The

out to the visitors was that in regard to the chancel-screen. original screen had been cut in two, and only the lower half now remains. Why this mutilation was effected has long been a question, and Canon Andrew has hit upon a very probable solution to the problem. Reading in Lewis's History of the Reformation he found that in 1575 there was an archiepiscopal order for the getting rid of all objectionable-i.e., Romish-ornaments on the top of the screens. The cutting of the Tides well screen has been thought to be a vandal act of some irresponsible person; but Canon Andrew now suggests that very probably the top of the screen, on which were the usual ornaments, was cut off in dutiful obedience to the express orders of the archbishop, whose desire was that all ornaments in the shape of images should be removed. Canon Andrew's new theory as to the mutilation of the Tideswell screen is particularly interesting. The archiepiscopal orders in regard to the other portions of the church at the time of the Reformation were also faithfully carried out.

Canon Andrew was able to correct once more the erroneous impression that Tideswell Church was ever a monastic building. The title was always, he said, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield, and it is well known that at Lichfield something more than antipathy to monks always existed. In the walk round the church, the Canon drew attention to many items in the work of recent restoration, notably, that of the tomb of Sir Samson Meverill in the centre of the chancel. When he was preferred to Tideswell, he found this tomb covered with boards. He uncovered it, and to-day, through a restored tombstone of alabaster, with perforated sides, there is to be seen the unique design in stone of angels carrying the skeleton of the dead knight heavenwards. Amongst the newer beauties of the church, to which attention was directed, was the organ, which is slowly being most ornately decorated, under the Vicar's direction. The part of the work now under consideration is the covering of the north side of the organ. For this the Vicar has prepared a rich design, the visit of the Angels to the Shepherds being the principal subject. The Vicar hopes, too, to fill in the panels around the organ with carvings, illustrative of some of the notable miracles of the New Testament. The visit to Tideswell Church, though short, was one of absorbing interest; and in tendering Canon Andrew their thanks, many of the visitors begged him to favour them with copies of the address which he had prepared for them, but which time had not permitted him to deliver.

Mr. Blashill, as Treasurer of the Association, said they were very

greatly indebted to Canon Andrew for the interesting and full description he had given of the church. Though they did not criticise church restoration, everything Canon Andrew had said as to the conservative spirit in which he had carried it out net with the fullest confirmation at the hands of every member of that Association.

The party then made a close inspection of the church, inside and outside; and, but for the time at their disposal being all too short, would have liked to stay longer in Tideswell.

The party then went on to Eyam, where the Vicar, the Rev. H. J. Freeman, described the church, in which there is very little old work left, only one pillar at the west end. The story of the introduction of the Plague in 1666, and of the devotion shown by Mr. Mompesson (the Vicar), and his wife, is well known. An old carved oak chair is shown in the chancel of the church, as having belonged to Mr. Mompesson, and an ancient font found on the moor is said to have been the one used by him. The register containing the names of all who died in the Plague was exhibited, but it is evidently a copy by a later hand, not the original. The most interesting thing at Eyam for the archæologist is the pre-Norman cross in the churchyard, which was described by Mr. Lynam, F.S.A. This, like the old font, was found on the moor, and erected in its present position by Howard, the philanthropist. The shaft was originally longer by 2 ft. or 3 ft., as may be seen by noticing that the junction of the cross with the shaft leaves 2 ins. or 3 ins. margin on each side. The ornamentation is pure Saxon.

From Eyam the drive was continued to Stoney Middleton, where the Vicar, the Rev. J. Riddlesden, delivered a short address, and said all there was to say about the peculiar church there. The Romans had a bath near the church; and Dr. Cox (see The Churches of Derbyshire) states that in 1734 there were "three perpetual bubbling warm springs close by the west side of the churchyard." The Parliamentary Commissioners of 1650 describe Stoney Middleton as "a parochial chapel thought fitt to be made a parish church . Mr. Thorpe, present incumbent, scandalous for drinking." The shape of the church is octagonal, and the roof is supported by eight stone pillars.

Mr. Blashill said it was very evident that the architect had the idea of a Roman bath in his mind at the time. It was an experiment, and perhaps as good as they could expect of the architects of that day; but let him say a word for them, as they were much maligned.

The Vicar: " Why did he give us round windows?"

Mr. Blashill: "Very likely he was a man who had travelled in Italy."

The drive was continued to Bakewell, whence the party returned to Buxton by train, after another charming day's tour in uninterrupted sunshine in the land of the Peak.

At the evening meeting in the Town Hall, which was presided over by Mr. A. Cates, Dr. Brushfield, F.S.A., read a most interesting Paper on "Funeral Garlands," which has been published on pp. 54-74.

Mr. Charles Lynam, F.S.A., then read a Paper, beautifully illustrated with limelight slides from drawings and photographs taken by the lecturer, "On the pre-Norman Crosses of Bakewell, Eyam, and Hope;" and referred to the important work done on the subject by the Bishop of Bristol, Rev. Dr. Cox, and Mr. Romilly Allen. This Paper will be published.

THURSDAY, JULY 20TH, 1899.

