FOURTH SUMMER MEETING.

THE CERNE VALLEY.

Tuesday, 24th September (adjourned from 27th August).

Mr. Nelson M. Richardson, the Rev. H. Pentin, and the Rev. Canon Mansel-Pleydell were accompanied on this, the last outdoor meeting of the year, by nearly eighty Members and their friends. A start was made from Dorchester, the first halting place being Charminster Church, where the Club was received by the Ven. Archdeacon DUNDAS, who had prepared a paper dealing with the architectural and historical features of the building.

The oldest parts of the church, the ARCHDEACON observed, were the nave and the chancel arch, dating from the third quarter of the 12th Century. The clerestory contains, not only six Perpendicular windows, three on each side, inserted in the 15th century, but also, between them, four small Norman windows, two on each side. These were discovered and opened out in the course of the successful restoration effected in 1897 under the direction of Mr. Chas. E. Ponting, F.S.A. The south arcade was remarkably like that at Bere Regis, so like as to suggest that the same architect was responsible for the design. Although the arches of the bays were pointed, yet it was erroneous to suppose that they were of later date than the semi-circular chancel arch. The original chancel, 28 feet deep and wider than the present one, was pulled down in the Civil Wars under an agreement between the impropriator and the parishioners. The existing chancel, neither large nor interesting, was built only 80 or 90 years ago. Attention was called to such other features as the handsome panelling in Ham Hill stone of the soffits of the three tower arches, the hagioscope, the original stone newel staircase leading into the roodloft, and the two beautiful 15th Century canopied altar tombs of the Trenchard family, now standing in the south aisle; the Jacobean pulpit, and the ancient texts and decorations in fresco on the wall, including a diapering in a conventional treatment of what Mr. Micklethwaite pronounced to be a Spanish pomegranate. The north aisle was rebuilt, of the same width as the nave, in 1838, when the original Perpendicular windows were reinserted. The oak altar rails, the Archdeacon continued, were carved by the late Rev. C. W. H. Dicker.

Outside the church door the Archdeacon pointed out the priest's sundial, meant to show the time of the early Mass; but chief attention was claimed by the tower, erected about 1500 by Sir Thomas Trenchard, of Wolfeton, whose initials, the Old English double T, in monogram, appear in no less than 24 places.

Mr. ALFRED POPE, F.S.A., spoke upon a most interesting find recently made a portion of the shaft of a 15th or 16th century cross, originally an unequal-sided octagon, embedded in the western end of the churchyard boundary wall. By the Archdeacon's leave it has lately been taken out and placed against the southern wall of the church-a welcome addition to "The Old Stone Crosses of Dorset."

CERNE ABBAS.

The party then drove on to Cerne Abbas, and alighted at the Abbey Barn. Here they were received by the Vicar (the Rev. H. D. Gundry) who acted as the Club's cicerone in Cerne. He recalled the late Mr. Henry Moule's enthusiasm for that barn, and his computation that not fewer than 125,000 flints, each shaped by hand, were used in its construction. He also asked the visitors to realise the great loss suffered in the destruction of the original timbering of the roof, although the late General Pitt Rivers was happily able to preserve the timber in the two porches, and did good service in having the barn solidly re-roofed in stone tile.

From the barn Mr. Gundry led the way to the parish church. Of the lofty tower, in rich dark-brown stone, he spoke with admiration, and then deplored the decadence of the poor debased Gothic in the nave arcades and windows. The great Perpendicular east window with its ancient glass, must have come from a much larger building, probably the Abbey Church itself, since there was not room to insert the whole of the window, and the lower part had to be sacrificed.

From the church the party walked to St. Augustine's Well, about which the Vicar repeated the familiar legends. The HON. SECRETARY (the Rev. HERBERT PENTIN) said he believed, with Mr. Gundry, that the Augustinian traditions relating to Cerne were mere fables. That fount was not called St. Austin's or St. Augustine's Well by William of Malmesbury, but "Silver Well."

Dr. COLLEY MARCH mentioned that the partial covering of that well with stones indicated that probably its borders were used for "incubation." The sick person came and lay there for a night or nights until some vision appeared and gave directions for his cure.

Mr. GUNDRY next led the way to the ruins of the Abbey. He pointed to the reputed site of the Abbey Church-alongside the present cemetery; any digging along the wall brought to light the encaustic tiles with which the church was paved.

The party then inspected the guest house or refectory, a building mainly of the second half of the 15th century, with certain windows and a doorway added at a later date. In this building occurs the oriel window, which delighted the architects who visited the place a few years ago. Mr. H. Le Jeune had called attention to the serious list which the building was showing, threatening the collapse of the wall containing the oriel. This wall is now stoutly shored up with timbers.

Canon MANSEL-PLEYDELL assured the party that Mr. A. L. F. PittRivers, the owner of the property, was as anxious as any member of the Club could be that the structure and window should be preserved, and would do everything possible for its preservation.

MINTERNE AND UPCERNE.

The party next drove, via Dogberry Gate, to Minterne, where the Rev. W. G. Barclay, in the absence of Lord Digby, showed the Flemish tapestries which adorn the house.

On returning, the Members made a short visit to Upcerne House to inspect its Tudor architecture. Colonel Mount Batten, who had intended to entertain the Club at the postponed meeting of 27th August, was then away from home.

The party took tea at the New Inn, Cerne.

Afterwards, five candidates were elected by ballot as members of the club, and the HON. SECRETARY announced three further nominations.