PLATE IX.

Fig. 1.-Larva of Acronycta strigosa, 1st skin × 24 diameter.

Fig. 6.-Egg of Bryophila perla, dorsal view × 34 diameter.

EXTENSIVE FIRE IN RADNOR FOREST IN THE YEAR 1800.

FROM our member, Mr. James W. Lloyd, we have received the following notice of a disastrous fire in the forest, being an extract from "British History chronologically arranged," by John Wade. "August 10th, 1800. A person by accident set fire to Radnor Forest, and owing to the dryness of the season it burnt for thirty miles in circumference, destroying thousands of sheep and many cottages. The Earl of Oxford and Mr. Lewis were the chief sufferers."

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Mr. Lloyd mentioned the subject to one of his correspondents, Mr. John Hutchinson (Middle Temple Library, London), who in reply stated that there was a long notice of it in the Annual Register of 1800, under the heading of 'Ludlow, August 19th," in which it is stated that the fire was caused by the owner of a sheep-walk setting fire to the heath before digging for pitmar, which the writer explains as coal, but which probably was maun or peat. The fire seems to have spread to a vast extent when we read that "on the side of the vale adjoining Sir W. W. Wynne's estate at Wynnstay it was supposed to extend from eight to ten miles, and on the opposite side about four miles." The report adds that the fire was seen from Ludlow rising in columns to an immense height, but it was principally confined to the hills, the property of the Earl of Oxford, of Mr. Lewis and Mr. Lewin. After raging for five weeks "it was at length extinguished by the late providential fall of rain."

Mr. Hutchinson writes that the year 1800 was remarkable for its drought, and for forest and other fires everywhere. A fire in the Black Forest in Germany began in March, and in September was reported as continuing "with more fury than ever." It put a stop to the working of the Copper Mines in the neighbourhood.

Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 22nd, 1893.

THE Fourth Field Meeting was held at Kyre Park, near Tenbury, the residence of Mr. Baldwyn-Childe. A large party, mustering nearly fifty, were met at Tenbury Railway Station by brakes from the Swan Hotel, which conducted them beyond the fourth milestone on the road to Bromyard, where, opposite the lodge gates of Kyre Park, they were met by the Rev. Prebendary Baldwyn-Childe, Mrs. Baldwyn-Childe, and her party, consisting of Sir Charles Rouse Boughton, Rev. T. Auden, and Mr. Garnett-Botfield, the two latter being prominent members of the Caradoc Field Club.

The deer park on the left was entered by the magnificent avenue of oak and beech trees growing alternately for the extent of half-a-mile, whose varied foliage presents, especially in their spring and autumn foliage, a most pleasing aspect. Near the middle of this avenue were planted some five or six centuries ago a circle of probably twelve oak trees, of which ten great patriarchs are still in existence. The girth of the largest at the height of five feet from the ground is 19 feet 6 inches. The girths, at five feet from the ground, of these ten oak trees, are as represented below:

Several other monster oak trees are scattered about the park. One giant of the forest occupies a prominent position on a knoll, a silent witness of many a winter's storm, its weird limbs, grown bald with hoar antiquity, sombre and gaunt, assuming fantastic forms. From its decayed, contorted trunk is thrown out in bold relief a naked arm, quaintly suggestive of a gibbet, whence probably it derived the name of "Gibbet Oak," by which it is distinguished, there being no traditional history to account otherwise for this, its title. The name and the age of the tree recall one's thoughts to the early period when Lords of Manors

possessed their private gallows for hanging thieves. It has a girth of nearly twenty-four feet round its hollowed stem. This oak is a Quercus sessiliflora.

In the more northern part of the Deer Park, near the Fulhams, are two oak trees, which measure respectively twenty-two and twenty-three feet; whilst a fallen oak measured by Mrs. Baldwyn-Childe had attained a girth of twenty-six feet four and a half inches. All girths were taken at 5 feet above the ground.

A beech tree in the avenue has a girth of seventeen feet four inches. Another beech tree, near the southern entrance to the Deer Park, and overlooking the Lodge, has the same girth, and from its root trunk issue about twenty boles. In the Pasture park is a Spanish Chestnut tree with a girth of twenty-four feet.

The approximate age of these trees can be shrewdly arrived at from the fact that in 1275 Edward I. in a deed dated from Gloucester gives permission to John Wyard to plant and enclose his Park at Cuer Wyard. This deed is at Kyre. Thomas Habingdon, of Hindlip, the Worcestershire Antiquary, born in 1560, says: "The Parcke of Cuerwyard is not to bee shutt up in sylence for it is adorned with so many tall and mightie oakes, as scarce any ground in England within that quantity of Akers can showe so many."

