the water 
(Dobhair, W.) and Hiscock by the red water (Wysg, Brit.) 
while Dare lived near a sacred oak (Celtic). The Picketts 
and the Pigotts were presumably ancient wood-picker men 
(Pic vest, greeu wood picker). 



ROMAN FAMILY NAMES. 

"Clare" was the illustrious (Clarus) " Galpin," the 
beardless. Joyce was a humorist (Jocosus) but Keech 
was blind (caecus). Payne was countrified and came from 
a village (Paganus). Peaty was a disagreeable, leering fellow 
(Paetus) and Vigor was very senseless (Vecors) Wyatt 
travelled a good deal serving writs (Viator), and Arkell was 
famed as either the maker or possessor of a small chest 
(arcella). 

Trevett was at the cross roads (trifidus), and Foss close to 
the ditch. Daubeny was a British tribesman Tink was a 
tinctor. 

Some of the Romans were craftsmen evidently, and were 
known by their house signs. Horlock's sign was that of a 
timepiece (horologium) and Scutt's that of a shield (scutum). 
Scammell had a little bench (scammellus) to show his skill in 
carpentry, and Troke, the wheelwright, specialised in hoops 
for wheels (trochus, a hoop). Pomery sold fruit (pomarius), 



PEE-SAXON CIVILIZATION IN DORSET. 225 

and Vyney lived at the sign of the pine tree. Mussell was as 
quiet and inoffensive as a little mouse (musculus), while 
Pardy was as fierce as a panther (pardus) and Whittle was as 
strong as a steer ( Vitulus). 

There are apparently some contractions of the sonorous 
Roman names which made them more easily pronounced by 
British tongues. For example, Benedictus reappears as 
Bennett. Jesty suggests a shortened form of Justinian, and 
Tite of Titus ; while Stacey seems an affectionate diminutive 
of Anastasius. 



ROMANO-BRITISH FAMILY NAMES. 

Antell came from the East, the sun rise ( Anatole) Cavell 
lived in a cave or chapel ( Cafell) Chilcott the anchorite was 
domiciled in a cell in a wood (Kilcoed) Kilford in the cell 
by the road Waygood was in the wood road (Via coed). 
Keevil had a chamber and Priddle a stool (predella). Cleall 
Avas known by his voice, and Besent by his gold coin. 

Dominy was born on Sunday (Dominica) and both Dibben 
and Dunn were of the dominant people. Drew was a Druid 
Perfitt was a perfidious person while Ridout had passed 
through troublous times, and eventually had been restored 
to libert}' (reductus). 



DIALECT WORDS. 

Much has been written of Celtic glamour, Celtic mysticism, 
and Celtic romance, so one expects to find words and ex- 
pressions suggestive of poetry and imagination. A few 
expressions taken fron Nature are charming. Colours are 
thus described " as blue as a gregle " (wild hyacinth), " as 
black as the raven's wing," "as pale as ashes " "as white 
as a blossom of snow " (a snowflake), and " as white as driven 
snow." 



226 PRE-SAXON CIVILIZATION IN DORSET. 

There are others which are descriptive rather than poetical. 
To eat with a good appetite is said to " knock it in honey 
sweet." Young people when they have finished growing 
" have couie to the cap sheaf." Great agitation causes one 
to " shake like a leaf " and when the troubles of life are 
lessening " one leaves the suds of turmoil and enters the 
calm of the rinsing water." 

One boy when working by himself is said to be "a boy. " 
Two boys in the same employment make " half a boy " but 
three boys working together are said to be " never a boy 
at all." , 

We find the words which have survived the many changes 
have been those used more especially by the slaves or captured 
people, and which show for the greater part the everyday 
life of the people. 

When children were born they slept in a " cradle." The 
boys played " truant " and wore their clothes into " clouts." 
They ate " rashers " of bacon, had famous " pasties " and 
drank " metheglin " and " beer " still called Cwrw in Welsh. 
Their houses had " doors " and they used " mops " for cleaning 
them, and crocks and gridirons (griedio, to scorch) for their 
cooking. They made "baskets" and kept geese, and some- 
times fetters (gyve) were necessary. They used a " harrow " 
on their " arable " land, and their " harvest " was the reward 
of their toil. They had " kilns," used " mattocks," and hewed 
" ashlar " stones and made " wrix " or wattle work. 

Great warriors they were with their " gavelocks " and 
" claymores," also expert sailors in their " coracles." Their 
hermits were called " mendwy " (Welsh), which is picturesquely 
translated as " God's slave." 

When a chieftain was ill, they tried to ease his pain with a 
" fleame " but when he died they bore him to their highest 
hill and built a " barrow " to mark his resting place, and laid 
a bell beside him in case he awoke and wanted help. 

They understood the verb " to know " and also the one 
" to stand." They disapproved of loud speaking, intimating 
that it was " croaking " like a frog or raven, or " creaking " 



PRE-SAXON CIVILIZATION IN DORSET. 227 

like a door or corncrake. The rain made " puddles " for 
them (plod, a pool) over which they " skipped." 

When they garnered their harvest they did not forget the 
pixies, but left some fruit or corn for them to go " cole pexing " 
but they disrespectfully called a wet and dirty place a 
" pucksey " as if they thought Puck the merry wanderer 
of the night was responsible for misleading travellers into 
bogs and ditches. " Old Scratch " with his black nutting 
bag was their dark god whom to meet meant death, and the 
death goddess Wyod is responsible for weird superstitions. 
They used the word "athwart," and we use it still when we 
speak of walking " athirt the grounds." 

The Romans are responsible for the expression Cold Har- 
bour a name given to deserted Roman villas, where those 
travellers could lodge who carried their own bedding and 
provisions. The Maze was an ancient Roman game, and 
it was called a " Troy Town " a word used in Devonshire 
for a tangle. We use the word when wo say we are " mazed " 
or confused. 

Street is another Roman word we have adopted. It is 
taken from Strata or paved roads, and when a place bears 
any modification of the word such as Stratton it is proved 
to have been connected with one of the great Roman roads 
which linked together the chief strategic positions in the island. 

These are a few traces left to us of the Dorset of long ago. 

The county is a palimpsest written over and over again, 
by peoples from many lands. They have all left some mark 
of their occupation, but the original characters can occasionally 
be faintly read, and we can picture our forerunners in their 
work and pastimes, and even catch some echoes of their 
shrewd and homely talk as they sat around their cleft-wocd 
fires through the winter evenings. 

One bond unites us. We can claim the same heritage and 
distinction, for we are alike in being " Dorset folk, born and 
bred." 



$ ortkniu 



By the Rev. HERBERT PENTIN, M.A. 




HE water-colour views of Old Portland which are 
here reproduced en bloc for the first time* 
have a little history of their own. Soon 
after John Penn, afterwards Governor of 
Portland, had built Pennsylvania Castle as 
his residence he commissioned J. W. 
Upham, an artist of some repute who for 
the latter portion of his life lived at Wey- 
mouth, exhibited at the Royal Academy, 
and enjoyed the patronage of the Princess 

Augusta, to paint at his leisure eighteen views of Portland. 

The work was spread over the years 1802-5. 

