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Article ARCHITECTURE AND ARCHÆOLOGY. ← Page 2 of 4 →
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Architecture And Archæology.
The company , at an early period after the establishment of . their manufacturing works at Swindon , placed a portion of iheir workshops at the disposal of the men for a Mechanics ' Institution . This was soon , by tho energy of the men , formed into a respectable reading-room , ancl a ball for balls , lectures , & c . The company , by increased requirements , were under the necessitj of recalling their grant , and gave
in lieu in perpetual lease , at a nominal rent , the present institution , together with some annual pecuniary assistance for tho iiiaintainance of the dinhig-hall and . the rest of the buildings . A new private company was formed , and substantial buildings erected , comprising a market , readingroom , book and coffee-rooms , council and dining-balls , & c . A large church , which contains . 800 sittings , has been
erected , in the decorated style . It is surmounted by a crocketed spire 140 feet high , and is one of the most perfect ¦ aucl beautiful modern ecclesiastical buildings in the country . . A piece of ground has been also laid out as a [ Jark . The members , after inspecting the railway works , met at -tbe Town Hall , about half-past one o ' clock , but the business did not commence until nearly two o ' clock . The building
had been fitted up as a museum , containing one of the richest collections of geological specimens which tho Society has yet brought together . Among the objects worthy of remark , were a valuable collection of specimens from the immediate neighbourhood of Swindon , contributed by the local secretary , Mr . Townsend ; an interesting series illustrating the geology of the district , a large collection of miscellaneous fossils , and specimens of Wiltshire mosses , sent by Mr . Morris ; and a case of very curious relics , belonging to
A . L . Goddard , Esq ., M . P ., which excited great interest . The case contained a curious bronze figure of "The Trusty Servant , " tbe original of which is in Winchester College kitchen ; a collection of British and continental medals ; coins of early English monarch s ; an ancient seal of the Goddard family , found at Sandhill Park , near Taunton ; a copper coin of the period of Sir Robert Walpolc , found on
the site of the late workhouse yard ; and . various other specimens which have , from time to time , been turned up from the bowels of the earth in the neighbourhood of Swindon . But , perhaps , the most remarkable case in the museum was one which contained a contribution sent by Mr . C . Moore , of Bath , consisting of an enormous number of specimens taken from three yards of triassic earth
square , in the neighbourhood of Erome . Amongst these were no less than -1-5 , 000 teeth of the acordus ; a number of mammalian teeth—the oldest known evidence of that order ; small fish jaws , less than a quarter of an inch long , one with 90 teeth in it ; various teeth of reptilia , amongst which were those of the placodas , and thousands of fragmentary . and other bones . A block of earth , from which the scries
was obtained , was also exhibited ; and , although so full of interest , to a common observer appeared nothing more than a mass of common dirt . These , with the specimens from tho Wiltshire collection of Mr . Cumiiiigton , and valuable collections belonging to Mr . Poulett Scropc , and other antiquarians , served as obiects of great interest to the members of the Society , and were regarded with intense curiosity by the ladies and gentlemen who congregated at the moefiiiP '
The Eight Hon . T . PI . SOTIIEIIOJT-ESICOUUT , M . P ., opened the proceedings , ancl said , tbe Society was formed in 1853 , at a meeting bold in Devizes , where we had the honour of the presence of tho Lord-Lieutenant of the count )'— a nobleman not more distinguished as a statesman than lie is known throughout Europe as a patron of the arts and a favourer of literature in every branch . ( Applause . ) AVc had there also
the pleasure of electing as President a worthy friend of mine , whose name can never bo mentioned but with respect , aud who is a man most suitable , above all others , to shed a halo over a rising society like this— - ! mean Mr . Scropc . ( Applause . ) We then held a meeting at Salisbury , where it is enough to say that the noble and perfect cathedral is alone sufficient to collect number of
any persons who care about what has passed in bygone days . After that we met at Warminster , and , amongst our excursions , wo took one to a church which may be said no longer to exist—I mean the church of Boyton , which has been so wonderfully improved by the judicious restoration
of my friend Mr . Fane . The following year we mot at Bradford , where Mr . Mateham was good enough to read a paper on Queen Dido , which has , doubtless , dwelt iu the recollection of every one who was present . We then rested for a year , and our next meeting was at Chippenham , where Mr . Mercwether was so good as to take the command of one of the excursions . He took his friends to Lacock ,
thence to bis own house , and thence to Bowood . At that meeting the Society bad the advantage of hearing a minute and detailed account of the antiquities of the place in which thev were assembled from the Rev . Canon Jackson . That
could not be otherwise , in common parlance , than a dry subject , but he gave it to us in such a form , and brought such minute details to bear upon it , as to render it highly interesting ; and all who heard him at the meeting will , I am sure , be rejoiced to know that we are in a few minutes about to be favoured with a similar account of the place in which the Society now meets . ( Cheers . ) The Right Hon .
