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m c c c CCCC ^ cc^t^"^ %^^ ^V^ ICC d" c c:<rcr c<S^'.'^_ ' «^>- .Ci<i^«^jCL_ C <c .'; ia::c_M^-.. tf : 942.3801 IK So53ri J V.46 ^ 1400944 mMm^ .^^^.(^AAK -^A,r\fvKr^rN^^' ■ 'V^^^^ -S/& «< A. - -- « iir I III riij ill iii''i!,/. r,fiP,yc librT^ 3183300675 8632 jSr/^ «««^.^'^^c- ■-'*,■/:?,* f^^' ■'^.^••■■'.A^ ^\/-'^aI^ m .^r^J'^^m^.:^^^^ M.^ GinvJEALOGY COLLECTIOja Somersetshire ArchcEoloQ-ical &' Natural History Society. PROCEEDINGS DURING THE YEAR 1900. VOL. XLVI. The CoKncil of the Somer.scLthire Arrhceolof/ical and Natural History Society desire that it tiliould he distinctly understood that although the volvnie of Procekdings is published under their direction, they do not hold themselves in any vmy responsible for any statements or opinions expressed therein; the authors of the several po.pers and communications being alone responsible. PROCEEDINGS OF THE »omersetsI)tre arcljaeologtral $ Natural Ifeistorp FOR THE YEAR 1900. VOL. XLVI. 'Eaunton: RARNICOTT AND PEARCE, FORE STREET BARNICOTT AND PEARCE PRINTERS 1400944 PREFACE. ^ The thanks of the Society are due to the Rev. Prebendarj ^ V Coleman and Mr. W. H. Hamilton Rogers, f.s.a., for their Vv kind gifts of illustrations. There are not many illustrations in this Volume, as owing tu the repair and furnishing of the ^ Great Hall, the expenses of the Society have to be kept within limits. F. w. w. December^ 1900. CONTENTS. PART I.-PROCEEDINGS. Fifty-Second Annual Meeting (Dulvertoii) Report of the Council ... Treasurer's Account Election of Officers Photographic Record of the County Somerset Record Society The Statue to Blake at Bridgwater ... The Presidential Address Brushford Church Combe Manor ... Evening Meeting — Papers and Discussions PAGE 1 2 6 7 7 8 10 11 19 23 25 WEDNESDAY. Excursion — Torr Steps Exford Church Winsford Cluurli Barlynch Priory 25 27 31 Vll THURSDAY. Excursion — PAGE Bampton Quarries ... 35 Bampton Church ... .35 Bampton Mote ... ... 37 Luncheon ... 38 BhuidelVs School, Tiverton ... 41 Tiverton Almshouses ... 44 St. Peter's Church 44 Tiverton Castle ... 47 Additions to the Societ} 's Museum and Library 48 PART II.— PAPERS, ETC. The Devonian, Carboniferous, and New Red Rocks of West Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall — bj W. A. E Ussher. With two maps The Manor of Allerton and its Tenants, 1530-1866 — by Prebendary Coleman, M.A. ... Pedigree of Adrian Bower Brook, of Somerset and Devon ; Barons of Cobham, in Kent — by W. H. Hamilton Rogers, F.S.A. The Quantocks and their Place-Names — by Rev. W H. P. Greswell An Inventory of Church Plate in Somerset (part iv) — by the Rev. E. H. Bates, M.A., and the Rev. F Hancock, M.A., F.S.A., Prebendary of Wells Notes on the History of Winsford — by W. Dicker .. The Church of St. Mary, Marston Magna, Somerset- by C. E. Ponting, F.S.A Obituary ... Officers, Members, and Rules 65 70 109 125 149 188 196 202 204 Part i 25 Part ii 1 59 99 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Geological Map of the Dulverton District — by W. A. E. Ussher Geological Map of West Somerset, Devon, and East Cornwall— by W. A. E. Ussher Allerton Chapel, 1859 John Brook, and f Johanna Amerike, his wife. RedclifFe Chvirch, Bristol ... ... ...  „ 119 Richard Temple, Viscount Cobham — Ob: 1749 „ 121 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOMERSETSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY DURING THE YEAR 1900. THE fifty-second annual meeting of the Somerset Archjeo- logical and Natural History Society was held at Dulverton on Tuesday, July 24th. The proceedings commenced with the annual meeting, held at 12 o'clock, in the Town Hall. The Rev. F. W. Weaver, F.S.A., Hon. Gen. Sec, read a letter, dated 6th July, from the Right Hon. Sir Edward Fry, the retiring President, stating that he was leaving for the North, and was afraid he would not be able to be present at the meeting. He, therefore, asked that his apologies might be presented to the members, and particularly to Sir C. T. D. AcLAXD, whom he was sorry not to be able to induct into the Presidential chair. In conclusion, he wished the Society a very pleasant meeting. Mr. Weaver then asked Sir Thomas AcLAND to take the chair. Vol. XL VI (Third Series, Vol. V J), Parti. a 2 Fifty-Second Annual McetuKj. annual Eeport. Colonel Bramble, F.S.A., Hon. Gen. Sec, read the annual report of the Council. " Your Committee beg to present their fifty-second annual report. " Since their last report nineteen new names have been added to your list of members. The loss by deaths and resig- nations, up to date, has been twenty-four, thus leaving a net loss of five. The total number is now 622. " The balance of your Society's General Account at the end of 1898 (your accounts being made up to the end of the year) was £118 lis. lOd. in favor of the Society. The balance at the close of the present account (31st December, 1899) was £144 8s. lid. in favor of the Society. In neither case w^as the liability for the cost of the volume for the year then ex- pired, or on the other hand, any unpaid subscriptions, taken into account. "The total cost of Volume XLV (for 1899), including printing illustrations and delivery, has been £120 10s. 4d. The thanks