During the changes in the ownership of Pennsylvania 

the pictures remained in the Castle, and in the year 1887 

passed into the possession of Mr. J. Merrick Head, who 



* C. Hullmandel reproduced a few of them with minutice of difference 
in detail. 




"2 

rt 

_C 

3 
O 


x 



O 



OLD POETLAND. 229 

for many years was an active and valued member of the 
Dorset Field Club. By the kindness of Mrs. Merrick Head 
the views are now reproduced in memory of her late husband 
for the benefit of our members, many of whom were his 
personal friends while he lived at Pennsylvania Castle ; 
and the pleasant task of writing some descriptive letter- 
press to accompany the plates has been entrusted to me. 
A few lines will suffice for most of the pictures ; but some 
of them demand a longer notice. The photographs are 
the work of Mr. E. H. Seward, of Weymouth. 

Quite a number of Upham's other paintings of Portland 
and of Weymouth and the neighbourhood were reproduced 
by Alken, Bluck, and others. The only earlier series of 
Portland views known to me are the smaller set in ink by 
the Swiss artist, S. H. Grimm, dated 1790 (they are in the 
British Museum), and a cruder and still smaller set (anony- 
mous), dated 1785 ; but extant single views of about this 
date suggest that other sets may have been issued. 

It should be mentioned that the following notes have 
had the advantage of being read through by two writers 
on Portland our member, Mrs. King Warry, and Mr. Robert 
Pearce and although they do not agree with everything 
here written there is not very much that they would wish 
to alter. 



I. General View of Weymouth and Portland. 

This view of Weymouth as it was at the beginning of 
the 19th century, with the Isle of Portland, and several 
frigates in the Roads in attendance on George III. who 
was going on an " aquatic excursion," was sketched from 
a field near the old Cavalry Barracks, about a mile from 
the town of Weymouth. 

Portland, though now a peninsula, is always called an 
island, which not improbably it once was. The local idea 
quaintly expressed is worth recording : " The island has 



230 OLD PORTLAND. 

become less and less an island as the years have gone on." 
Which, being interpreted, means that the narrow isthmus 
(the Chesil Beach) now joining Portland to " the adjacent 
island of Great Britain " has become more and more well- 
defined with the passing of the years. The insularity of 
the old-time Portlander was exemplified thoroughly by 
the man nearing 80 who said that he had "never been to 
England yet, and had no intention of ever going." But 
the old-time Portlander will soon be extinct. 



II. Bufus Castle. 

This Norman castle has by ancient tradition borne the 
name of " Rufus," and there is hardly sufficient reason to 
challenge the tradition that it was a royal castle built towards 
the end of the Red King's reign* as a fortress chiefly against 
invaders by sea. The Keep, which formerly stood in a field, 
but is now at the cliff's edge, has become a mere shell ; it 
is of unusual shape, pentagonal, and is cleverly constructed 
of Portland stone. Its walls are over seven feet in thickness, 
and are pierced with small circular loopholes for archers ; 
hence the building is also known as Bow and Arrow Castle. 
The machicolated corbels, in groups of three together, would 
have been utilised for hurling down stones, melted lead, 
pitch, and other missiles. 

The Castle has figured only once in English history in 
the Civil War, wherein the Empress Maud attempted to 
dethrone Stephen. The castle was the King's and, accord- 
ing to William of Malmesbury, he fortified it ; but in 1142 
it was taken by Robert, the turbulent Earl of Gloucester, 
on behalf of his half-sister, the Empress. Maud was at 

* It is a curious coincidence that the first baronial owner of the 
Manor of Portland should have been known as " Rufus." This was 
Gilbert de Clare (1243-95), who was the 9th Earl of Clare, and also Earl 
of Hertford and of Gloucester. " Bufus " was not at all an unccnnrnon 
surname or nickname in early times. 



i 

1 *** if I 
- r>r^ j 




OLD PORTLAND. 231 

this time closely besieged in Oxford by Stephen ; but instead 
of going to her help Earl Robert captured the castle at Port- 
land, and also other places in Dorset, which the King allowed 
to fall into his hands rather than abandon the siege of Oxford. 
At this time the Castle may well have suffered damage, 
and the lands around would almost certainly have been 
plundered and wasted. 

The portions of the building that remain suggest that the 
Keep was originally of two stories, and perhaps there were 
three, containing three small rooms, as this was a common 
number, although the ancient local tradition is that the 
work was never finished. Still, it is reasonable to assume 
that there were the usual substantial castle -walls with their 
fortified turrets, enclosing an inner bailey and an outer 
bailey, and a building near or adjoining the Keep for lodging 
the soldiers, and probably a small chapel. The fortified 
gatehouse would have supplied accommodation for officers, 
and the Keep itself, though the last retreat of the garrison 
in times of war, would have contained in times of peace 
apartments for the Constable, or Warden, of the Castle, 
and perhaps for his wife, family, and servants. It is true 
that the Keep at Portland is very small indeed, but con- 
tracted space was an unpleasant feature in Norman fortresses ; 
they wers not built for luxury, or even for comfort. The 
principal room in a Keep, solely -accommodating the com- 
mandant, was frequently nothing more than a dark and 
narrow den ; and if a lady shared the rule of the tower she 
had also one apartment for all purposes ; and, as for any 
children or servants, they managed by day as best they 
could on the ground floor over the dungeon, and at night 
spread themselves on straw. 

Hutchins, however, quotes another ancient tradition 
that the Castle was used as a place of refuge for the islanders, 
who may have felt a certain proprietary right in it if, as has 
been asserted, William II. imposed a land-tax on them in 
order to complete the building. It had ceased to be a fortress 
at any rate before Tudor times. 



232 OLD PORTLAND. 

The only known Constable, Warden, or Keeper of the Castle 
was Richard de Clare, 8th Earl of Clare, and also Earl of 
Gloucester and of Hertford, in Henry III.'s reign. This 
Richard had revolted with other barons under Simon de 
Montfort against the King ; but, quarrelling with de 
Montfort, he became friendly with and was in attendance 
on the King in 1259. It was about this time that Richard 
de Clare was appointed Keeper of the Castle at Portland.* 
And we may assume that he and his son came here and 
were attracted by the Island, for this son, Gilbert de Clare, 
called " Rufus," obtained possession of the Manor of Portland 
from the monastery of Winchester by exchange. Rufus 
was a great soldier, and played a leading part in the reigns 
of Henry III. and Edward I. He married firstly a niece 
of the former, and secondly a daughter of the latter ; and 
it was he who proclaimed Edward I. as King. The son 
of Rufus, who succeeded him in his three earldoms and in 
his estates, including Portland Manor, was also named Gil- 
bert de Clare, another great soldier : he was killed at Ban- 
nockburn (1314), and in turn was succeeded in the titles 
and estates by his sister, Elizabeth de Clare, known as the 
Lady of Clare, who endowed in the year 133G University 
Hall, Cambridge, afterwards Clare Hall, or College, and 
gave it a body of statutes in 1359. Her niece married Ed- 
ward III.'s son, Lionel, Duke of Clarence, and their great- 
grand-daughter by marriage into the York ducal family 
became the grandmother of Edward IV., and so the Manor 
of Portland once again came into royal hands. 

