and Scutellaria galericulata were gathered in flower. Botanists will regret to learn that, since the drying up of this pool, that interesting plant Utricularia minor, which we always took a delight in seeing on its margin, has entirely disappeared. The visitors having reached the Deer Park, examined some of the most magnificent oak trees in the kingdom, such as have been called in the Woolhope Club Transactions the Moccas Oak, the Club Oak, the Tall Oak, and many others. It may be mentioned that the Moccas Oak, hollowed with decay, and charred internally, owing to its having been accidentally set on fire, now measures 36 ft. 6 in. in circumference at 5 ft. from the ground, and the Club Oak 20 ft. 10 in. In Transactions, 1870, page 314, the girth of the Club Oak is given 19 ft. 5 in., and its height 94 ft. The Tall Oak, a magnificent tree in complete decay at its base, fell a short time ago. Unfortunately its true length was not measured before the foresters had removed the upper portion of it, but it was possible to take its girth, which was found to be 18 ft. In Transactions, 1870, page 315, the girth of the Tall Oak is given 18 ft. 7 in., and its height 118 ft. A photograph of this tree is represented there on the opposite page. The Broad Oak, so called from its extraordinarily wide-spreading canopy, covered a radius of more than 60 ft., or including the bole, a diameter of from 120 to 130 ft. Amongst other trees ought to be mentioned an Oriental Plane in the grounds on the western side of the house, its leaves less deeply indented than those of the Occidental Plane in the garden lawn, and in the same direction, within 100 yards of the drive upon the right hand side, towered an Ash tree of huge proportions and magnificent growth. The Sundial on the lawn is one of the most elaborate ever constructed. A picture of it is deservedly represented in Miss Gatty's work on' Sundials. The stone has perished in the spot where the date was probably inscribed. Judging from the architecture of the base, Sir George Cornewall ascribes it to about the year 1600. We are indebted to Lady Cornewall for the following description. SUNDIAL AT MOCCAS. "Tyme passeth and speketh not, The above lines are inscribed round the four sides of a very beautiful old dial pillar at Moccas Court, Herefordshire. It bears several dials of various shapes, circular and heart shaped, concave, triangular, &c.; between and around these faces the following Latin mottoes are sculptured. The first is from the Vulgate Psalm xix., 1. (1.) Coeli enarrant gloriam Dei et Operationem manuum eius annunciat firmamentum. "The heavens declare the Glory of God and the firmament showeth His handy work." (2.) Si culpare velis, culpabilis esse cavebis: Nemo sine crimine vivit ; id circo ne temere judicato. "If thou woulds't blame, thou wilt beware of being blameworthy. No one lives without reproach, therefore judge not rashly." (3.) Instar globi stat machina mundi. "Like a ball stands the framework of the world." (4.) Dilige Dominum Deum toto corde. "Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart." (5.) Sol est lux et gloria mundi. "The sun is the light and glory of the world." This is round another circular face. On the north side beneath the signs of the planets is Domus Planetarum, and on south side, Philippus Jones fecit. The dial pillar which now belongs to Sir George Cornewall, is thought to have been made in the reign of Charles II., and was first set up at Monnington Court (on the opposite side of the Wye) the property of the Tompkyns family. When this property came into possession of the Cornewalls, the dial was brought to Moccas. A similar one is at Kinlet near Bewdley, but it is not in such good preservation as the one at Moccas. The following is from The Archæological Journal, Vol. xxxiv., No. 136— 1877, page 502, when the Royal Archæological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland visited the district of Hereford, Monday, August 13th, 1877 : "The members then examined a curious sundial in the garden in the form of a St. Andrew's cross, raised upon a pedestal, the various sides being cut into as many dials, with English and Latin inscriptions. This sundial resembles in its general character that in the desolate courtyard of the ancient manor house of the Dove's at Upton near Peterborough, and may be compared with one at Kelburne House in Scotland, which exhibits sixty dials." Passing from the Deer Park, the route was taken towards the river again, where an advanced outwork, succeeded by embankments, indicative of outer defences, moat, &c., terminating with the inner line of defence, and the Keep, showed the site of Bredwardine Castle, and that it must have been a place of considerable size and importance in the time of the Vaughans. Close by is the Church, another specimen, at least partly, of Norman Architecture. Herring bone work on the north wall faces the