of the Society are due to Mr. W. H. Hamilton Rogers, F.S.A., for supplying the illustrations to his paper; to Professor Allen for his excellent photographs ; to the Rev. E. H. Bates for his map and drawings of Church Plate ; to the Rev. Prebendary Hancock, F.S.A., for his contribution to- wards the expense of the Church Plate illustrations ; and to Mr. McMurtrie for the drawings of the Pre-Historic Remains found at Radstock. " The work of repair to the Great Hall has been now com- pleted, and the Geological and some other portions of the Museum are now in progress of arrangement therein. This is necessai'ily, however, a work of labour, and will occupy some little time. The improvement in your property is very appar- ent, and the value of your collection for the purpose of study and reference greatly enhanced. Report of the Council. 3 " The cost of the work has necessarily been large ; the hall measures 120 feet by 31, and this is a considerable area with which to deal. The beams supporting the front of the rooms over the portico, which has now been restored to its original state as an open one, proved to be badly " sprung," and in some cases rotten. They had to be entirely replaced, the building being shored up for the purpose. " The subscriptions to the Restoration Fund from various sources, including Col. Pinney's legacy of £300, amount alto- gether to £714 6s. 6d. Expenditure and liabilities aggre- gating to £850, have, however, been incurred, leaving a sum of £140, or thereabouts, to be provided. Your Committee appeal to their members and others interested in the county for fur- ther contributions. " The Castle House has been let on satisfactory terms, but the necessary cost of repairs to such extensive and old premises will prevent any clear additional income being derived during the current year. " The Council have to report the gift from the Rev. W. H. Lance of seventeen quarto volumes of " Reports of the Egypt Exploration Fund," and of seventy-three quarterly parts of the " Report of the Palestine Exploration Fund " ; from the Representatives of the late Canon Buckle of a large view of Weston-super-Mare about 1831, and of two smaller ones ; also from Mr. F. S. Wood of MS. excerpts from Chew Magna Wills with Index. An arrangement has been entered into with the Dorset Field Club for an exchange of Proceedings. " The Photographic Record Committee have presented their report, which is annexed hereto. " It has been determined to subscribe for three years to the Geological Photographs Committee, who are issuing a series of photographs of Geological sections. " Frequent applications, which could not in many cases be conveniently granted, having been received by your Committee for leave to photograph various objects of interest in your col- 4 Fifty-Second Annual Meeting. lections, it has been considered advisable to have such work done officially on behalf of the Society, and to supply copies to members at a reasonable cost. "The price list of the various volumes of the Proceedings in stock has been revised by a Sub-Committee appointed for the purpose, and members have now a favorable opportunity of completing' sets. The revised list was issued with the last volume. The sales since that time (thirteen months) have amounted to £21 2s. 8d., some three times the average. Arrangements are also being made for the supply of copies of many of the illustrations apart from the volumes in which they were originally issued. " The text of the third volume of Mr. Green's " Somerset Bibliography " is now in type, and directly the Introduction, which the compiler is now preparing, is ready, the work can be issued to the subscribers. "The number of visitors to your Museum during 1899 was 4978, a decrease of 104 as against 1898, but on the other hand, the receipts from this source (Members being admitted free), was £l 2s. 2d. in excess of those in 1898. " Since our meeting in July of last year, your Society has sustained several losses by death. " Two of your Vice-Presidents have died. Lord Hylton was President at your Frome Meeting in 1893. He was one of the now fast diminishing roll of Crimean Heroes, and as Mr. Jolliife, took his part in the famous Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava. ''Mr. a I. Elton, Q.C., F.S.A., was President at your Chard Meeting in 1882. He was distinguished for his know- ledge of the law of Real Property, and his general culture, " General Pitt-Rivers, F.R.S., F.S.A., Inspector of Ancient Monuments. His knowledge of prehistoric Archajology and his unsparing use of his great wealth, enabled him, in the posi- tion he held, to do an amount of service to the cause of archaj- ology which can fall to the lot of very few. " Canon Buckle was long* connected with the county and dio- cese, as Avell as with your Society, and his genial presence at your meetings will be missed by your members generally. His work was of a character not bringing him prominently before the public, but none the less was of a very valuable character. " Mr. E. H. Clerk was one of the Original Members of your Society, and continued a member until his death — a period of half-a-century. Only nine of the original founders of your Society now, it is believed, survive. Mr. Charles