gentleman then went on to say that the Society met last year at Marlborough . He was not present , but he knew that there was an admirable party formed to explore the beautiful forest of Lord Ailcsbury , and he believed that every one looked upon it as one of the pleasantest meetings that the Society had held . ( Hear , hear . ) Ancl now tkey were met this year at Swindon . Several persons had said
to him , ' ' What is there of antiquity that wc are to look at at Swindon ? Surely tho only merit of Swindon—the only reason why the committee have selected it , must be that the inhabitants of the town , headed by Mr . Goddard , have expressed their readiness to receive us in a kind and hospitable manner . " ( Cheers . ) That , no doubt , was a great consideration ; but there was still another , namely ,
that they had good and read } " access to tho town by means of the railroad . But it was said , what is there at Swindon to interest the antiquary ? K " ow those who looked at the programme of to-morrow and the following day , would bo at no loss to see that there was a groat deal to interest them in the neighbourhood of Swindon ; and with regard to Swindon itself , they would shortly hear from the Rev . Canon Jackson such an account as would fully justify the committee in the selection tbev line ! made . lint there was
yet another reason wh y he , at least , was glad the meeting was this year hold at Swindon , namely , that it was a part of the county with which , as yet , the Society had had no contact . Situated , as- it was , at the north-eastern part of the county—at a distance from those remarkable objects of antiquarian lore with which the name of Wiltshire was associated in all parts of the world—the Druidical temples
of Stonehenge and Avebury—ho was rejoiced that , for once , they were certain to escape from the Druids , and to fix their minds upon a nation and upon records of history of a later date , and with which , he confessed he felt a stronger sympathy than he did with tho ancient Britons . On [ lassing that morning through the - wonderful circle at Avebury—on looking at those wonderful stones at that wonderful mound
standing near—be said to himself , " My old friends , you have been known many a year , and , therefore , your day must bo put off : we arc going to look after the Saxons . You were erected by a people wo know not who , for a purpose wo know not what , and at a period wc know not when—you have been the peg upon which all kinds of disquisition , and every description of speculation have been safely hung ;
this very year there has appeared in one of our most known peiiodicals a jiapcr giving yon a Buddhist origin , and I dare say next year somebody else may find out some other source of your wonders . Therefore you must rest quiet ; and , having had your turn , must permit us , ou this occasion , to meet at Swindon and talk about the Saxons . " Here , then , they were assembled on the very borders of Alfred's
kingdom—the borders of Wessex—as near , at all events , as it was once safe to live , because the line of demarcation , ancl along which the great fights took place , "was not more than ten miles to the north of tho town . 'Passing from Bath , it ran a little along the Cotswold , it circled through Berkshire , and this spot being high and elevated in those days , it was probably well fortified . If , therefore , they cast their eyes northward , eastward , or westward , they would have the satisfaction , for once , of putting aside the Druids , and fixing their eyes upon a people with whom they must have a deep
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Architecture And Archæology.