The small Norman door-arch in the Keep seen in the 
picture fell down while Penn lived at Portland, and he built 
in its place a larger arch in Tudor style, perhaps suggested 
by Wyatt's " Tudor " arch at the entrance of Pennsylvania 
Castle grounds. Several largo fragments of what may have 
been portions of this original Norman door -arch lie within 

* His epitaph is recorded : " Hie pudor Hippoliti, Paridis gena, 
sensus Ulyseis, ^Enese pietas, Hectoris via jacet." 




u 

en 

~* 

<L> 

u 

T3 



CO 



JS 

H 



OLD PORTLAND. 233 

the walls of the tower. Penn, to whom George III. handed 
over Rufus Castle, also built later a bridge well imitating 
the Norman style of the Keep, and connecting the building 
with the field sometime known as " Castle Hays " (i.e., 
the Castle hedge, fence, or boundary), which field might well 
have been one of the baileys of the Castle. The large imita- 
tion-Norman doorway in the Keep, adjoining the said bridge, 
was also made by Penn ; it is a delusive piece of work, but 
is paralleled by other cleverly-constructed " Norman " 
arches, built by local labour in the last century, in the West 
Cliff Quarries and elsewhere. Penn made the large archway 
in order that his carriage might be able to pass through 
the Castle. 



III. The Ruins of Old S. Andrew's Church. 

When was Christianity introduced into Portland ? There 
are many reasons for believing that the Island was a vigorous 
Pagan stronghold, with its chief centre in the district still 
known by the semi-sacred name of " Grove," and that it 
yielded slowly, late, and perhaps last, locally, to the new 
Faith. There were few Celtic missionaries in Dorset ; and 
the Saxon Church in Wessex, strong though it was in some 
respects, was harassed by frequent Danish raids, and did not 
or could not do much in the way of church extension. 

On the other hand, it is possible that monastic missionaries 
unconnected with Wessex, a monk and his companion from 
over the seas, brought Christianity to this citadel of heathen- 
dom ; in which case " Holy Point " may have been the site 
of their landing place or first preaching. " Breston," near by, 
has been suggested as a corruption of Preston (Priest's town) ; 
and " Monk's Plot," also in the neighbourhood, has been 
connected with the same idea. This ingenious theory would 
place the establishment of Christianity in the southern portion 
of the Island ; but it has also been surmised that there was a 
small Saxon church of stone which was destroyed by Earl 



234 OLD PORTLAND. 

Godwin, and that it stood on the site of the Norman church 
of S. Andrew. The only evidence suggested, however, is a 
portion of " Saxon " work in the north wall of the chancel of 
the ruined Norman building, and this evidence by itself is 
very inconclusive. Indeed, until we reach the Norman 
period we do not really touch solid ground as far as the 
church history of the Island is concerned. 

Who built the Norman Church of S. Andrew ? The 
Manor of Portland in Henry I.'s reign and until the year 1296 
belonged to the Priory at Winchester (it had belonged to the 
Church of Winchester for a few years in Saxon times), and 
the monks of S. Swithun may not at this time have been too 
occupied to take some care for the spiritual needs of their 
tenantry here. The Norman church was certainly built in 
the main of Portland stone, although in " Coker's Survey of 
Dorset " (c. 1630) the stone is stated to have come from Caen, 
and there are one or two Norman carved fragments still 
existing which cannot be distinguished from the famous 
stone of Normandy. The Conqueror, the father of Rufus, 
was buried at S. Stephen's Abbey, Caen, which he had 
founded ; the Norman Archbishop of Canterbury, Lanfranc, 
who crowned Rufus, was formerly Abbot of Caen ; the 
Norman Bishop of Salisbury, Roger, a great church-builder, 
who was Henry I.'s Chancellor, hailed from Caen. Had the 
monks of Caen, indirectly, a little finger in the church at 
Portland ? 

What do we know of the Norman church ? It seems to 
have been erected later than, and near to, Rufus Castle, in 
order to enjoy its protection. Judging from the ruins, 
the church was a long narrow edifice, low-built but distinctly 
well-built in Norman style, consisting of a square-ended 
chancel with an east window, and nave with a porch and door- 
way on the south side, and a small narrow side-aisle also on 
the south side. The chancel-arch appears to have been of a 
little later date, in the Transition Norman style, and therefore 
not earlier than 1135. The windows would have been small 
and placed high up in the Avails, but these had to be rebuilt 



OLD PORTLAND. 235 

in later times. Portions of the original chancel, east window, 
chancel arch, and south exterior wall still exist. There is 
little reason to doubt that the church had a small tower, 
rising between the nave and the chancel, crowned with a 
stunted spire springing from a corbel table. Portions of a 
corbel table, and four corbels (three with animal faces and 
one with a human face) still lie among the ruins of the church. 
But, for reasons well known.there was a fatality about Norman 
towers ; many of them fell within a few years of their erection. 
This probably happened at Portland, for later on a plain 
and moderately high Early English tower (detached from the 
church nearly three feet) was built on the slightly raised 
ground at the west and of the nave. (In 1552 the tower 
contained two bells, and in post -Reformation times two more 
were added, but all of them disappeared possibly during the 
turbulent Cromwellian days at Portland and were never 
replaced.) The tower (through the doorway of which the 
people probably passed to get to the main entrance of the 
church on the south side, there being no entrance on the north 
side) was standing in the year 1732, as in that year several 
pounds were spent on its repair, and this tower doorway is 
still in existence and in situ ; it now serves as an entrance to 
the southern portion of " the bleakest churchyard in Wessex." 
The idea that Governor Penn placed this doorway in its 
present position is not only incorrect, but very unlikely ; 
he had quite enough personal troubles with some of the 
islanders without irritating all of them by taking liberties 
with the ruins of their old parish church. Another erroneous 
idea (Hutchins starts it) is that the church was dedicated to 
S. Andn w in the year 1475 ; but in tha year 1324 Nicholas de 
Keirwent was presented to the " parochial church of S. 
Andrew," and there is no reason why the church should not 
have been dedicated at its foundation to the fisherman- 
Apostle. The dedication was a popular one in Norman 
times, and earlier. At any rate, Portland is not included 
in the list of un-dedicated Dorset churches at the close of the 
13th century. 



236 OLD PORTLAND. 

From the Inquisilio Nunarum (e. 1340) we learn that the 
parish " was burnt and destroyed by enemies of England " 
(i.e., the French). Probably, the church was included in 
the devastation of the year 1339. Mr. MerrickHead, after 
making a careful and sympathetic excavation of a portion 
of the existing ruins, suggested that practically a new church 
was built about this time on almost the exact old site, though 
all available portions of the Norman building were incor- 
porated. His plan on page 122 of the Dorset Field Club's 
Proceedings, Vol. XIX., is very helpful. The rebuilt church 
(it is plain that the whole of the north wall and a portion 
of the south wall and the \\hole of the west end of the nave 
were rebuilt) and also the churchyard wall on the north 
side were of the rudest description and of very indifferent 
workmanship. Stone fragments of various dates lying 
about suggest that the church had to undergo a reparation 
in almost each of the successive centuries, until the year 
1753, when the walls and roof had fallen into such a ruinously 
decayed state that the parishioners decided not to repair 
it further, but to collect funds to build a new church. They 
realised that to repair substantially the old church would 
cost half as much as to build a new one ; that its site, almost 
overhanging the very steep cliff, was a source of danger ; 
and that its size was not sufficiently large to receive half the 
inhabitants owing to the increased population. In the 
year 1755 services in the church ceased. Unfortunately, 
the architect and builder of the new church of S. George 
was permitted by his contract to cart away any part of the 
old church for building the new. The small narrow " side- 
aisle " at the middle of the south side of the old church has 
not altogether unreasonably been thought to have been a 
large buttress to support the main building ; but there 
are signs in the foundations to suggest that this south aisle 
probably contained at some time a very small chapel with 
an exterior doorway and a still smaller chapel or sacristy. 
There was no chancel doorway in the Norman church ; but 
one was added on the south side in later times. The Norman 