Hill was a member of some twenty years' standing, and only last year hospitably entertained the Society at his residence, Clevedon Hall. " Mr. E. D. Bourdillon, for many years an elected Member of your Committee, and Mr. F. Mitchell, until his death Local Secretary for Chard, had each of them done good service to your Society. Mr. Wm. George was well known for his ac- quaintance with the local history of many parts of the county, particularly of the Dunster District, with which he was con- nected in his youth. He was a frequent attendant at our meetings, and contributed several articles to our magazine." Mr. F. T. Elworthy, F.S.A., moved the adoption of the report. The Rev. E. H. Bates seconded. He said the great point about the report was the practical completion of the Castle Hall as a Museum. This was a point which was set before the Society from the beginning, twenty-five years ago, when they raised a sum of money to purchase the Castle. The opening up of the roof, and the arrangement of the specimen cases, made it a room as good for the purpose as any in the forty counties of England. The report was adopted. jTinances. The Rev. F. W. Weavei;, in the absence of Mr. H. J. Badcock, the Ti-easurer, presented the financial statement as follows : — Fifty- IS econd Annual Meeting. Crea0urer'0 Account. The Treasurer in Account tvith Hiiitory Society, from Dk. 1898, Dec. 31st. By Balance of former Account „ Members' Subscriptions for 1899 (554) ,, Members' Entrance Fees (32) ... „ Members' Subscriptions in arrear (18) „ Members' Subscriptions in ad- vance (27) ,, Non-Members' Excursion Tickets „ Donation from Mr. Stanley for Illustrations ... ,, Donation from Rov. Preb. Buller for Illustrations „ Museum Admission Fees „ Sale of Publications „ Sale of Index Volume the Somersetshire Archmological and Januarij 1st to December 31st, 1S99. Cr. 1899. To Expenses of Annual Meeting, Travelling, etc. ,, Reporters' Notes of Meetings ... ,, Repairs, Cases, etc. ,, Stationery, Printing, etc. ,, Coal and Gas ,, Purchase of Books, Specimena, etc, ,, Printing and Binding Vol. 44 ... ,, Illustrations, Vol. 44 ,, Postage, Vol. 44 „ Photographic Survey ,, Curator's Salary (1 year to Xmas, 1899) „ Boy ,, Insurance ... „ Rates and Taxes ,, Subscriptions to Societies ,, Postage, Carriage, etc „ Sundries Balance £ 118 s. 11 10 90 IG 16 16 6 0 9 9 0 14 6 3 5 0 0 1 IG 6 2 27 12 3 4 2 16 5 0 2 9 0 By Balance brought down ... £503 5 9 144 8 11 Natural £ B. d. 9 17 G 3 3 0 0 19 9 11 5 8 21 12 1 24 12 5 84 3 3 27 6 9 9 0 4 5 13 0 'l05 0 0 12 17 6 5 18 0 16 14 3 8 13 0 8 4 0 3 16 4 144 8 11 £503 5 9 H. J. BADCOCK, Treasurer. July 20th, 1900. Examined and compared with the vouchers | HOWARD MAYNARD, and Bank Book, and found correct. ) ALEX. HAMMKIT. Utiunton Ca0tU Ee^toration JFuuti. Balance Sheet of Income and Expenditure for the year 1899. Receipts. 38, Dec. 31st. Balance of former Account Rents of Premises Messrs. Hancock, Rent of 3 lights Telephone Company Wayleave. Sundry Subscriptions towardsthe Repairs Fund Balance Assets. On deposit at Stuckey's Bank Expenditure. £ 141 49 s 0 0 33 213 8. 9 8 1 1 8 15 d. 2 2 6 0 0 11 1899. To Re-erecting two old Almshou ,, Repairs to the Castle ,, Sundry Repairs to Property „ Rates and Taxes „ Gas „ Insurance ,, Sundry Expenses Liabilities. Balance as above Balance H. J. BADCOCK, £ s. d. ses . 51 5 8 ... 360 0 0 .. 11 9 9 ... 9 6 2 ... 0 8 11 ... 3 10 0 ... 2 3 3 3 9 £438 3 9 0 0 500 ... 213 15 II ... 286 4 1 £500 0 0 Treasurer. July 20th, 1900. Examined and compared with the vouchers ) HOWARD MAYNARD, and Bank Book, and found correct. ) ALEX. IIAMMETT. Mr. F. A. Wood proposed the adoption of the financial re- port, and said that the favourable balance in hand was very satisfactory. The Rev. S. J. M. Price seconded, and it was adopted. EIcctio)i of Officers. 7 mmion of ©flScerg. The Rev. J. E. Odgers proposed the re-election of the officers, with the addition of Sir Edward Fry to the list of Vice-Presidents, and of the Rev. H. A. Cartwright and Mr. G. F. Sjdenliam to that of the Hon. Local Secretaries. He remarked that he did not know of any Society of the sort that had ever been more happy than their own in the diligence and efficiency of its officers. Mr. F. Were seconded the resolntion, which was carried. It was stated that Mr. Periam, of Bampton, had presented one hundred-and-twenty copies of a pamphlet on the history of that town for the nse of the members, and he was thanked for the same. Pbotograpbic iRecottJ of tbe Countp. Colonel Bramble read the report of the Photographic Record of the County, which was signed by Mr. C. H. Bothamley. " Some progress has been made in the collection of photo- graphs of places of interest in the county, though it is still to be regretted that the work does not proceed more rapidly. The chief difficulty is still the fact that comparatively few of those interested in archaeology are also photographers, whilst very few of the more numerous body of photographers take any interest in archaeology or even in history. Recently, how- ever, some promises of valuable help have been obtained, and it is hoped that prints will come in more rapidly. It ought, perhaps, to be stated that in all counties where photographic surveys have been organized the same difficulties seem to be met with. " A list of the thirty-two prints already received is given below. The mounting and cataloguing of them will be com- pleted as soon as possible, and they will be placed in the Society's Museum in due course. C. H. Bothamley, JuIt/ 21st, 1900. Hon. Sec. to the Committee. 