The company , at an early period after the establishment of . their manufacturing works at Swindon , placed a portion of iheir workshops at the disposal of the men for a Mechanics ' Institution . This was soon , by tho energy of the men , formed into a respectable reading-room , ancl a ball for balls , lectures , & c . The company , by increased requirements , were under the necessitj of recalling their grant , and gave
in lieu in perpetual lease , at a nominal rent , the present institution , together with some annual pecuniary assistance for tho iiiaintainance of the dinhig-hall and . the rest of the buildings . A new private company was formed , and substantial buildings erected , comprising a market , readingroom , book and coffee-rooms , council and dining-balls , & c . A large church , which contains . 800 sittings , has been
erected , in the decorated style . It is surmounted by a crocketed spire 140 feet high , and is one of the most perfect ¦ aucl beautiful modern ecclesiastical buildings in the country . . A piece of ground has been also laid out as a [ Jark . The members , after inspecting the railway works , met at -tbe Town Hall , about half-past one o ' clock , but the business did not commence until nearly two o ' clock . The building
had been fitted up as a museum , containing one of the richest collections of geological specimens which tho Society has yet brought together . Among the objects worthy of remark , were a valuable collection of specimens from the immediate neighbourhood of Swindon , contributed by the local secretary , Mr . Townsend ; an interesting series illustrating the geology of the district , a large collection of miscellaneous fossils , and specimens of Wiltshire mosses , sent by Mr . Morris ; and a case of very curious relics , belonging to
A . L . Goddard , Esq ., M . P ., which excited great interest . The case contained a curious bronze figure of "The Trusty Servant , " tbe original of which is in Winchester College kitchen ; a collection of British and continental medals ; coins of early English monarch s ; an ancient seal of the Goddard family , found at Sandhill Park , near Taunton ; a copper coin of the period of Sir Robert Walpolc , found on
the site of the late workhouse yard ; and . various other specimens which have , from time to time , been turned up from the bowels of the earth in the neighbourhood of Swindon . But , perhaps , the most remarkable case in the museum was one which contained a contribution sent by Mr . C . Moore , of Bath , consisting of an enormous number of specimens taken from three yards of triassic earth
square , in the neighbourhood of Erome . Amongst these were no less than -1-5 , 000 teeth of the acordus ; a number of mammalian teeth—the oldest known evidence of that order ; small fish jaws , less than a quarter of an inch long , one with 90 teeth in it ; various teeth of reptilia , amongst which were those of the placodas , and thousands of fragmentary . and other bones . A block of earth , from which the scries
was obtained , was also exhibited ; and , although so full of interest , to a common observer appeared nothing more than a mass of common dirt . These , with the specimens from tho Wiltshire collection of Mr . Cumiiiigton , and valuable collections belonging to Mr . Poulett Scropc , and other antiquarians , served as obiects of great interest to the members of the Society , and were regarded with intense curiosity by the ladies and gentlemen who congregated at the moefiiiP '
The Eight Hon . T . PI . SOTIIEIIOJT-ESICOUUT , M . P ., opened the proceedings , ancl said , tbe Society was formed in 1853 , at a meeting bold in Devizes , where we had the honour of the presence of tho Lord-Lieutenant of the count )'— a nobleman not more distinguished as a statesman than lie is known throughout Europe as a patron of the arts and a favourer of literature in every branch . ( Applause . ) AVc had there also
the pleasure of electing as President a worthy friend of mine , whose name can never bo mentioned but with respect , aud who is a man most suitable , above all others , to shed a halo over a rising society like this— - ! mean Mr . Scropc . ( Applause . ) We then held a meeting at Salisbury , where it is enough to say that the noble and perfect cathedral is alone sufficient to collect number of
any persons who care about what has passed in bygone days . After that we met at Warminster , and , amongst our excursions , wo took one to a church which may be said no longer to exist—I mean the church of Boyton , which has been so wonderfully improved by the judicious restoration
of my friend Mr . Fane . The following year we mot at Bradford , where Mr . Mateham was good enough to read a paper on Queen Dido , which has , doubtless , dwelt iu the recollection of every one who was present . We then rested for a year , and our next meeting was at Chippenham , where Mr . Mercwether was so good as to take the command of one of the excursions . He took his friends to Lacock ,
thence to bis own house , and thence to Bowood . At that meeting the Society bad the advantage of hearing a minute and detailed account of the antiquities of the place in which thev were assembled from the Rev . Canon Jackson . That
could not be otherwise , in common parlance , than a dry subject , but he gave it to us in such a form , and brought such minute details to bear upon it , as to render it highly interesting ; and all who heard him at the meeting will , I am sure , be rejoiced to know that we are in a few minutes about to be favoured with a similar account of the place in which the Society now meets . ( Cheers . ) The Right Hon .
