though the neglect and ruin therein, and the general aspect of the church could not but excite the regret of the visitors, and an earnest hope that the restorer might speedily appear.

Under the guidance of Mr. Seymour, who had ridden down to meet the archæologists at Ramsbury, the whole party now proceeded to his most hospitable home at Crowood, where a considerable time was spent in enjoying the natural beauties and gardens of that lovely spot, in examining the very fine and highly valuable collection of old china and other antiquities, and in partaking of the refreshments most liberally provided by Mr. Seymour and his sister. Thence the excursionists drove to Aldbourne, where they were received by the esteemed Vicar the Rev. G. P. Cleather, who conducted the visitors over his really handsome and well restored church; and where again Mr. Roberts delighted and instructed his audience by a concise but clear history of the building of the church, literally reading his story in the stones and mouldings before him.

On leaving the church the party proceeded to the village inn, where an excellent dinner had been provided; after which the President proposed the health of the Vicar who had so kindly received them and conducted them over his church. The Rev. G. P. Cleather returned thanks, and expressed the satisfaction he had derived from finding his efforts in restoring the church had elicited the approbation of so learned and critical a body. Mr. Cunnington then proposed the health of Mr. Seymour, for his hospitable reception of the Society: and Sir John Awdry proposed a vote of thanks to those gentlemen of the parent Archæological Societies of London who had given so much assistance at this meeting, mentioning the names of Mr. Roberts, Mr. Godwin, and Mr. Black.

The excursionists now proceeded over the bleak open downs to Upper Upham, where all were much delighted with the fine old Jacobean architecture which that old dwelling presented, and where they were conducted over every portion of the building by the present occupier, Mr. Frampton. Then having visited the site of the old house, said to have belonged to John of Gaunt, and the

adjacent excavation in the field, traditionally and with reason believed to have been a cock-pit, the visitors returned to Hungerford, where Mr. Barker entertained the whole party at a collation which he generously provided for them.

CONVERSAZIONE.

The President took the chair at the Town-Hall, at eight o'clock, and at his request the Rev. JOHN ADAMS, of Stock Cross, read a short account of the opening of a barrow near Great Shefford, and displayed many of the objects found therein. Mr. CUNNINGTON then read a paper written by Dr. PALMER, on the "Peat Deposit of the Kennet Valley;" which was profusely illustrated by specimens dug out of the peat, and handed round for inspection. At its conclusion, and after some interesting remarks on the paper from Mr. Cunnington, Mr. ADAMS was again called upon for some observations on the same subject, which that gentleman proceeded to give in a most able address: and which will be found in another part of this Magazine. Mr. W. L. BARKER was then invited to read a paper on "Fish Culture:" and the VICAR of Hungerford to read a paper on "Avington Church," written by the Incumbent, the Rev. JOHN JAMES.

This brought the proceedings to an end; when the Rev. A. C. SMITH said as this was the last occasion on which they should assemble at that meeting, he thought that they ought not to separate, without a hearty vote of thanks to their President, whose presence and cordiality had contributed so much to the success of that meeting. Sir JOHN AWDRY disclaimed for himself the merit attributed to him, and eulogized the Secretaries for their exertions.

THIRD DAY. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 18TH.

A small but enthusiastic band of archæologists again met at the Town Hall, and drove to the little church of Avington, a Norman building of exceeding interest, the details of which they had heard described the previous evening. After a thorough examination of the remarkable font, the arches, mouldings, and incised stones of this unique building, the excursionists were invited by the kind

VOL. XI.-NO. XXXII.

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hearted occupier of the large farm adjoining (Mr. Lanfear), to a cold collation, which had been most hospitably provided for the whole party. After a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Lanfear, proposed by the President, the party separated, and the very successful meeting of 1867 was concluded.

A List of Articles Exhibited

IN THE

TEMPORARY MUSEUM AT THE TOWN-HALL, HUNGERFORD, September 16th, 1867.

By DR. PALMER, Newbury;

Rubbings of Brasses of Aldbourne Church. Engravings of the tesselated pavement, discovered at Littlecote House. Roman unguentaria, vases, &c., from the Newbury Museum. A case with objects found in the turbary deposit of the Kennet, near Newbury. Also ancient keys, bridles, covers, &c. Bronze dagger found in a Cairn near Yattendon.

