together as well as they could be, so as to necessitate the use of as little new stone as possible. Other fragments of the arcade, or of the same date (including the beautiful capital illustrated in the Journal xxi, 174), have been fixed on the walls between the bases. JOHN BILSON.

V.

YORKSHIRE PECULIAR WILLS.

As the result of a memorial presented by the Society to the President of the Probate Division, the wills proved in certain. Yorkshire peculiar courts, which for a good many years were deposited at Somerset House, London, have recently been removed to the District Probate Registry at York. The collection includes the documents of:

A. The Archdeaconry Court of Richmond, Eastern Deaneries (Boroughbridge, Catterick, and Richmond). These consist of: (1) the original wills, inventories, administration bonds, etc., from 1536 to 1857; (2) five act books-(a) Dec. 18, 1663, to Dec. 31, 1664, (b) April 20, 1736, to Sept. 29, 1741, (c) 1744 to 1746, 1766 to 1771, and 1777 to 1806, (d) Oct., 1809, to June, 1830, (e) June, 1830, to Dec., 1854; (3) two journals1 (a) 1680 to 1694, (b) 1707 to 1714, and 1746; (4) the official calendars to all testamentary documents relating to the three eastern deaneries.

The five small, and in two cases imperfect, registers of wills are still retained at Somerset House, together with the original wills, etc., belonging to the Yorkshire part of the deanery of Lonsdale before 1748, the Lonsdale wills subsequent to that date being at Lancaster.

An index to the probate records of the three eastern deaneries, prior to 1617, was commenced by the late Mr. A. Gibbons, F.S.A., and printed as a supplement to the Northern Genealogist, but it only came down to the letter "G" (Gristhawite, John, of Askrig).

B. The Honour Court of Knaresborough. These comprise : (1) original wills, etc., in rolls and bundles; (2) indexes to the above (a) 1640 to 1708, (b) 1708 to Jan. 9, 1858.

C. The Peculiar Court of Masham. These include: (1) the original wills, etc., from 1572 to 1858, for (a) Masham North Registry, (b) Masham West Registry; (2) two registers-(a)

1 The entries in these journals are of include many references to testamentary a very miscellaneous character, but they

business.

1576 to 1654, (b) 1634 to 1699; (3) a court book; (4) indexes to-(a) the original wills, (b) the administrations from 1614 to 1858, (c) the registers.

A consolidated index to the probate records of this court, including the documents recently removed to York, and those already in the registry there, together with what relates to this peculiar in the Dean and Chapter of York's Index (1650 to 1756), and the General Peculiars Index at York (1438 to 1728), prior to 1709, was commenced by the late Mr. A. Gibbons, F.S.A., and printed in vols. iv to vi of the Northern Genealogist down to the letter "R" (Rownthwaite, William).

D. The Manorial Court of Hunsingore. These consist of: (1) bundles of original wills, etc.; (2) an index.

The period covered by the documents of this court is not specified.

E. The Royal Peculiar Court of Middleham. The documents include (1) bundles of original wills, etc., from 1722 to 1854; (2) an index.

Now that these documents are more accessible to local workers, it is hoped that members of the Society will make good use of the opportunity thus offered.

E.W.C.

VI.

STONE CIRCLES AT BLUBBERHOUSES

If no one else is going to describe these remarkable circles, I should like, at least, to make a record of them before they are again grown over and lost. There are a great many stone foundations of circular dwellings of various sizes and degrees of completeness; some are quite perfect. I have seen them twice, but as I have no special knowledge of the subject, I cannot undertake to describe either the circles or other prehistoric remains associated with them. They are on the farm occupied by Mr Catton, but not very easily accessible, unless by motor or bicycle, being about thirteen miles from Harrogate, nine from Otley and seven from Bolton Bridge The place has been visited by the Rev. R. A. Gatty, who has lately written as follows:-"There can be nothing more done at Blubberhouses this year it is too late. I left a man digging, but so far nothing 'stone age' has turned up in the circles, only iron age' evidence. It is a profoundly interesting spot, but not easy to get at."

J. T. F.