OLD PORTLAND. 237 

arch with a 17th century inscription from Psalm cxxii., placed 
in modern days over the existing ruins of this chancel door- 
\va.y, certainly belonged to the Norman doorway, the prin- 
cipal entrance, on the south side of the nave. Additional 
windows in the chancel were added in later times ; and 
there was a stone cross on the east-end gable. The floor 
of the church was composed of thick brick-coloured tiles 
with an " old gold " glaze (no pattern discernible) and 
similarly glazed bricks ; the roof was tiled, but thick 
slates seem also to have been used. There were frescoes 
in the church, and the glass of the windows was of a curious 
transparent mother-of-pearl tint which must have looked 
very beautiful in the sunlight. The seating of the church 
in its latter days was effected by a gallery and by move- 
able high-backed " settles " in the nave ; they were in a 
very decayed condition. The lectern Bible dated 1634, 
and Prayer Book dated 1706, belonging to the church are 
in the Dorset County Museum. The latter book was presented 
to the church in 1708 by Queen Anne, and contains her 
autograph . 

Mr. Merrick Head, in his earlier article on Portland, 
in Vol. XII. of the Dorset Field Club's Proceedings, gave 
a list of the tombstone inscriptions from 1670 onwards 
in the old churchyard ; and in Vol. XIX. (p. 126) a photo- 
graph is reproduced of one of the several existing grave-slabs 
nearly contemporaneous with the later portions of the 
Norman church of S. Andrew. They seem, however, to 
be of too early date to have had any connection with 
the " Chapel " in Wakeham Street (see infra) as has been 
suggested, and they are not necessarily memorials of 
ecclesiastics. 

It may be of interest to record that " Under-hill " funeral 
processions to the churchyard did not come through Easton 
and Wakeham, as would have been expected, but up the 
Verne Hill and along the East Cliff to the church-path gate. 
Traces of this entrance can still be seen in the wall near 
the modern " Bow and Arrow Cottages." 



238 OLD PORTLAND. 

IV. The pre- Reformation Chapel, 

The ecclesiastical building in Wake ham Street shown in 
this picture appears to have been begun in the 13th century 
and finished in the 14th century ; but as far as can be traced 
there are no records of or direct references to it before the 
16th century. 

Leland, who came to Portland some time between the 
years 1534-43, may unconsciously be referring to it Avhen 
he wrote " Sum say that in tj-mes past ther was a nother 
paroch chirch in the isle, but I there lernid no certente of 
it." He saw " the personage " (i.e., the Parsonage), and 
describes it as " the best building in the isle." 

Grose, in his Antiquities (1773-87), writes of the same 
building : "It is pretended to have been the Parsonage 
House, and although the living is a Rectory is vulgarly 
called the Vicarage House . . . From the form of 
what remains of this edifice it is more probable that it 
was an oratory or small chapel." In his list of " Antiquities 
in this County worthy notice " he includes " Vicar's Chapel 
at Portland." 

The latest editors of Hulchins casually but without any 
authority or detail refer to the building as a " religious house," 
and other later writers have also seized hold of the suggestion 
that it might have been some kind of monastic establish- 
ment. But there is a more likely solution, and the Clare 
family may be connected with it. It is well known that 
in the 13th century buildings called oratories, chantries, or 
chapels sprang up not annexed to the parish church, for the 
use of private persons, their households, and guests, served 
by a resident perpetual chaplain, \\ith the consent of the 
incumbent of the parish. These separate yet dependent 
chapels, in time, however, were almost bound to and indeed 
frequently did impinge on parochial rights, and were the 
cause of many ecclesiastical disputes. Some of these chapels 
received such substantial benefactions in the way of endow- 
ment as to be constituted parish churches ; many others, 



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OLD PORTLAND. 239 

from one cause or another, became too impoverished to 
continue to support the parochial chaplain, and they sank 
into disuse. It may be worth noting that at Portland in 
the year 139G John Bernard, " chaplain," was instituted 
as rector ; so was William Whithing, or Whitlyng, 
" chaplain ," in 1414 ; and Robert Alston, " chaplain," in 
1473. The " chaplains " of these ecclesiolce were some- 
times in addition called " perpetual vicars." They were 
quite distinct, at first at any rate, from the " chantry priests" 
of later times attached to parochial churches, and ihey 
were not infrequent!} 7 promoted to full parochial cures, in 
some cases holding their " chaplaincies " as well, owing to 
a dearth of clergy at the time. 

Soon after (or possibly even before) Henry VIII. cut the 
Pope adrift, the " chapel " at Portland was converted into 
and was called the " Parsonage." It was also popularly 
known as " the Vicar's House," or Vicarage. It was never 
known as the " Rectory," though the rectors of old S. 
Andrew's Church* or the resident curate lived in it. There 
is a record (1784) that during the Civil War it was " demol- 
ished and burnt down by the usurper Oliver Cromwell, and 
hant been rebuilded ever since." In 1626 there were two 
tithe-barns belonging to the " Parsonage," but in 1784 
only one, of which all trace has now disappeared. It is 
thought that the rectors, or resident curate (the rectors of 
Portland had a -penchant for non-residence), after the 
" Parsonage " was destroyed as a habitation, lived at what 
is now the last house at the bottom of Wakeham Street 
(numbered 219), which has the initials of Bartholomew 
Mitchell thereon and date (" 1640. B. M.") a Carolean 
house immortalised in Thomas Hardy's The Well- Beloved as 
A vice's cottage, but, alas ! falling into dilapidation. 



* The most distinguished rector was the well-known Royalist 
Humphrey Henchman, D.D., who after the Restoration became Bishop 
of Salisbury, and of London. 



240 OLD PORTLAND. 

The " chapel " as shown in Upham's picture (1802) has 
now become the mere fragment of a ruin. It has under- 
gone sad ill-usage ; it is said that large portions of it \\ere 
carted away to help in various buildings, including the 
Union Workhouse at Weymouth. All that remains of 
this valuable relic of Old Portland is a part of the south wall, 
24 feet long and 15 feet high, containing the lower portion 
of a window of two lights (partly blocked up) and small 
fragments of another to the east of it ; and a portion of the 
adjoining south-west wall, 11 feet long and 15 feet high, 
containing the lower portion of a small window, also roughly 
blocked up. There is a buttress at the south-west angle of 
these remaining portions of the two ancient walls, and a 
few fragments of carved stone lying about on the ground 
or built into the modern adjoining walls. 

