Geometrical Elevations of South Front, North and East Sides, taken in 1827, also Perspective (coloured) of South Front of Gwys

aney. Sketch of Gwysaney by Moses Griffith, secretary and artist to Pennant the historian, 1803. The gift to Mr. Davies-Cooke of the Ven. Archdeacon Thomas.

Portrait of Pyers Pennant of Bychton, near Holywell, Vice-Admiral of North Wales. Drawn from some picture by Moses Griffith. Portrait of Miss Adelaide Cooke, by Bonavia.

Portrait of Lieut.-General Cooke, C. B., by Bonavia.

ENTRANCE-HALL.

Portrait of Robert Davies, Esq., of Gwysaney, High Sheriff of Flint, b. 1684, d. 1728. His wife was Ann Brockholes of Claughton, co. Lancaster, sister of Catherine Duchess of Norfolk.

Portrait of Eleanor, daughter and coheiress of Sir Peter Mytton, Knt., M.P., wife of Sir Kenrick Eaton of Eaton, Knt. Died in 1637.

Sword of Saadut Ali, Nawab of Oude, 1798.

Sword found in a field near Gwysaney, 1875, evidently used at the siege in 1645.

Portrait of Anne, wife of Robt. Davies, Esq., of Gwysaney, daughter and coheiress of Sir Peter Mytton, Knt., M.P. for co. Carnarvon. Married at Gresford Church in 1631. Died 1690. Portrait of Henry VI, King of England, b. 1421, d. 1471. Portrait of Sir John Vaughan, Lord Chief Justice of Common Pleas, M.P. for Cardiganshire; b. 1608, d. 1674. By Sir Godfrey

Kneller.

Portrait of Colonel John Robinson of Gwersyllt, a distinguished Royalist, b. 1603, d. 1680.

Portrait of a Gentleman, unknown; probably Mytton Davies, Esq.,

M.P.

DRAWING-ROOM.

Portrait of Robert Puleston, Esq., of Hafod y Wern, Wrexham ; b. 1613, d. 1634.

Portrait of Sarah, wife of the first Earl of Bessborough.

Portrait of Miss Frances Puleston, sister of Philip Puleston, Esq., of Hafod y Wern; b. 1735, d. 1804. By Downes.

Portrait of Captain John Davies, Royal Horse Guards Blue, wounded at the battle of Dettingen (vide London Gazette, June 1743); b. 1720, d. 1812.

Portrait of Bryan Cooke of Owston, co. York, M.P., in uniform of Royal Horse Guards Blue.

Portrait of Elizabeth, wife of Mytton Davies, Esq., of Gwysaney, M.P. for co. Flint, 1678; High Sheriff, 1670. Daughter of Sir Thomas Wilbraham, Bart., of Woodhey, co. Chester. Portrait of William Roberts, Bishop of Bangor.

Portrait of Frances Puleston, heiress of Gwysaney and Hafod y Wern, wife of Bryan Cooke, Esq., M.P., of Owston, co. York; b. 1765, d. 1818. By Romney.

Portrait of John Davies, afterwards Captain Davies of Regt. of Horse Guards Blue; b. 1720, d. 1812.

Portrait of Colonel Bryan Cooke of Owston, co. York, M.P., in uniform of Royal Horse Guards Blue; b. 1756, d. 1821. By Romney. Portrait of Mary Davies, afterwards Mrs. Hughes of Halkyn Hail; b. 1723, d. 1799.

DINING-ROOM.

Portrait of John Davies, Esq., of Gwysaney, High Sheriff, 1775-76.
Died 1785.
Portrait of Letitia Vaughan, wife of Robert Davies of Gwysaney
and Llanerch Park, daughter of Edward Vaughan, Esq., of
Trawscoed, co. Cardigan, M.P., and sister of the first Viscount
Lisburne. By Sir Godfrey Kneller.

Portrait of Robert Davies, Esq., High Sheriff of co. Flint for years 1644-46 and 1660. Defender of Gwysaney, April 1645. Born 1616, d. 1666.

Portrait of the Lady Louisa de Spaen, daughter of Robert Earl of Kingston, and wife of Alexandre, Baron de Spaen.