About 1650 the celebrated Beech Wood at Alderley, in Cheshire, was planted by Sir Thomas Stanley. He states in his journal that he "brought the beech masts from his father-in-law's park of Kyre (Lady Stanley being a daughter of Sir James Pytt) there being no beech trees at that time in Cheshire."

Leaving the Deer Park, seats were resumed in the carriages, and the drive was continued along the Bromyard Road, crossing Perry brook, the boundary between Worcestershire and Herefordshire, which flows into Kyre brook, here forming the eastern boundary of our county. After a drive of half-a-mile, two or three hundred yards before reaching the sixth milestone from Bromyard, at the School, the route was taken over the fields to the right through the grounds of Perry farm to Hyde farm, distant from the School about half-a-mile.

Mrs. Baldwyn Childe showed her sketch book, in which were exhibited clever sketches of "The Hyde," taken from an old drawing, before its alterations; of the "Perry," taken November, 1873; and one of the north end of Netherwood, said by Duncumb to be the birthplace of Queen Elizabeth's favourite, Earl of Essex, taken from a drawing about 1820 by Mrs. Stackhouse Acton.

THE HYDE.

The Hyde House is situated a quarter of a mile off the road from Tenbury to Bromyard, on the right hand side, near the sixth milestone from Bromyard, and underneath the high ground which formed the ancient park of Netherwood.

Upon arrival at Hyde Farm, an inspection of the exterior displayed a building standing on a ground plan about forty-four feet long by twenty feet wide, with small transepts at each extremity. Internally it has been altered so as to be adapted to the requisites of a farm dwelling. The interior reveals an exquisitely timbered oak roof of the 14th century of which, upon the ground floor, are seen

the moulded pillars, and the arch springing from the moulded capitals; on the roof of the first floor is some finely-moulded tracery on the framing and wind braces, and a well moulded tie beam, and higher up is a second smaller tie beam with tracery filling in the apex. The scantling of the oak framework was out of all proportions, being far in excess of what engineers of the present day would calculate sufficient to carry the superincumbent roof. It must be borne in mind that the roofs of five centuries ago were much heavier than the slated roofs of this century; moreover the abundance and comparative cheapness of oak timber at that time would account for such lavish use of it in building. In the southern transept the floor of the attic is upon a semi-barrelled roof dimly lighted by a timber lancet light. Over the porch doorway on the eastern side are the remains of a 14th century window with fragments of coloured glass in trefoil and quatrefoil tracery. A former tenant of the Hyde tells Mrs. Baldwyn Childe that she remembers the present kitchen roof open up to the timbered roof before the alterations. Mr. James Nott, who was present amongst our visitors, informs us that a somewhat similar tracery is to be seen at Birtsmorton Court, five miles southwest of Great Malvern, and that another formerly covered the hall of Malvern Priory, of which a representation is given opposite page 11 of "Moche Malverne," a copy of which has been presented to the Woolhope Club by Mr. Nott, the author of the work. In looking at this roof we cannot help being reminded of the Chapel Farm in Deerfold Forest, of which a detailed description by Mr. Thomas Blashill is given in the Transactions of the Woolhope Club for 1869, with an illustration facing page 182.

We are indulging in the hope that Mr. Blashill will favour us with a description of the Hyde so soon as a little holiday from his onerous duties in connection with the London County Council will spare him leisure for the purpose, therefore we will abstain from adding any more on the subject, beyond publishing a copy of Deeds, connected with the Hyde, supplied by Mrs. Baldwyn-Childe.

Near to the Perry, or Perrie, the original residence of the Pytts, is a field called the "Chapel Close," and nearer to Stoke Bliss Church, behind the present blacksmith's shop, is a meadow called the "Prioress Meadow," both of which places are referred to in the Deeds.

Netherwood lies about one mile south of the Hyde. Duncumb says in his History of Herefordshire about one hundred years ago, "Netherwood mansion stood in a park of about 300 acres, which has been enclosed and converted into tillage since the time it was held by the Devereux family. A large piece of pasture is still called "The Parks." The old building was taken down about thirty years ago, and a substantial stone building was erected on the site of the former Court. The ancient mansion formed a quadrangle, on the south side of which was an apartment called Essex Room, where the Earl is supposed to have been born. On the north side was the chapel, having a deep vault under it, which contained several male and female effigies in stone of various sizes. It seems probable that the family was interred here. The other sides were disposed in different apart ments; the chimneys were circular, with a kind of lanthorn on the top. The walls were built of brown stone from an adjoining quarry, and were nearly five