A tithe-barn seems to have been built at a later date ad- 
joining the "chapel," which was used in the year 1848 as 
the Church Sunday School for girls and infants while the 
boys Avent to the Jacobean School in Straits. 

\.-The Tudor Castle ("Portland Castle"). 

There is nothing fresh to write about " the bulwark at 
Portland" built by Henry VIII., since the valuable article 
on Portland Castle, by Mr. Henry Symonds, F.S.A., was 
published in Vol. XXXV. of the Dorset Field Club's Pro- 
ceedings. 

Dimly in the distance across the water can be seen the 
old Ferry House, known as the Passage House, or more 
colloquially "the old King Bill." There were bitter con- 
troversies on the Island when the present Ferry Bridge 
and Railway Bridge were built. 

VI. Stone-quarrying. 

The earliest quarrying on the Island on a large scale (in 
the 17th century) was done under and along the East Cliff 



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OLD PORTLAND. 241 

in the Grove district. The wealth of stone was revealed 
by extensive landslips. 

It is often implied in guide-books that Portland stone 
was well-nigh unknown until Inigo Jones used it in the 
reign of James I. But it was used locally from the earliest 
period of history. Evidence has been discovered on the 
Island that it was occasionally quarried for sepulchral pur- 
poses in Celtic times. In the Norman period Rufus Castle 
was built entirely of Portland stone, and the Norman church 
in the main was likewise built of the local oolite and slats. 
The early sepulchral slabs in the old churchyard and the 
" Chapel " at Wakehain are also of stone from the Island. 
The Fabric Rolls of the Cathedral of Exeter show that at 
the beginning of the 14th century Portland stone was export- 
ed in considerable quantities as far as Exeter ; and there 
is an ancient tradition that there was a " Black Friars' 
Pier " on the east side of the Island, in the Grove district.* 
A large amount of Portland stone was purchased for the 
Royal Palace and Chapel at Westminster and for the Tower 
of London ; and stone from the Island forms the outer 
walls of Wyke Regis Church, Portland Castle, and Sandsfoot 
Castle, Weymouth. The quarrying, however, in these earlier 
days until the 17th century seems to have been fitful and 
sometimes stationary. 

A list of the important religious and secular buildings in 
London and elsewhere which were built of Portland stone 
in the 17th century and onwards would take far too much 
space. The most illustrious of them all, S. Paul's Cathedral, 
was quarried from the East Cliff Quarries, known as " the 
King's Quarry," and the bulk of the stone " sailed " from 
the " South Pier " (probably " King's Pier ") in the Grove 
district. At one time there were six piers, in use or disused, 
along the east side of Portland, beginning at the picturesque 



* The Black Friars of Melcombe Regis contributed to the increase 
of the port (of Melcombe Regis) by building a jetty there against the 
ebb and now of the tide. 



242 OLD PORTLAND. 

cove, " the gem of the Island," Church Ope (i.e., the Opening 
below the Church) and along the East Weares ; the remains 
of most of them can still be seen. The stone carefully select- 
ed and approved by Sir Christopher Wren for S. Paul's 
Cathedral was marked with an incised wine-glass, which 
was naturally known locally as " Wren's wine-glass." The 
marks remained on a few stones not required for 8. Paul's, 
and at a later date they were cut out and inserted in the 
walls of various Masonic lodges in England, Wren having 
been a very prominent Mason. 

Upham's picture is supposed to show quarrying on the 
West Cliff to the south of the land known as " Priory " (a 
name obviously suggestive of hasty theories anent Win- 
chester's early connection with Portland) ; * although the 
outstanding rock reminds one of " the Giant's Leg " on the 
East Cliff near the Verne. On the Ordnance map this great 
rock is called " Nicodeinus Knob : " but Portlanders locate 
" Nicodemus " further west on the weare below, not far 
from the remains of a stone circle destroyed in a cliff fall. 

VII. The old method of drawing the stone down the hill. 

The portion of Portland shown in the picture is known 
as Meissner's Knapp f showing " Mallams " (or, more 

* There 'would be as much reason, probably more, to connect 
"Priory" in some way with the land in the Grove anciently known as 
" Black Fryers " (near the site of S. Peter's Church), or even with other 
land in the Grove nearer the Verne and anciently known as " Hospital." 
Not that any documentary evidence has come to light of there ever 
having been a Dominican Priory (a house of Black Friars) or a Lazar- 
hospital (presided over by a Prior) at Portland. But the many eccles- 
iastical problems of Old Portland are very far from a solution. 
There was a piece of land on the East Cliff also known as "Priory." 

f Dr. Meissner was the first doctor to live at Portland. Before his 
time the islanders, when they could not be cured by the medicinal herbs 
which grow in such profusion here and which were possibly planted of 
set purpose, sent to Weymouth for a qualified medical man. 



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OLD PORTLAND. 243 

anciently, " Malhams " or " Molams ") and a part of Chesil- 
ton. One of the crude, prehistoric -looking carts, which 
Seaton describes, is seen drawing the stone down the hill. 
These carts carried astonishing weights, yet they consisted 
of nothing more than a pair of very strong solid low wooden 
wheels about a yard in diameter and a very thick axle-tree, 
upon which was fixed a stout planking or platform that ter- 
minated in shafts for the horses, of which oftentimes as 
many as 18 were attached to a load. The wheels and plat- 
form were low, so that the stone could be more easily loaded. 
Sometimes, as in the picture, horses dragging behind formed 
the brake ; sometimes a large stone fastened by a strong 
chain to the load was dragged along the naked road for this 
purpose. But the old methods are now superseded by 
traction engines and the Island railway. 



VIII. The Jacobean House (" Girt House"). 

Owing to Portland stone -quarrying becoming a flourishing 
industry many houses were naturally built in various parts 
of the Island in the time of the Stuarts, in the Jacobean 
style of architecture, many of which unfortunately are now 
in a ruinous condition, although some have been converted 
into modern dwellings. 

Who built the " Girt (i.e., great) House," as it was called 
locally, arid for whom it was built, is not known. It is 
supposed that it was used by the Governors of the Island to 
transact official business on " Top-hill ; " it was usually 
inhabited by a caretaker. It is known that John Penn 
bought it and occupied it (in the picture he is seen mount- 
ing his horse) while Pennsylvania Castle was being built for 
him, and that he afterwards gave it to a Portland man named 
Stone in exchange for a cottage which stood on the site of 
the Castle. But Stone's descendants were unable to keep 
up the " Girt House " in Wake ham Street, and converted 
it into an inn, which gradually fell into dilapidation. Old 



244 OLD PORTLAND. 

Portlanders remember playing as boys among its ruinous 
portions ; but the \vestern part of the house, which alone 
stood, was incorporated in two or three cottages. 

All the distinctive portions that now remain of the " Girt 
House "are : An upper window of three lights (one blocked 
up) and a lower window of three Lights converted into a 
doorway, facing south ; a small rectangular upper window 
blocked up, facing w r est, and another (also blocked up) facing 
south ; a large open kitchen fireplace and chimney, now di- 
vided by a party wall ; an upper and a lower window of three 
lights, each partly blocked up (a modern window is inserted 
in the remainder), and a small rectangular window entirely 
blocked up, facing north. These portions of the " Girt 
House " form the back rooms of two cottages numbered 
20 and 18, Wakeham Street. There is also a faint outline 
of Jacobean windows of three lights to be seen on the ex- 
terior walls facing east, of the front of the cottages numbered 
20, 18. and 16, Wakeham Street. 



