Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/465

 TTIR ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. 369 numerous objects of curiosity therein arranged were thus displayed with very pleasing effect. Friday, August 27. This day was devoted to an excursion, by the kind invitation of the noble patron of the Meeting, to Alnwick Castle, and the interesting sites on the picturesque banks of the Coquet and the Aln, localities associated with so many stirring recollections of olden time. At nine o'clock a special train quitted Newcastle with a numerous party ; and, time unfortunately not sufficing for a visit to Morpeth, its church and castle, the first object attained was Wark worth Castle, and the curious Hermitage formed in the roc-k, on the margin of the river Coquet. It is probably the best preserved example, now existing, of those numerous oratories in secluded spots, formerly viewed with singular veneration. The position, and the architectural features of Warkworth, render it one of the most interesting of the castellated dwell- ings of the period ; more especially in the internal arrangements of the fine keep tower, highly curious as illustrative of the domestic life in the baronial household of the fifteenth century. The present decay of these build- ings is owing to the removal of the roof in 1672. Extensive excavations had been made in the great court-yard, by direction of the Duke of North- umberland, and the visitors were thus enabled to trace the plan and arrange- ment of several portions of the more ancient buildings, previously concealed by rubbish. In the course of these recent researches, also, the foundations of massive piers and ground-plan of a large church were opened to view, south of the keep-tower, being the vestiges of a collegiate church, intended to have been there founded, in the reign of Edward VI., and of which all trace had been lost. From Warkworth the party proceeded to Alnwick, and reached the castle shortly after one o'clock. After a most gracious reception from the Duke and Duchess, a numerous assemblage of the guests, under the guidance of the Rev. C. Hartshorne, proceeded to examine the more ancient portions of the castle, and the towers in its precinct ; the evidences of different styles and periods being pointed out by that gentleman, who gave an interesting sketch of the fortunes of this noble fortress, under the various times of its possessors, from the times of Harold. Here also the visitors were attracted by other objects, independently of the peculiarities of con- struction and architectural details, in the examination of the valuable Egyptian Collection, formed by the Duke of Northumberland, during his travels in Egypt, and accurately arranged by the care of Sir Gardner Wilkin- son in one of the external towers. In another tower also, the Archaeologists had the further gratification of inspecting a Museum, recently formed by his Grace, and devoted to antiquities discovered in the British Islands. Here have already been deposited Roman inscribed monuments, with various relics found upon the Duke's estates in the North, especially some curious Northumbrian urns, wholly distinct in their character from those found in tumuli in the South : also, amongst other interesting relics, the British and Romano-British antiquities, collected in Sussex, by the late Mr. Dixon, of Worthing; and a large assemblage of Irish antiquities of all periods, being a collection formed chiefly in the county Sligo, by Mr. Chambers Walker, and presenting, probably, the most extensive series of the antiquities of Ireland, now to be found in this country. One relic, connected with the annals of VOL. IX. 3 c