Portrait of Anne, wife of Robert Davies, Esq., of Gwysaney, and daughter of Sir Peter Mytton, Knt., M.P. Died 1690. Painted in 1643 by T. Leigh.

Portrait of a gentleman, unknown.

Portrait of King Charles II.

Large Gilt, Brass Dish (repoussé work) representing Albert and Isabella of the Netherlands. Date, 1563.

A drive of over seven miles brought the party back to Holywell. Nerquis Church.-A visit to Nerquis was included in the programme of the excursion on Tuesday, but owing to the unforeseen delay in Mold, caused by the rain, it was omitted. This short notice by the Rev. T. H. Lloyd, M.A., now Vicar of Llansantffraid yn Mechain, has been kindly prepared in order to supply, in some measure, the omission:

Nerquis, or Nercwys as it should be written, is one of the ancient chapelries of Mold. Its etymology is not certain. Some think it is equivalent to "God's Acre"; others, that it is derived from its situation on a ridge in the breast of the hill: cwys=a ridge or furrow, ner=fair or sunny, and therefore divine.

It is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, as is also the motherchurch of Mold. The church originally was in the form of a simple parallelogram, with a western tower surmounted by a wooden spire. In 1847 north and south transepts were added, and a small projection at the east end, to admit of the small Holy Table, which had previously stood in the body of the church surrounded by pews. The unrestored portions of the structure are of various dates. The

5TH SER. VOL. VIII.

5

tower and parts of the nave are apparently of twelfth century character; the remainder of the fifteenth century; one window and probably the outer porch doorway are of late thirteenth century work.

In 1883-4, the writer of this notice being then the incumbent, the church was thoroughly and completely restored, Mr. J. Oldrid Scott being the architect, when over £2,000 were expended. It now is one of the prettiest and most interesting churches in the diocese. The large west end gallery was removed, and this brought into view a plain Norman arch of fine proportions, which had previously been hidden by the gallery and a wooden screen erected between the nave and the base of the tower. The latter was used as a coalhole! but now has been thrown open, and converted into a baptistery; the oak-panelling of the old pews forming the wainscot, and the ancient oak benches with round ends, brought from the gallery, affording sitting room on three sides. The tower, which is peculiar, having no original external entrance, and the spire, were thoroughly repaired, and the latter covered with oakshingles measuring about 9 ins. by 4. In lieu of the gallery a lean-to aisle was added to the north side of the nave, and the church was extended eastward so as to obtain space for a chancel beyond the modern transepts.

In taking down the old walls on the north and east sides several flat, coffin-shaped, sculptured slabs, of various characters and dates, were discovered embedded in the masonry. Those with the Stafford knot, and the one with human face, feline ears, and pisciform tail, are probably the most ancient, whilst the floriated crosses are very elaborate. The stones are carefully preserved in the porch, being placed on the stone seats, and dowelled to the walls. The sedilia are formed by an oak bench placed under a section of an ancient roodscreen. It is of elaborate design; full of foliage and rich tracery, with canopied niches for statuettes, resembling in character the grand screen at Hexham Abbey. It is locally known as Cadair Fair", and said to have been brought from Old St. Chad's, Shrewsbury; but there is not the slightest proof for this local supposition. It stood, prior to the restoration, at the north-east corner of the church, behind the pulpit; placed there by Sir George Wynne of Leeswood, who was a great traveller, as was also his cousin, Wilson the artist. What more likely than that Sir G. Wynne bought this oak-work abroad? Indeed, it is certain that it was erected by him over his intended burial-place; which, however, he was fated never to occupy, having died in the old Fleet, in London, a prisoner for debt. There is a brass plate on a slab in the floor, in front of the pulpit, to this effect: "This is the buriai-place of Sir Geo. Wynne, 1660." Strange to say, it should have been 1760.

The pulpit, which is of oak, of the Tudor period, has been cleaned of several coats of paint, and now shows to advantage its beautiful grain and elaborate carving. It is very small; so much so that the Bishop of St. Asaph, who was preaching on the occasion of re