IX. The old Light-houses at the Bill. 

The only beacon at the Bill in olden days was a large 
coal fire. The upper lighthouse in the picture was built 
in 1716 ; the lower in 1789, replacing an earlier one. Both 
these lighthouses gave way in 1869 to others more effective, 
which in turn have yielded to one lighthouse only, near 
the obelisk erected in 1844 at the point of the Bill. 



X. Easton. 

We here get the back view of Easton Street, showing 
Reforne Street leading to S. George's Church. Modern 
shops have nearly entirely replaced the Jacobean and other 
substantial houses with their quaint square and angular 
roofed porches. The old Pool in Easton Square, near where 



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OLD PORTLAND. 245 

the house ' Nethercoombe " now stands, was filled in about 
45 years ago ; it was both large and deep deep enough 
for a boy to bathe in and be drowned. 

S. George's Church was built, it is said, of stone from the 
large quarries in the Grove district ; and stone from old 
S. Andrew's Church was also incorporated. When con- 
secrated in 1766 it had a fourth gallery (over the chancel) 
with a flight of steps outside leading thereto. The music 
in the church was supplied by an organ, clarionet, and violon- 
cello ; there were also paid "singing-men." The "Easter 
Vestry " meeting was held at Christmastide on S. Stephen's 
Day and the custom still obtains. 

While S. George's Church was being built (1756-66) 
the parishioners worshipped in a large temporary structure 
known as "the Tabernacle." There are reasons for sup- 
posing that it stood somewhere near the back of the present 
Mermaid Inn at Wake ham. Holy Communion was 
celebrated occasionally in the Tabernacle, and the altar- 
table from the ruins of S. Andrew's Church was brought 
up each time for this purpose and then returned to the old 
church. Unfortunately, the ancient Communion plate (the 
chalice was of silver) and some pewter disappeared about 
this time. 

XI. The Clerk's House. 

The Jacobean house at the top of Reforne* Street was 
known for a time as " the Clerk's House " because William 
Butts, the Parish Clerk of S. George's, lived in it. He had 
his initials and the date 1765 incised on the house, and they 
can still be seen. It is the house in the picture Avith the 
angular roofed porch, and is now the George Inn, where, 
in Georgian days, like other coast inns, more was probably 



* Reforne, a curious word, is often spelt " Ralphton " in old Dorset 
maps. " Rayforme " was a local variant. 



246 OLD PORTLAND. 

made by smuggling than by legitimate trade. The Court 
Leet of the Royal Manor of Portland, a relic of " time out 
of mind " and certainly not later than Saxon days, is now 
held here on Lady Day and Michaelmas Day, or a day near 
thereto. 



XII. The. Vtrne and Fortune's Well. 

This view shows the Celtic stronghold known as " the 
Verne " before it was converted into the largest modern 
fortress of Dorset "the Gibraltar of Wessex." The top 
end of Fortune's Well is seen at the base of this great hill, 
with the back view of the house of Mr. Robert Carr Bracken- 
bury, of Raithby Hall, Lincolnshire (who established 
Methodism in Portland), and the old Wesleyan Chapel which 
he built in 1792 at his sole expense. Mr. Brackenbury's 
house is the highest house in the picture ; it is now converted 
into two houses numbered 27 and 27A, Fortune's Well. 
The other large house, with the bow-window upstairs, on 
the opposite side of the street, is the Portland Arms Inn. 
George III. often lunched here. Portland lamb, " Royal 
pudding,"* wheatears, and other local dainties formed 
the menu. 



XIII. Fortune's Well from the Verne Yeates. 

The old Wesleyan Chapel in Fortune's Well seen in the 
picture has been replaced by another near the same site. 
It was mentioned that Mr. Brackenbury "established" 



* " Sept. 26th, 1798. A numerous company of Nobility sat down to 
dinner yesterday at the Portland Arms ; the entertainment was served 
up with great taste, and the usual number of small plumb (sic) puddings 
which are always made on this occasion formed a 'part of the Royal 
fare." 



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OLD PORTLAND. 247 

Methodism in Portland ; but there was a small Society of 
twenty members here in 1720,* and Charles Wesby preached 
on the Island, indoors and out-of-doors, on several after- 
noons and evenings in Juns, 1746. There is a small Georgian 
house still standing in which he preached ; it bears the 
inscription " John Stevens, 1734," and has been converted 
into two cottages numbered 15 and 17, Straits, opposite 
the Jacobean Free School (now a Reading Room). The 
text of one of Wesley's sermons after Sunday evening service 
was " Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by ? " Another, 
at Southwell, was taken from the Nunc Dimittis. One 
of his hymns is headed, " Written before preaching at 
Portland : " 

Come, O Thou all-victorious Lord ! 

Thy power to us make known ; 
Strike with the hammer of Thy Word, 

And break these hearts of stone. 

The early Portland Methodists did not sever their con- 
nection with the crumbling old S. Andrew's Church, the 
parish church of their forefathers, and some of them took a 
prominent part in the building of the " new church " of 
S. George. Charles Wesley's visit to Portland seems to 
have given a real and much-needed stimulus to the whole 
of the religious life of the Island. 



XIV. A pastoral scene at Southwell. 

This view was taken near the site of the modern church 
of S. Andrew, generally known as the " Avalanche Church." 
Some of the famous Portland small sheep, which were bred 
in thousands and now in hundreds on the Island, will be 



*See Methodism in Portland, by Robert Pearce (3, Easton Square, 
Portland). This book, price 2s. Pd., also contains three chapters on 
the early history of the Church of England in Portland, with some old 
and interesting illustrations. It deserves to be known more widely. 



248 OLD PORTLAND. 

noticed, f The separation of fields by walls of small thin 
local stones known as " slats," instead of by hedges, is a 
true Portland feature. The inn at Southwell, replacing 
an older ona with the same curious sign, is known 0s " The 
Eight Kings," at first sight suggestive of the eight Henries 
of England. But the Portland theory is that it refers to 
the eight Saxon " kings " who rowed King Edgar's barge 
on the Dee at Chester on the occasion of one of his annual 
progresses through the land. The Curator of the Dorset 
County Museum thinks that the sign may have a military 
origin. The old 8th Regiment, now the Liverpool Regi- 
ment, used to be called for short the 8th Kings. 

Looking at Upham's view it is hard to realise that the 
total population of Portland at the last census was over 
17,000 ; when he was painting his pictures, a little more 
than a century earlier, the whole population of the Island 
was about 1,600. 



XV. Pennsylvania Castle. 

The erection of this castellated mansion was suggested 
to John Penn by George III. It is said that the King pointed 
out the picturesque possibilities of the site and offered him 
a grant of some of the land thereabouts, and that Penn 
regarded the royal suggestion as a command. But there 
was a political motive, too. These were the days of the 
Napoleonic wars, and Penn's special mission at Pennsylvania 
Castle was to watch the English Channel and receive infor- 
mation from sea-captains and others who acted as secret- 
service agents as to the movements of the French ships. 