8 Fifty- Second Annual Meeting. PRINTS RECEIVED. From Dr. F. J. Allen. Burrington Coombe ; Bishop's Lydeard Church Tower ; Congresbury Vicarage Door ; Langford, Porch of an Old House ; Lydeard St. Lawrence Church Tower ; Ruishton Church Tower (2) ; Shepton Mallet Market Cross ; Staple Fitzpaine Church Tower ; Taunton St. Mary Church Tower ; Rock Shelter, Sharcorabe. From Mr. C. H. Bothamley. Cleeve Abbey, the Church ; East side of Cloister ; South side of Cloister ; West side of Cloister ; North side of Cloister; Chapter House entrance ; Chapter House ; Dormitory; Monk's Day Room; Refectory from South; Refectory interior (2); East Room under Refectory ; General View from East. Combe Florey Church ; Combe Florey Gatehouse, South front ; Combe Florey Gatehouse, North front. From Mr. C. D'Aeth. Cucklington Church Font ; Priestleigh, Old House ; Spar- grove House, Batcombe ; Spargrove Barn ; Stoke Trister Manor House. Somerset Eccorti ^ocietj>» The Rev. E. H. Bates, Secretary of the Somerset Record Society, made a report on the work of the Society. Referring to the non-appearance of the two volumes promised the previ- ous year, he said that Prebendary Holmes was now nearly ready with his volume, " The Registers of Bishop GifFord and Bishop Bowett," and the second volume was to be a " Cartu- lary of Muchelney Abbey." As there were Anglo-Saxon charters in it, it was thought advisable to have the services of an Anglo-Saxon expert. Owing to his having been busy, it had been delayed. In consequence of the second volume having been thus delayed, the " Cartulary of Athelney Abbey " would be produced in " The Millenary of King Alfred," Winchester wanted to get up some kind of monu- Somerset Record Society. 9 ment to King Alfred, but if a tangible monument were re- quired, Somerset had as much right to one as Winchester, for the few relics which could honestly be said to have belonged to the King were found in Somerset, or were connected with it. For instance. King Alfred's jewel was found at North NcAvton, and it was now in the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford, although had their Society been in existence at the date of its discovery, it would no doubt have secured it. He thought the publica- tion of the " Athelney Cartulary " would form a good mem- orial of Alfred, as that great monarch was much more associ- ated with that abbey in his life than was Winchester in his death. The vohmie for 1900 will be the newly discovered " Survey of Somerset," by Thos. Gerard, written in the reign of Charles I. Next year the Record Society were going to bring out a volume of early wills. The Society was going to see how many of them they could get printed in order to make a volume. When he added that the Rev. F. W. Weaver was going to edit the volume, he thought he might say that it would be well worthy of the Society. Mr. F. T. Elworthy asked who was the Anglo-Saxon ex- pert mentioned, and Mr. Bates replied that it was Mr. Stevenson, of Exeter College, Oxford. Canon Church in moving the adoption of the report, said that he had been desired by Bishop Hobhouse to bring before the Society the fact of the insecurity of parish books, and the Bishop suggested that by some resolution they might do some- thing towards providing a little more security. " The Church- wardens' Accounts of Bauwell," dating from 1516 to the end of Elizabeth's reign, which were seen by Bishop Hobhouse in 1890, had disappeared when the fresh incumbent was inducted in 1896, and many similar losses had happened, and might easily recur. The Bishop suggested the passing of the follow- ing resolution : — " This Society hearing of the loss of the " Churchwardens' Accounts of Bauwell," is anxious to impress on the minds of all incumbents and churchwardens in the dio- 10 Fifty-Second Annual Mectin(/. cese the expediency of placing on the inventory of church goody a list of all books and documentary matter belonging to the church, and that all such property should be produced at the Easter vestry, and passed according to the 89th Canon of 1603, from the outgoing to the incoming churchwardens, in the presence of the vestry or the delegates thereof." Canon Church proposed this as a resolution. The Rev. Prebendary Coleimax seconded. The Rev. F. W. Weaver said directly he heard of this loss he did his best to secure the recovery of the books. He wrote to the late Archdeacon Salmon, who held an inquiry at Ban- well, but without successful results. Some of the accounts were printed in Ruttcr's " Somerset." He believed an entire copy of the documents was made thirty or forty years ago. He could not help hoping that the original documents would yet turn up. The Rev. C. H. Heale suggested that the Rural Deans should make an inspection of church documents at their visita- tions, and the Rev. S. M. J. PiiiCE thought the Archdeacons should be asked to do the same. The President agreed that there was much need of greater care in the preservation of such documents. Mr. Elworthy feared that the mischief had already been done, and that all they could do was to take care of the future. The resolution was carried, and the suggestions mentioned were added as riders. C()e Statue to T5lake at IBritigtoater. Dr. Winterbotham made a statement with regard to the Blake statue. At the Bridgwater Meeting, a paper was read by Professor Montagu Burrows, who drew attention to the fact that Blake had never been commemorated. The result of the paper was that a certain amount of enthusiasm was stirred up, which cooled down for some time. In the following spring, a small but energetic band met together, and resolved The Presidential Address. 