THE NEW YORK Vol. I. No. 2.] JULY, 1895. ASTOR, LENOX AND 6 The Berks, Bucks & Oxon Archæological Journal. Proceedings of Archæological Societies. THE BERKS ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.-On May 30th, this Society made its first Summer Excursion, and visited the town of Banbury and Broughton Castle, the seat of Lord Saye and Sele. At the Town Hall, the Town Clerk and Mr. W. Potts met the party, exhibited the municipal documents and plate, and Mr. W. Potts delivered an address on the history of the town. Mr. Potts has consented to contribute a paper on the subject to the Journal, which will be published shortly. After luncheon the party drove to Broughton Castle, which was described by the Rector of the Parish and the Rev. A. Cheales. The interesting Church, of which an illustration is given, was visited, and then the Members returned to Banbury and thence to Reading. An interesting Excursion was made on June 26th to Rotherfield Greys, by the kind invitation of Sir Francis and Lady Stapleton. Canon North Pinder described the Church, which contains the Memorial Chapel of Sir W. Knollys, K.G., Earl of Banbury, and High Steward of Reading. Grey's Court was described by Mr. W. Wing, and Lady Stapleton kindly entertained the Members of the Society. NEWBURY DISTRICT FIELD CLUB.-On June 26th, the Society visited Salisbury, Amesbury and Stonehenge. The report of this Excursion is deferred. Some valuable "Notes by the Way," by Mr. E. Doran Webb, F.S.A., are printed in the programme of the Excursion, which was not by any means the least interesting of the many journeys made by this Society. Berks Archæological and Architectural Society. COMMITTEE REPORT OF THE FOR THE YEAR 1894. 噩 N presenting their Report for 1894, your Committee may venture to say that, although the past year has been marked by no eventful incidents, yet the Society has evinced no slackness in carrying out the objects of its foundation. It can point to a fair amount of useful work, both in the fields of Architectural study and Archæological research. (I.) General Occurrences of the Year :- With regard to matters of general Antiquarian interest, we may remark that the Silchester Excavations, under the Society of Antiquaries, still continue to bring to light many interesting features of the Romano-British civilization, which were swept away by the Saxon invaders. Within our own County there has been nothing to record in the way of Church Restoration, and no Public Buildings of any magnitude or importance have been erected to our knowledge during the last twelve months. The Annual Conference of Archæological Societies, in union with the Society of Antiquaries, was held in London, in July, 1894, and the Rev. P. H. Ditchfield attended as our delegate on that occasion. Various matters of interest were discussed, relating to the Archæological Survey of England, to the desirability of compiling a List of the Sepulchral Effigies found in England and Wales; and to the importance of encouraging Archæological research as a subject of Elementary Education, so as to arouse the interest of the working classes in the antiquities of the district. We are also glad to report that the Corporation authorities of Reading have adopted the suggestion of the Society, in affixing tablets to the various portions of the Abbey Ruins, descriptive of their position, thus acting as a guide to strangers in giving them a correct idea of the extent of the Monastic Buildings. An accurate ground plan of the Abbey Ruins, comprising the Conventual Church, Cloister Court, and other parts of the structure, has been published by the Society, and can be had on application to the Secretary, Mr. E. Wright. (II.) Practical Work of the Society during 1894. In estimating the work accomplished during the year, it is important to remember the fact that the Society was instituted for a two-fold object, viz., first, the promotion of Archæological research as an aid to the interpretation of National History; and, secondly, the encouragement and study of Architecture. The year has been marked by considerable activity on the Archæological side, but it is doubtful whether the same amount of energy has been displayed in the pursuit of Architectural objects. LECTURES AND EXCURSIONS. During the winter months four Meetings were held for the reading of papers and discussion (only one of which related to Architecture); while no less than four Excursions have taken place during the summer to places of general or local interest. It has been objected by some that the Excursions of a "County" Society should be limited exclusively to places within the County. But we submit that a true Archæological instinct should induce us to combine a special knowledge of our particular County with a broad general view of National History and Antiquities, of which the County furnishes only one important page. It is our aim, therefore, that our transactions should have partly a local and partly a general sphere. While in our Excursions and Lectures we specially aim at elucidating the History of Berkshire, so as to make us familiar with its local customs, its traditions, its remarkable families and notable events, yet in addition to this special local object we contend that the Society should have a wider educational object, and should aim at a larger and fuller instruction in all subjects of Historical Antiquity. This has never altogether been lost sight of by the Members of our Society, though it has occasionally been kept in the back ground. It was distinctly prominent under the able administration of our former Secretary, W. L. Nash, Esq., F.S.A., who has emphatically expressed his opinion, that "human interests are too varied to admit of their being kept in any narrow circle, be the circle antiquarian or any other." |