The architect of the mansion was James Wyatt, and the 
building was completed about the year 1800, when it was 



f One wonders if the ancient " Rams' Gate " in the Grove was 
directly connected with this, if it would be too far a cry to connect it 
with Pagan sacrifices in the chief Pagan centre of the Island. 



OLD PORTLAND. 249 

formally opened by the King's daughter, Princess Elizabeth. 
Many family portraits, manuscripts, books, and other relics 
of the famous Quaker, William Penn, the founder of Penn- 
sylvania, U.S.A., were brought from Stoke Park, Bucks, 
to the new Castle named after the American State, where 
they remained until recently. The tower, containing the 
circular dining room and the circular boudoir (now a bed- 
room) over it, commanding magnificent and wide sea views, 
is one of the most attractive features of the house. John 
Penn planted a large number of trees in the grounds, which 
give the building surrounded by them a peculiar charm. 
He introduced the red deer into the Island, and was intensely 
proud of watching them browse in his miniature park. 

It must not, however, be thought that Penn was free 
from difficulties in building the castle. There were several 
freehold cottages within the area he had marked out for 
his grounds, and these he had some trouble in obtaining ; 
but eventually he was successful. Stone's cottage on the 
proposed site of the mansion was obtained only by giving 
the " Girt House " in exchange a costly sacrifice. An- 
other cottage within the imitation-Tudor entrance gate- 
way he converted into a castellated Lodge (" Ivy Cottage "), 
and lit it with a number of very narrow lancet windows ; 
here his Swedish friend, Baron Gustavus Nolcken, lived and 
died. Penn also castellated a Jacobean cottage, and con- 
verted it into a billiard room (it is some distance from the 
house, and, like " Ivy Cottage," has fallen into disrepair). 
Other cottages he obtained and utilised for his outdoor 
servants ; others were turned into stables. He also had 
to divert the old road to Southwell and make a new one, 
which most of the Portlanders for years refused to recognise. 
The parishioners' right of way through his grounds to their 
ruined Parish Church of S. Andrew and Churchyard, 
of which they made diligent use, was also a source of con- 
stant irritation to him and of profitless litigation. The 
islanders also considered that they had a right to go into 
Rufus Castle, and they went there " as free as air." In 



250 OLD PORTLAND. 

the cliff below Pennsylvania Castle, Penn built a large oval- 
shaped bath ; his valet had to fetch the sea-water from the 
Cove below. But the bath had been built in " Parish land," 
and at the Court Leet he was amerced half-a-crown a year 
by the islanders as an encroachment rent. Penn objected 
to pay it and gave up using the bath ; it still exists, but 
is in a decayed state. As time went on, however, by friend- 
liness instead of by the force of might, he gained the good- 
will of the people. 

John Penn was the grandson of the famous Quaker and the 
great-grandson of Admiral Sir William Penn, who, curiously 
enough, had fought the Dutch off Portland in 1653, and 
was sometime Member of Parliament for Weymouth. His 
mother, to whom he was devotedly attached, was Lady 
Juliana Fermor, one of the beautiful daughters of the first 
Earl of Pomfret, who was frequently with Queen Charlotte 
at Weymouth ; and John Penn's first acquaintance with 
Portland and his resolve to settle here were probably brought 
about while on a visit to his mother at Weymouth. But 
he himself never married ; he had had an unfortunate at- 
tachment in early youth from which he did not recover, 
although he organised a Society which had for its object 
an improvement in the domestic life of married people. 

Many royal and notable personages, including George III., 
Queen Charlotte, and their children, visited Pennsylvania 
Castle at the beginning of the 19th century ; and Peiin, who 
was an intellectual man (some of his poems, plays, and 
pamphlets were published), was also in a small way a patron 
of art and literature ; at Cambridge he had obtained the 
degrees of M.A. and LL.D. In his later years, when his 
health began to fail and he was less mentally alert and a 
prey to nervous fears and strange fancies, he still had many 
visitors at the Castle ; but these consisted mostly of doubtful 
people who derived or expected to derive from him some 
pecuniary benefit. He lived about two years after leaving 
Portland, and died of acute senile decay at the age of 74 
at his Buckinghamshire home, Stoke Park, in the year 1834. 



OLD PORTLAND. 251 

For long the superstitious believed that the uneasy shade 
of John Penn visited Pennsylvania Castle, or might be seen 
wandering noiselessly in the glades, or scanning the Channel 
waters with keen and eager gaze, his spare, alert figure clothed 
as in life with the knee breeches, shirt frills, and silver buckles 
of his time. The belief has not altogether died out even 
to-day, and it is said not without a reason. 

In the grounds there is an old and curious, perhaps unique 
sundial, the dial itself being incised on an inverted anchor. 

There is a bust of John Penn in the Weymouth Guildhall. 



XVI. The Snaring of the " Snalter." 

The shy, lively, clannish birds, wheatears, are known 
at Portland by no other name than " Snalters," or "Snort- 
ers." They are expected to come to the Island each year 
on " the first foggy day in March ; " in July the place used 
to be full of them, and they are still plentiful in that month ; 
early in September they depart. 

Until about 50 years ago the snaring of these birds was 
a definite trade for boys in the summer months. " Snalter 
traps " abounded in various parts of the Island ; roosts of 
" slats " were constructed in conical shape with open runs, 
and the trap itself was formed of a noose of horse-hair fixed 
to a thin piece of wood. There were two or four entrances 
for the birds, who are naturally fond of running into holes 
for concealment, especially when the sun is clouded, and 
the traps were known accordingly as " two -holders " or 
" four-holders." The Portland expression of mild contempt, 
as applied to a small house, " only a two-holder " derives 
from this. In years gone by between three and four hun- 
dred of these birds have been trapped in one day. On the 
Island they sold for threepence a dozen ; but when sent to 
the mainland Weymouth tradesmen charged a penny apiece 
for them. They were regarded as a dainty and delicious 
article of food. King George III. was very fond of them ; 



252 OLD PORTLAND. 

and, cooked in the most approved method, they were pro- 
vided for him during his visits to John Penn at the " Girt 
House " and Pennsylvania Castle. The picture shows 
Penn and a party of friends buying " snalters " from boys 
whose snares are seen set in the wide open street at Weston. 
At the present day there is not much of interest at Weston 
except the ivy-clad ruins of the Jacobean house used as the 
old " Poor House " for the islanders, which superseded the 
earlier Poor Hou.se at Chesilton, and in turn gave way to 
a modern one at Fortune's Well. 



XVII. The Common and Chesilton. 

Penn, followed at a distance by his groom, is seen riding 
down over " the Common," and is met by children offering 
him articles for sale. 

Chesilton, owing to its fishing industry, at one time wrested 
from Wakeham, the ancient "capital" of the Island, the 
distinction of being the townlet with the largest population. 
It contains several Jacobean and Georgian houses, most 
of them falling into decay. 

The question is sometimes asked by visitors to Portland 
" Why are so many of the oldest houses on the Island al- 
lowed to go into dilapidation ? " The law of gavel-kind 
which prevails here may be a partial explanation. That 
which becomes the care of many becomes the care of none. 
It may also explain why some of the fields in Portland are 
so small as to be known locally as " lawns." 