1 1 to make aa attempt to raise a statue. They entrusted tlie commission to Mr. Frederick Pomeroy, and the statue was now in the Royal Academy. It was worthy of his hand, worthy of their acceptance, and worthy to commemorate the great man whose memory they wished to honour. The adorn- ment of the pedestal was nearly completed, with two bas-re- liefs giving scenes in his life, and these were really beautiful work. They had not sufficient money to finish the pedestal, and as secretary of the memorial fund, he Avould be glad to re- ceive contributions. Dr. Winterbotham referred to the com- mon error of assigning Blake's birth to 1599 instead of 1598, which was the correct date. He also described the search made for a correct portrait of the great Admiral, and pre- sented to the Society a large framed photograph taken from a painting in the possession of the Rev. Raymond Pelly, of Great Malvern, who was a direct descendant of Sally Blake, one of the two daughters of Blake. The President thanked Dr. Winterbotham for his state- ment, and for the vigour which he had imported to the pro- ceedings of those working with him, also for his gift of the portrait for the Museum at Taunton. Ci)e presitiential antitegs. Sir Thomas Acland then gave his Presidential address. He said : — It is impossible for any one so completely ignorant as I am both of archaeology and of natural history, standing as I do before an audience whose very presence in this room is an evi- dence of a keen interest and, at least, of some knowledge of one or the other of these subjects, not to feel how much he owes to the kind feeling of those who have conferred upon him the honour which you have on this occasion conferred upon me in asking me to become President of your Society for the ensuing year. 12 Fifty- Second Annual Meeting. I believe the best return that I can attempt to make for your kindness is that I should endeavour briefly to indicate some of the interesting^ associations which cluster round the beautiful district in which we are met, and to suggest some considerations and ideas in connexion with the places which you propose to visit. But before beginning to do this, I should like to say one word of testimony to the value of societies such as this, and to your wisdom in combining within your ken two subjects which might seem to some persons so widely dissociated as Archaeology and Natural History. I am convinced that as the spread of education goes on, and we are increasingly able to foster and develop the powers of observation of the young people in our rural schools, the most successful way in which we can achieve the result, so beneficial to themselves as well as so desirable from other points of view, of attaching them to their rural homes and enabling them to lead lives there full of interest and stimulus, is that we should cultivate to the utmost in them, and, therefore, in order to be able to do so, Jirst in our own selves, the power and the habit of taking an intelligent interest in the beauties and the won- ders of the world around us and close to us. You, the mem- bers of this Society, have for your object the study of facts and the recording of them concerning in archteology, some of the most permanent and interesting of the works of man, and concerning in natural history, what since the days of the ''Psalmist have been commonly called the Works of God, which are all alike, loonderfid, and all alike, good. And I think the spirit of gratitude and respect to our fore- fathers, inculcated by the one study, and the spirit of reverence, wonder, and love of truth inculcated by the other, are each of them well worth cultivating, both for ourselves, and in the in- terest of those among whom we have to live. To return to the object with which I set out, I wonder whether it has ever struck you that the two great moorland The Presidential Address. 