To-day the prehistoric stone circle at Arbor Low, and the churches at Hartington and Alstonfield were visited. The morning was breezy and bracing, but not so bright as previous days, and the party left Buxton by the 10.35 train for Parsley Hay. At that station carriages conveyed them to as near a point as possible to Arbor Low. On arrival, the members and friends disposed themselves in a circle among the ancient stones, and Dr. Brushfield, F.S.A., delivered the address which has been printed on pp. 127-139. At the conclusion, the Rev. W. Fyldes, Vicar of Hartington, in proposing a vote of thanks to the lecturer, said he would like to say a word about the name of Arbor Low. He was one who very strongly believed that it came from the very same root that Avebury did. With regard to the dolmen in the middle, sometimes it was said that the earth might have been taken away, but he did not think that that could be, because they would first of all have attacked the vallum. He thought the dolmen had existed always in the centre, and he thought it had been where sacrifices had been offered. They could find the walls filled with calcined stones. They could not tell what age it was. He was very strongly of opinion that it existed a long time before the Romans came to this country, and that it belonged to the early part of the Neolithic Age. All the stones were very rude. With regard to the rampart, he thought they would find that it went very close to the Roman road. It was his private opinion that, in some way or other, that rampart may have formed a sort of approach from the Roman road to that temple. He believed that when the Romans came and made that road, they came

1900

13

as near that place as they could without destroying it. They could not do that, without wishing to utilise that place in some way or other. He believed that the stones they saw lying on the ground had been in an upright position, and he thought they could see some of the stumps from which they had been broken. The ground all round was full of tumuli. In the plantation a little bit lower, Mr. Bateman found what he called "British settlements." He thought it was very much older indeed than Mr. Ferguson was inclined to admit. He should be sorry to think it was post-Roman. He could not understand such a business-like people coming to this country, and spending their time in erecting it. He thought it had been a place of sacrifice.

Mr. Charles Lynam, F.S.A., in seconding, said: "I for one should be sorry if it should appear that the British Archæological Association was committed in any degree to the opinion that this earthwork was created for the purposes of a temple. Having regard to its exposed situation and roofless character, what human beings constituted like ourselves could attend on this bleak moor for any reasonable time in the course of the year for the offices of devotion? The idea of such a purpose may be dismissed, one thinks, as unreasonable, and contrary to common sense. Avebury is of too great a scale to be compared with Arbor Low; but, if time permitted, particulars might be given of sundry similar works, as, for instance, 'Arthur's Round Table,' near Penrith, which Mr. Ferguson asserts to be a brother of Arbor Low, and that the two must have been erected by the same people, and for the same purpose. No doubt there are in these two works certain resemblances, but in other ways they differ entirely. The Table' is situated on low land adjoining a river; in its central area there is a raised circular platform, and there is no stone near it. This platform surely denotes an area for assembly, just as the Tynwald mounts in the Isle of Man are used at the present day for that purpose. What are the facts at Arbor Low? The work is situated on the highest land in its neighbourhood, from which a most extensive panorama is commanded. On the natural surface of the ground there are the remains of a dolmen; round this, at a considerable distance from it, a large circle of huge stones is erected; outside of these a ditch is dug, the contents of which are mounded up on its circumference, forming a fence round the central dolmen and its megalithic enclosure. A monument of the dead it surely declares itself to be, of a design which (for its dimensions) hardly could be exceeded for fitness and impressiveness.

"Near to Arthur's Seat there is a parallel work to Arbor Low,

excepting the circle of stones, and that the central object is not a dolmen but a menhir. Within a short drive of Belfast there is also a corresponding work, high up on the hill, of large area, surrounded by circular bank and ditch, and in its centre a perfect dolmen.

"Definite examples like these, which seem to speak plainly for themselves, should not be misconstrued as to their purpose, even at this remote date from the time of their erection. That assemblies might congregate from time to time within the enclosure no one could gainsay, but to regard these works as temples for worship does seem to be altogether unreasonable and unnatural."

Hartington was the next place on the programme, and after lunch the fine church there was visited. The Vicar (Mr. Fyldes) described the church and related its history. The church is cruciform in plan, with western tower, like so many others in the county. There are no traces in the present building of an earlier church than of the date of the first half of the thirteenth century, according to Dr. Cox, excepting some fragments of incised slabs built into the walls. The church was presented to the minoresses of Aldgate, London, in 1291, by Edmund, Earl of Lancaster, who had married Blanche, Queen of Navarre, who founded the nunnery at Aldgate. There are remains of the Early English period in the chancel and transepts, but considerable alterations were made in the church during the latter part of the thirteenth century, probably due to the presentation to the nuns of Aldgate. The south porch had a chamber over it, approached by a turret stair in the west wall. One peculiarity of the church is that the floor of the nave rises to the chancel, there being no chancel step, and the arches of the arcade are "rampant" arches. There are several very interesting monuments in the church. The objects of most interest, which are not noticed by the ordinary visitor, are two little leaden crosses, let into the stones above the west window on each side; and, in the west window itself a representation of a missal, open, on one of the stones on the north side, and a chalice and paten on the corresponding stone on the south. These are remarkable from their position, and apparently unique.

Leaving the church and the picturesque village of Hartington, the drive was continued to Alstonfield, where the Vicar, the Rev. W. Purchas, described the church, which is celebrated as being the church of Charles Cotton, and probably often attended by Isaac Walton, his great friend. The chancel arch is a good example of late Norman date, as is also the south doorway, but the greater part of the church is of Perpendicular date. The chancel was rebuilt in 1590. The church is unusually rich in seventeenth-century pewing,