XVI1L The Royal Portland Legion. 

Among the Auxiliary and Voluntary Dorset Regiments 
and Corps recorded in the Army List of 1803 is the " Port- 
land Island Legion," raised and commanded by Captain 
John Penn, and in which he took the greatest pride and 



X 

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OLD PORTLAND. 253 

interest. In that year there was not a single vacancy in 
the " Legion " for any officers. There were three subalterns 
it is known that two of them, Lowman and Gibbs, were 
Portlanders ; there was also a paymaster and a surgeon, 
and the company was at its full strength of a little over 100 
men, including non-commissioned officers. Presumably 
about the year 1806, some of these Volunteer Battalions, 
owing to less demand and necessity for their services, or 
from financial reasons, were disbanded in favour of a new 
force termed the " Local Militia."* The Local Militia, 
as distinct from the Dorset (Regular) Militia, was to be 
utilised for home-service in the county only. 

The picture shows George III., accompanied by Penn, 
inspecting the " Legion " in Park Field. Portland was 
" a place of assembly " for Volunteers, and signal posts 
were erected by the Government at North Point (" Verne 
Signal ") and the Bill. The islanders colloquially termed 
the corps " Coast Fencibles." 

Mrs. Merrick Head has given recently to the Portland 
Urban District Council a small field-cannon which for- 
merly stood in Pennsylvania Castle grounds, and bears 
an .inscription stating that it was " presented to his Excel- 
lency John Penn, M.P., Governor of Portland, and Com- 
mandant of the Royal Portland Legion." It has been 
placed in the Victoria Gardens, Fortune's Well, where the 
towering and majestic Verne Citadel looks down with grim 
smiles on the little three-pounder. 



*See Notes on the History of the Dorset Volunteer Force, by Colonel 
Sir William Watts, K.C.B., in the Dorset Field Club's Proceedings, 
Vol. XXXII. 



INDEX TO VOL. XXXVII. 



By H. POUNCY. 



Accounts, Treasurer's, xlii. 
Secretary's, xliii. 

Acland, Captain John E. (Hon. 
Treasurer and Vice-President), 
xxxi., xxxiii., xxxvi., xxxviii., 
40, 133. 

Anniversary Address of President, 1. 

Aubrey, John, 28. 

Australian Trees and Shrubs, xxxv., 
94. 

Barnes, Rev. Wm., B.D., xxxiii., 133. 

Barnes, Rev. W. Miles, 121, 124. 

Barrows, Dorset, 40. 

Bartelot, Rev. R. G., 35, 88. 

Bassett, Rev. H. H. Tilney, 198. 

Baxter, Lucy, 133. 

Bingham pedigree, xlv. 

Birds, First Appearances of, 142. 

Bond, Nigel, xli. 

Brasses of Dorset, Ancient Memorial, 

124. 

Bridport Harbour, xxxiii. 
British Association, xxvi., xxix., xli., 
Burial Custom, xliv. 
Burton- Bradstock, Inferior oolite 

vertebrates, 48. 

Cecil, Lord Eustace (Past President 

and Vice-President), xxxii. 
Cecil Medal and Prize, xli. 
Cerne Abbas (silk industry), 69 et seq. 
Chandler, S. Whitty, 66. 
Clavell, John, of Church Knowle, 

127. 

Clift, J. G. W., 127. 
Club Notes, xliv.-vi. 
Colour Standards, xxviii. 
Congress of Archaeological Societies, 

xxviii. 

Cunnington, Edward, 40. 
Curtis, Parkinson W., xxix., 137. 

Dewlish Elephant Trench, 9. 
Domestic Economics in the 18th 

Century, 85. 
Dorset Barrows. 40. 

,, County Museum, xxxviii., 78, 

Folk-lore, 56. 

Land Shells, 194. 

Militia, 77. 

Edge Tools in Early Britain, xxxiii., 
133. 



Elwos, Captain G. R. (Vice-Presi- 
dent), xxx., xxxvii. 

Ettrick, Anthony, 26 et seq. 

First Appearances of Birds, Insects, 
&c., and first flowering of 
plant,, 137. 

Fletcher,, Canon J. M. J., xxxi., 
xxxviii., 26. 

Flowers, First Appearances of, 189. 

Folk-Ioie Reminiscences, 56. 

Fry, E. A., xli. 

Fry, G. S., xxxv. 

Haslemere Museum, 194. 

Inferior Oolite Vertebrates of Bath- 
Burton Bradstock district, 
48. 

Insects, First appearances of, 188. 

Land-shells, Dorset, 194. 
Linton, the Rev. E. F., xxxv., 

" Man in the Wall, The," 26. 
Mansel-Ploydell, the late J. C. (first 

President), 134. 
,, Canon J. C. M. (Viee- 

Prosident), xxxiii. 
March, the late Dr. H. Colley, 116. 
Martin, Nicholas, of Athelhampton, 

127. 

Mayo, Canon C. H., 85. 
Merrick Head, Mrs. and the late Mr. 
J., xxxviii., 228, 229, 
253. 
Mohnin, Margaret, Maximilian, and 

Francis, Brasses of, 125. 
Morris, Sir Daniel, xxvi., xxxv., 94. 

Numismatic Sectional Committee, 
xxxviii. 

Penn, John, 228. 250. 

Penn, William, 249. 

Pennsylvania Castle, 248. 

Pentin, Rev. Herbert (Vice-Presi- 
dent and Honorary Si <!<- 
tary), xxix., xxxvii., 228. 

Phenological Report, 137. 

Pickard-Cambridge, Rev. O. (Vice- 
Prosident), 
xxxvi. 

Ponting, C. E., xxix. 



255 



Pope, Alfred (Vice-President), xxx., 

xxxv.i., xli. 
Pouncy, H. (Assistant Secretary), 

xl. 

Portland, Old, 228. 
Pre-Saxon Civilization in Dorset, 

210. 
Prideaux, W. de C., xxix , xxxvi., 

124. 

Proceedings of the Club, xxvi. 
President's Address 

Obituary, 1. 

Zoology, 4. 

Botany and Agriculture, 

7. 

Geology, 9. 
Astronomy, 1 1. 
Meteorology, 13. 
Electricity, 15. 
Chemistry, 16. 
Engineering, 1 7. 
Geography, 19. 
Archaeology and An- 
thropology, 20. 
General, 22. 



Rainfall Returns, 1915. 198. 
Rawlence, E. A., xxx., xxxi., 56. 
Reptilia, First appearances of, 186. 
Richardson, L., xxxi., 48. 
Richardson, N. M. (President), xxx., 

xxxii., xxxv., xxxvii. 

1, 116, 121. 

Sherborne, Silk Industry, 66. 

School, xxxii. 

17th Century Token, xlvi. 
Silk Industry in Wessex, xxxvi., 66. 
Summer Time Act, 139. 
Swanton, E. W., 194. 
Symonds, Henry (Hon. Editor), 
xxxiii., xxxvi., xxxviii., 66. 

Wildman, W. B., xxxii. 
Willmott, William, 67. 
Wimborne Minster 

Churchwardens' Accounts. 
35. 

" Man in the Wall," 26. 
Woodhouse, Rev. A. C., xl. 
Woodhouse, Miss Ellen E., xl., 210. 



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