visitor as he enters the building by the south door; it is also conspicuous externally on the north side, to a height of five or six feet above the ground. As in Moccas Church, so also in Bredwardine Church are tympana over both the south entrance door and the closed-up north door. The history and features of the Church were explained in a paper read by the President. The similarity of the font to that in Kilpeck Church is remarkable, not only as regards design and huge dimensions, but also in the fact that its bowl is made of the same conglomerate stone. At Kilpeck the circumference internally is 8 feet 6 inches, and externally 10 feet 3 inches. elegant convex form. Leaving Bredwardine Church, the condition of the weather did not admit of more than a hurried run over the lawn, and a glance at the grounds of Bredwardine Vicarage, charmingly situated on the right bank of the Wye, with the Quinta, the residence of Mr. Peter Giles, opposite, and commanding a view of the pretty Bred wardine brick bridge. There are some handsome trees in the Vicarage grounds, including Pinus Cephalonica, a tall Salisburia Adiantifolia, more commonly known as the Ginkgo, after its name in Japan (see Transactions, 1890, Fungus Foray, p. 99), an Abies either pendula or merinda, and a Cedar of Lebanon, aged 68 years, which now measures, below its first bough, 13 feet 10 inches, being an increase of 22 inches in circumference during the last thirteen years, or since it was measured by this Club. See Transactions, 1878, p. 105. It should be mentioned here that the Lysimachia thyrsiflora, which was stated in the programme to be found near the site of Bredwardine Castle, must not be considered a wild plant. The plant referred to grows in the garden of the vicarage, and upon examination is pronounced to be the Lysimachia ciliata. From Bredwardine Church the members crossed the Wye over Bredwardine Bridge, thence passed the Quinta, and within a hundred yards of the old parish Church of Brobury, of which the ruinous walls have been taken down, the chancel being fitted up for divine service. It contains a curious font, and a canopied tomb of the 14th century. Onwards through Monnington Wood surmounting Brobury Scar, and through the avenue of Sweet Chestnut trees terminating in Scotch Firs and Yew trees, the total length of which is nearly one mile, to meet the carriages at the lodge near Moccas Bridge. This avenue is called Monnington Walk. Judge Cooke, in his continuation of Duncumb's History of Herefordshire, informs us that this "ornamental planting was made as an approach to Monnington Court through Bredwardine Ford in 1623, to commemorate the success of James Tomkyns as M. P. for Leominster. It hardly ceased raining all day, but, nevertheless, the enthusiasts, headed by the President, stuck to their work with their usual well-known pertinacity. The time was now 5.30, and it is to be regretted that both the wet weather and want of time prohibited a visit to Monnington Church. Near the porch of this Church is the traditional gravestone of Owen Glendower (Archæological Journal, 1877, Vol. 34, No. 136, p. 501). THE BURIAL PLACE OF OWEN GLENDOWER. THE Rev. Thomas Thomas, in his Memoirs of Owen Glendower, published in 1822, gives (page 169), an extract from the Harl. MSS., 6832, notifying that when the Monnington Church was re-built in 1680, a large gravestone, without any inscription, was found about a foot below the surface of the ground whilst removing the trunk of a Sycamore tree in the churchyard. Upon the removal of the gravestone "there was discovered at the bottom of a well-stoned grave the body (as 'tis supposed) of Owen Glendwr, which was whole and entire, and of goodly stature. But there were no tokens or remains in the coffin. When any part of it was touched, it fell to ashes. After it had been exposed two days Mr. Tomkins ordered the stone to be placed over it again, and the earth to be cast in upon it." It may be remarked that the inhabitants of the locality of Monnington Straddle in the Golden Valley, near Vowchurch, believe that Owen Glendower was buried in their district, deriving their conjectures perhaps from Mr. Thomas' statement that his second daughter, Elizabeth, according to some, Alicia, was inarried to Sir John Scudamore, of Ewyas and Holme Lacy, and proprietor of Kentchurch, not many miles distant (page 51). We find, on reference to page 51 of Rev. Thomas Thomas's Memoirs of Owen Glendower, that "his fifth and youngest daughter, Margaret, was married to Roger Monington, of Monington, in the county of Hereford. Mr. Pennant says that he had the pleasure of seeing at his house two ladies, owners of Monington, and direct descendants from the daughter of Glyndwr." From the same authority we also learn that "Janet, his third daughter, was married to John Crofts, of Croft Castle, in the same county of Hereford." Unwillingly we must confess that, after submitting