gentleman then went on to say that the Society met last year at Marlborough . He was not present , but he knew that there was an admirable party formed to explore the beautiful forest of Lord Ailcsbury , and he believed that every one looked upon it as one of the pleasantest meetings that the Society had held . ( Hear , hear . ) Ancl now tkey were met this year at Swindon . Several persons had said
to him , ' ' What is there of antiquity that wc are to look at at Swindon ? Surely tho only merit of Swindon—the only reason why the committee have selected it , must be that the inhabitants of the town , headed by Mr . Goddard , have expressed their readiness to receive us in a kind and hospitable manner . " ( Cheers . ) That , no doubt , was a great consideration ; but there was still another , namely ,
that they had good and read } " access to tho town by means of the railroad . But it was said , what is there at Swindon to interest the antiquary ? K " ow those who looked at the programme of to-morrow and the following day , would bo at no loss to see that there was a groat deal to interest them in the neighbourhood of Swindon ; and with regard to Swindon itself , they would shortly hear from the Rev . Canon Jackson such an account as would fully justify the committee in the selection tbev line ! made . lint there was
yet another reason wh y he , at least , was glad the meeting was this year hold at Swindon , namely , that it was a part of the county with which , as yet , the Society had had no contact . Situated , as- it was , at the north-eastern part of the county—at a distance from those remarkable objects of antiquarian lore with which the name of Wiltshire was associated in all parts of the world—the Druidical temples
of Stonehenge and Avebury—ho was rejoiced that , for once , they were certain to escape from the Druids , and to fix their minds upon a nation and upon records of history of a later date , and with which , he confessed he felt a stronger sympathy than he did with tho ancient Britons . On [ lassing that morning through the - wonderful circle at Avebury—on looking at those wonderful stones at that wonderful mound
standing near—be said to himself , " My old friends , you have been known many a year , and , therefore , your day must bo put off : we arc going to look after the Saxons . You were erected by a people wo know not who , for a purpose wo know not what , and at a period wc know not when—you have been the peg upon which all kinds of disquisition , and every description of speculation have been safely hung ;
this very year there has appeared in one of our most known peiiodicals a jiapcr giving yon a Buddhist origin , and I dare say next year somebody else may find out some other source of your wonders . Therefore you must rest quiet ; and , having had your turn , must permit us , ou this occasion , to meet at Swindon and talk about the Saxons . " Here , then , they were assembled on the very borders of Alfred's
kingdom—the borders of Wessex—as near , at all events , as it was once safe to live , because the line of demarcation , ancl along which the great fights took place , "was not more than ten miles to the north of tho town . 'Passing from Bath , it ran a little along the Cotswold , it circled through Berkshire , and this spot being high and elevated in those days , it was probably well fortified . If , therefore , they cast their eyes northward , eastward , or westward , they would have the satisfaction , for once , of putting aside the Druids , and fixing their eyes upon a people with whom they must have a deep