13 districts of the West, are to some extent in shape, the converse of each other. Dartmoor may be compared to your hand, palm downwards, the valleys and ridges diverging from the centre, and Exmoor to your hand palm upwards, all the water collected by Exe and Barle, and issuing where those two rivers join, two miles below us. People tell us, and no doubt truly, that the old name of Exe was Isca, — and far be it from me to dispute it. But that does not forbid my seeing some connection between the first syllable of Exton, Exford, Exebridge and Ex wick, and the first part of the names Aix la Chapelle and Aix les Bains. But I am not a philologist, and the only thing 1 know to be a maxim among etymologists is that " vowels matter nothing and conso- nants very little " when you are considering the derivation and meaning of words. I can give you from my own experience a somewhat curious illustration of the well-known coldness of the valley of the Exe, which may be, I imagine, partly a consequence of the coldness of its winter. Some years ago, two of my cousins, Col. Troyte, whom many of you may remember, of Huntsham, and his brother, who served in the ranks, and became in about two years an officer of his regiment, who were both expert signallers, arranged to heliograph from the top of Dunkerry to Bampton Down, and though the day was bright and cloudless and the air still, we found it absolutely impossible, tiiough each saw the flash of the other, to signal at that height across the cold current of air going down the valley of the Exe, so great was the vibration caused by refraction due to the difference of temperatiu'e. I think these valleys must have been in old days exceedingly damp, if we consider the position of all the churches along the valleys, perched either, as at Winsford on the top of a knoll, or as at Exford and Exton, Dulverton, a long way up the hill. The canons at Barlynch, of coiu'se, kept close to the water for the sake of the trout and the eels to supply them with food on fast days. Besides, the bottom 14 Fifty-Second Annual Meeting. must have been very soft, or the great road from Tiverton northwards would have gone along the straight valley instead of up and down over all those hills between Baronsdown and Minehead, going, as it does, east of Exton and Cutcombe. I mentioned just now Barlynch Priory. It may interest you to hear what Collinson says about it : — king's brompton, barlynch. " In the time of Henry II this manor became the possession of William de Say, a descendant of Picot de Say, living in the time of William the Conqueror, who upon the little river Barle, on a sjoot called from it Barlinch, two miles southward from the church, founded a small priory of Black Canons to the honour of St. Nicholas, which Maud de Say, his daughter, endowed with the rectory of Brompton Regis. This donation, with various others by different benefactors, was ratified and confirmed by Henry III in the fourth year of his reign, and Edward III in the thirteenth year of his reign : and the pos- sessions of the prior and convent in 1444 were valued at £31 6s. 8d., and in 1534 at £98 14s. 9Jd. per annum. " John Norman, canon of this house, was elected Dec. 7th, 1524, by Dr. Thomas Benet, commissary to Cardinal Wolsey, nine canons in the convent having by compromise devolved the election of a prior to him. In 1553 there remained in charge to pensioners of this monastery £3 in annuities. " 30 Hen. VIII, the site of this priory, with the manors of Brompton-Bury and Warley, was granted to Sir John Wallop, ancestor of the present Earl of Portsmouth, whose descendant sold it to the family of Ball, of Devonshire, of whom it was purchased by Mr. Lucas, of Taunton. And now the manors of Brompton- Regis and Brompton-Bury belong to Lady Acland. " On a brass plate in the wall of the chancel of Kingsbromp- ton church, among other memorials to several of the family of Dyke, is one of Joan Dyke, who died of the dropsy at the age of nineteen years, which you may find worth reading." The Presidential Address. 15 I am told that the name means " enclosure " on the Barle, but it is on the banks of Exe (not of Barle), Of course we recognise the word Lynch as common enough in this part of England. But, indeed, the names of places, and their con- notation, afford one of the widest fields for guess work which is open to human ingenuity. For instance, Winsford. In imagination it is delightful to picture to oneself Burrough Wood, replaced by vineyards, and the feet of the Winsford peasants as red with the juice of the grape as the chins of the children are now with the whortleberry juice. But he would be a sanguine man, who knowing the climate of Wins- ford, started a wine business of any description in that neigh- bourhood. I believe that on the south coast of Wales grapes will ripen, but the climate of the higher valleys of the Exe is not that of South Wales. More reasonable, I think, by way of derivation, is it to be- lieve that Brushford means Bridgeford — and that Room Hill, in Exford parish, may be some trace of Roman invasion as was Stratford in my home parish of Selworthy. If I may venture to offer a word of advice to any who may not know the district, it Avould be to urge them not to miss the splendid drive over Winsford Hill and down to Tarr Steps, and if it should be a clear day they will not think they have wasted time or strength if they take Wambarrows, the highest point of Winsford Hill, on their return. The view from it is hardly to be surpassed in the West of England. Probably on the way you may catch glimpses of some of the herd of Exmoor ponies. Mr. Hancock, in his book on " Selworthy," tells some stories about that herd, for the correctness of which I can vouch, as having heard them fir^t hand. But there is one rather interesting bit of experience about them which you may