on everyone of the party. The castle is an early specimen of the revival of brick-building, and is said to have been built about 400 years ago by an officer of the court of Henry VI. The interior was dismantled in 1777; the ruins, however, indicate its former greatness. The south front 500 feet long, and the sides 214 feet. Several towers are in a good state of preservation, as well as the remains of a port-cullis. The ruins will amply repay a special visit on any occasion when the visitants can promise themselves anything like a favourable day. The church close by is also worthy of inspection.
On the return to Pevensey Castle, the members of the society were to have been conducted over these splendid ruins by Mr. A. Lower, Esq. who, by his previous researches in the building was well qualified to act as cicerone. Here again the rain prevented the carrying out of this arrangement, and very few, indeed, were found willing to make the circuit of the walls. The area enclosed is about seven acres, and the buildings show clear tracings of two classes of buildings – the Roman fortress and the mediaeval castle. In some places the walls are 30ft. high. Several circular towers still remain; the most northern (supposed to have been the watch tower) commands an extensive view, and forms the most picturesque portion of the outer works.
The next item of the programme was the dinner, which took place under the friendly shelter of a large tent supplied by Mr. Edgington, of London, and neatly decorated for the occasion. The cusine(sic) arrangements were made by Mr. Geer of Southover, and Mr. Payne, of the Bopeep hotel St. Leonards, and were of such a character as to give general satisfaction. Arrangements were made for about 450 persons, but this number was at least deficient to the extent of a third. The Right Rev. Dr. Gilbert, the Bishop of the Diocese presided. The Ven. Archdeacon Otter proposed the toast of the “Success to the Archaeological Society”. This was followed by “The Health of the hon. sec; Mr. Blencowe and the Committee”, proposed by W. D. Lucas-Shadwell, Esq. of Fairlight and Hastings. Mr. Blencowe, in responding, said it had been arranged that no papers were to be read at that meeting, and conclued(sic) by proposing a number of ladies and gentlemen as new members, among whom was F. W. Staines, Esq. of St. Leonards. The next toast was “The Health of C. R. Smith and M. A. Lower Esqs”, by whose exertions, in 1852, the Roman and other remains in that noble castle were explored and beneficially opened to the world. In acknowledging the toast, Mr. Lower stated that the society had been inaugurated within those walls in July, 1846, but both then and on the intervening occasion the god of rain had been unpropitious. A number of other toasts followed, and the meeting was closed in time to allow the company to return -