this traditional question to our historian, Judge Cooke, our long-cherished confidence in these statements of Rev. Thomas Thomas has been shattered. Judge Cooke asserts that at the time of Owen Glendower's rebellion, and for many years afterwards, Monington-on-Wye was never possessed by an owner named Monington. Reference to pages 131 et seqq, of his continuation of Duncumb's History proves that Monington was in the possession of the Audley family at the period of Owen Glendower's rebellion, and for many years afterwards, until 1525. The visitation of 1634, he adds in a footnote on page 137, "contains a pedigree of Monington commencing in 1385, yet does not include a marriage with a daughter of Owen Glendower." Judge Cooke thus proves the tradition of Monington-on-Wye being the burial place of Owen Glendower to be only founded on prominent credulity during four centuries! (p. 135). 66 How conflicting are the pages of history! On page 39 of MS. of the late Rev. J. Webb, of Tretire, now in the Hereford Cathedral Library, we read :-There is a record in the Tower of London, published by Mr. Rymer; in Fædera Tom. viii., pages 608 and 753: Tom. ix., pages 283 and 330. Browne Willis, Esq., in his history of the Bishop of Bangor, says :-Owen Glendower died, and was buried at Monington, the 20th September, 1415, etc." Judge Cooke suggests the probability (p. 137) that "his remains may be covered by a stone in the churchyard on the south side of Corwen Church, and known as Owen Glyndwr's sword. It is a cross on an old coffin-shaped stone, not uncommon in many churchyards." Mr. Moore has seen the stone referred to, and has corresponded with the Rev. Canon Wm. Richardson, for many years Vicar of Corwen. All that can be said is that there is a cross on an old coffin-shaped stone over what is called the Priest's door on the south side of Corwen Church. It is generally called Owen Glendower's dagger, and the guide books give the absurd tradition that Owen Glendower, in an act of rage, threw his dagger against it from the heights above. The stone was, in all probability, an old gravestone. Mr. Ferrey, architect for the late restoration of Corwen Church, gave its date as 11th century. The shaft of a cross at the western side of the churchyard is supposed to be of earlier date. The neighbourhood of Corwen abounds with associations of Owen Glendower. About three miles distant, on the road to Llangollen, is pointed out the site of his palatial residence near Carrog úcha, a large tumulus from the heights of which he surveyed miles of his country, and a huge oak table in the kitchen of the neighbouring farm house which is said to have been used by him. Opposite the farm of Penybont, and close to Carrog Railway Station is a field called the "Parliament field." Mr. Jones, of Penybont, possesses a fragment of a skull which has been dubbed the skull of one of Owen's chieftains!! On the opposite bank of the Dee, in the parish of Llansantfraid Glendwrdy, is still to be seen the prison, called Cachardy Owen Glendwrdy where he confined his captives; it is modernised into a habitable cottage, at present perilously near the river bank.* But as to the place of Owen Glendower's burial, it still remains unknown. When the party re-assembled, the seats in the carriages were resumed, the return journey to Hereford being carried out under a series of showers of rain, with few intervals of intermission, and those of short duration, insomuch that for once, and it is worthy of being chronicled, the ardour of the majority had become so damped, after four hours exposure to rainfall, that they would not run further risk of lumbago, bronchitis, influenza, and a host of other maladies, no, not even in the pursuit of the structure of antiquity, which had recently been unearthed on the premises of the New Weir, only a few feet distant from the exposed section of a road buried nearly two feet below the ground level. The situation of this buried masonry, or well of five steps, is at a distance of fifty yards below masses of masonry which some believe to have been the abutment of an ancient bridge across the Wye, leading from Gobannium (Abergavenny), through Stone Street, in the parishes of Madley and Eaton Bishop, to the Roman station of Magna Castra, now called Kenchester, and *As this volume is passing through the Press, in June of this year, 1893, large masses of oak timbers mortised with wooden pegs, evidently fragments of a roof, have been discovered in the River Dee, below Carrog Bridge, by Mr. Hugh Jones, of Penybont. The timbers are too large to have passed through the arches of the bridge; the date inscribed upon the bridge is 1661. There is every reason to believe from their scantling, shape, and length, that these beams are fragments of the roof of the ancient Church, which traditionally existed about 500 yards higher up the river, on a site a little above Glendower's Prison. |