By the CORPORATION OF HUNGerfokd:

The letters patent of King Edward III., and King Henry IV., to the town of Hungerford, and the hock-tide court book, showing the entries made at the several courts since the year 1571.

By C. EYRE, Esq. :—

Roman pottery, &c., discovered at Welford.

By DR. THURNAM, F.S.A., Devizes :-
:-

Two ancient British drinking cups

By CAPTAIN PICKWICK:—

Roman iron bill, (presented to the Society).

By MRS. JOHN BROWN, Aldbourne ;—

An interesting collection of British remains, spear head, urns, &c.

By MR. CUNNINGTON, F.G.S., Devizes :

Fossil fish from the Oxford clay at Christian Malford, Wilts. Large British urn and drinking cup from barrow on Roundway Hill. Piece of ancient needlework. Specimens of lower green sand of Berks and Wilts, from Faringdon and Seend, showing the identity of the strata of the two localities. An interesting collection of minute fossils from the chalk of Wiltshire.

By the REV. E. WILTON:

The seal of the Vicar of Corsham, temp. Charles II., with Hebrew inscription

running thus:-"Jehovah is my confidence and my shield, and He shall overshadow me with the staff of knowledge."

Three photographs of an ancient British urn dug up in "Freeman's Marsh." By MR. HENRY SELFE, Marten :

Specimen's of pottery, stained glass, keys, &c., from the Chapel of St. Martin, Marten, Wilts.

By MR. THOMAS MUNDAY:

A specimen of Inkpen ware of 1758.

By G. S. WILLS, Esq., Hungerford Park:

A very handsome ebony and ivory chess-board, table, and men, bearing the Royal Arms and initials "C.R." on silver plates, presented by King Charles II., to an ancestor of the exhibitor.

Cornice stones and a plate of the ancient Chapel at Shalbourne, Wilts. By MR. R. H. BARKER, Hungerford :

A black letter Bible of 1578, with preface by Archbishop Cranmer. By MR. W. TITE, M.P. :

Dr. Stukeley's common place book, the autograph M.S. of this celebrated Antiquary, with original drawings, date. 1721.

A series of flint implements, showing the varieties of stone weapons, from the earliest periods down to very modern times, lent by the Society, Mr. W. Cunnington, Dr. Thurnam, Mr. S. B. Dixon, James Stevens, Esq., and the Rev. John Adams.

Cases of butterflies, moths and beetles, collected by Messrs H. Killick, F. Low, and H. Woodman.

Hungerford.

By W. L. BARKER, ESQ.

HE task of compiling an historical account of the town of Hungerford, is one which I cannot approach without considerable diffidence. To dive into the records of the past for the words and deeds of men, whose names once of great celebrity are now either unknown or forgotten, to invest the dry bones of history with a living reality, to liberate the truth from the obscurity in which the lapse of time has enshrined it, requires an effort on the part of him who is so bold as to make the attempt, to which I have hitherto been a stranger. Let me then crave your indulgence, if in the course of my remarks I fail to exhibit that spirit of scientific research, which should pervade the performances of those who venture on a flight so far beyond the scope of man's immediate vision.

I shall endeavour to relate the chief events connected with the History of Hungerford in chronological order, but I shall venture to sacrifice symmetrical arrangement, whenever it seems opposed to the lucid narration of facts.

Prior to the year 878, no authentic record of Hungerford has been discovered. Its history is lost in the depth of ages. At the date I have mentioned, in the month of May, Alfred the Great marched with his army from Brixton in Wiltshire to Aglea, a Hundred lying north of Edington, then called Ethandune, in this parish. At that spot he encamped for the night. (The two ancient Hundreds of Aeglea and Cheneteberie, are now united under the name of Kintbury Eagle, in which Hungerford is included.) On the following morning Alfred attacked the Danish army which lay at Edington and totally defeated them. The names of Daneford, now Denford, Ingleford, now Hungerford, and Inglewood on the opposite side of the Kennet, are said to form corroborative evidence of a battle in this locality.

Ethandune or Edington, was bequeathed with other estates in