like to hear. For the last thirty years we have been in the habit of taking about twenty of the best mares, with their foals, down to the better climate and grass at Killerton, where the young ones spend a year or so. And the result has been 16 Fifty- Second Annual Meeting. two-fold. First of all " emollit mores nee sinit esse feros," and secondly the chests are widened, and as a direct result the shoulder rendered more sloping and the humerus more up- right, and the action improved. But the quarters are entirely anotlier matter, and 1 am afraid many of the tails come out as low down in 1900 as they did in 1870. Experience has taught us that the original strain of blood is as good as any cross we can devise, and that no cross will combine good qualities through two generations with any certainty. It is to be hoped, though hardly to be expected, that you may, also on your way, catch some glimpses of the most char- acteristic of our West Somerset institutions, the wild red deer. Professor Rolleston, of Oxford, assured me that the normal condition of the Exmoor deer, as indicated by bone and fibre, is far superior to that of the finest Scotch stags or hinds. It may interest you to hear that that grand old man, Mr. Bisset, to whom this district owes more, I believe, than it is the least aware of, told me that when he first took up the hounds he killed eight stags and twenty hinds, and, in his last year I think it was, nearer twenty stags and eighty hinds. But probably the master or secretary of the hunt has accurate statistics and may be able to correct what is only my recollec- tion of what Mr. Bisset told me. B\it speaking in this place, I cannot sit down without specially drawing your attention to the family of Sydenham, whose interesting seat. Combe, you are to visit this afternoon. According to Collinson, they spring from the lord of the manor of that name, originally called Sid eh am, from its posi- tion on the side of the river Parret, near Bridgwater, held by Robert de Sydenham, in the time of King John. Collinson traces their connexion with various well-known families, such as Hillary of Bathealton, John de Peekstone of Pixton, John Carru, Thomas Perceval, Sir Amias Paulet ; and places such as Combe Sydenham near Stogumber, Orchard Wyndham, Merton Collumpton. The Sanfords of Mynehead, the Wal- The P7'esident/al Address. 17 ronds of Bradfield, the Williams's of Hemngstou in Dorset, Floyers of Dorset, and many others can claim connexion with them. I have been asked by Mr. Chadwyck-Healey to bring before you the following suggestion in connexion with the identifica- tion of Place-names, viz. : " That whenever anyone comes across an obsolete form of place-name in a charter or plea roll, or other ancient document, and the context supplies a clue to the locality, the name should be noted, with the reference to the document, and a concise statement of the contents, and that the whole should be sent to the Secretary of the Society at Taunton, with a view to publication in the journal. Mr. Chadwyck-Healey remarks that we shall never succeed in mastering the full meaning of Domesday until we can identify the places, and that generally our study of Early English his- tory would be much facilitated if we knew more than we do of Place-names." I think you will agree with me that this is a valuable sug- gestion, and I hope that some measure may be adopted that may bring it about. I will now conclude by asking yovi to excuse the desultori- ness and incompleteness of these few remarks. I believe you will have very interesting excursions, and I am sure you will have the chance of acquiring from those who will in the differ- ent places address you, on their own special topics, such accu- rate and interesting information as will make you feel that your time has been well spent, and give them the satisfaction of knowing that their time and trouble has not been thrown away. The beauty and variety of the woods, and the interlacing of the hills as you lose the valleys among them, the luxuriance of the foliage, and the refreshing murmur of the streams, the sparkling stickles, and the deep reflections in the pools, and above all the glorious combination of heather and gorse, the plentiful variety of wild flowers and birds and animals which Vol. XL VI (Third Series, Vol. VI), Part 1. B 18 Fifty-Second Annual Meeting. will attract jour attention, will, I am sure, combine to give you full compensation for perhaps a slight dearth of objects of antiquarian interest. And I hope that when jou leave this district the older mem- bers will look back upon their visit here with delight, and the younger ones will look forward to the next. Prebendary Buller proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Sir Thomas Acland for his acceptance of the office of President, and the interesting address he had given. Mr. G. F. Sydenham, Local Secretary, seconded the proposition, which was heartily carried. The President, in returning thanks, said he very much regretted that owing to arrangements which he could not alter, he would not be able to stay to the evening meeting, but he trusted their gathering would be a very pleasant one. The President subsequently entertained the members to lun- cheon at the " Red Lion Hotel." At the conclusion of the repast, the President gave the loyal toasts, and expressed the hope that the end of her Majesty's reign might not come until the conclusion of the South African War. The Rev. F. W. Weaver said it had been the custom to thank the President at the end of the meetings. But through an unforeseen circumstance, over which Sir Thomas had no control, he would be obliged to leave them that afternoon. It was very good of him to have driven twenty miles that morn- ing to give them that interesting address ; he then proposed the health of the President. The toast was heartily received, and the President briefly responded, and said he was very glad to have had the oppor- tunity of entertaining them, which he should like to have done in his own house had not distance prevented. Brusliford Church. 19 T5ru8f)forD Cburcf). After luncheon the party drove to Brushford for the pur- pose of visiting- the church, and a halt was made en route to inspect a quarry. Mr. W. A. E. Ussher, F.G.S., described the structure of the quarry, and informed his hearers that the rock was Upper Devonian, called the Pilton beds. The party then proceeded to Brushford Church, where they were re- ceived by the Rector, the Rev. Charles St. Barbe Sydenham, who read the following Paper : — " When I last had the pleasure of welcoming your Society to Brushford Church, some seventeen years since, your Archi- tect, Mr. Ferry, gave the date of the church as Early Perpen- dicular, 1 see no reason to dissent from that opinion, unless, indeed, the Tower Arch, which has been opened since that visit, points to an earlier date. Be that as it may, it is more than probable, I think, that there was a 18th century chiu-ch on the site of the present building. The font is clearly of that date, as also the parish chest ; and the oak tree in the churchyard cannot be less than 600 years old. The Font. Of Purbeck marble, square, roughly pannelled. The bowl and base are of the original stone, the central stem and shafts are new. The original supports had been missing, perhaps for centuries, and their place supplied with rough masonry. The font was restored about eight years since, and it is believed correctly, for we had the depression under the bowl, in which the old supports were fixed, to guide us. Parish Chest. Of oak formed out of the trunk of a single tree, quite devoid of ornament, banded with iron straps, lid slightly rounded. It has three keys, one for the Rector, and one for each Churchwarden. N.B. — I may remark here in passing, that the Synod of Exeter, 1287, required every parish to provide ' Cista ad libros et vestimenta.' 20 Fifty-Second Annual Meeting. Oak Tree in Churchyard. — Probably quite 600 years old. From facts which have come to the writer's knowledge, the tree has been in a decaying state for the last 100 years, and it is an accepted theory that an oak takes quite 300 years to reach its full growth. The tree in question measures sixteen feet in circumference at three feet from the ground. The present Church. — The screen, as you Avill see, is the chief object of interest, and, subject to correction, 1 will assign it to the earlier half of the loth century. It has been much mutilated and defaced, but enough remains to show what a splendid work of art it must have once been. A portion of it appears to have been once used to ornament the pulpit. When and by what hands it was placed here I am unable to say, the Churchwardens' accounts not going back beyond the year 1728 ; but my own impression is that it was an afterthought, and that it belonged originally to the neighbouring Priory of Barlynch, and was brought here when the Priory was dis- solved and its property sold. At any rate it is a matter of history that one of its bells is now in the tower of Dulverton church, and a window in the church of Withiel Florey. The ascent to the rood-loft was by a staircase in the north wall of the nave, the original archway being still in existence. Some of the steps remain embedded in the wall, but the stair- case itself has been destroyed, probably when the north wall was taken down and rebuilt in 1733. This archway was brought to light a few years since when two new windows were placed in the north wall, in lieu of a single square-headed window which existed previously. The walls of the chancel were taken down and rebuilt in 1872, but the roof and windows were allowed to remain. It is thought that the oak roof imder the present ceiling is in a fairly good state, in which case steps will be taken to restore it at no distant date. The Nave. — The only part of the old roof surviving is the moulded beam extending- from the chancel to the tower arch. Brushford Church. 21 All the rest of the roof, under the plaster, is of modern date, and of very rough workmanship. Windows. — Of the fom- windows in the nave, three are new ; all four are of Early Perpendicular pattern. The Seats. — Between ten and eleven years ago it Avas found necessary to re-seat the entire nave. The carved pannelling of the bench ends was brought from Highclere, the gift of the late Earl of Carnarvon. As many of the old benches as it was possible to retain in use were placed in the ground floor of the tower. 