distance; and the existence of these stones probably gave rise to the tradition. On examining the brow of the hill above Kit's Cotty House, about three weeks ago, I found that it was covered with groups of these large stones lying on the sides of the ground in such a manner as to leave little doubt that they are the coverings of or the entrances to sepulchral chambers. Each group is generally surrounded by a small circle of stones. On Friday, Aug. 23, I took some men to this spot, and began to excavate, but was hindered by local circumstances of a merely temporary nature. I then proceeded further on the top of the hill, and found a few single stones lying flat on the ground just within the limits of Aylesford common. Under one of these I began to excavate, and found that it was laid across what was apparently the mouth of a round pit cut in the chalk, and filled up with flints. Some of the cottagers on the top of the hill informed me that these pits were frequently found on that hill, and that generally they had one or two of the large stones at the mouth. When a new road was made a few years ago, the labourers partly emptied some of these pits for the sake of the flints, and I was shewn one emptied to a depth of about ten feet, which had been discontinued on account of the labour of throwing the flints up. Comparing these pits with the one on the opposite hill at Ryarsh, which has at some remote period been completely emptied, I am inclined to think that they have all chambers at the bottom, and to suspect that those chambers are of a sepulchral character. Perhaps after the remains of the dead had been deposited in the chamber, the entrance-pit was filled up, and a stone placed over the mouth to mark the spot. In the middle of a field below Kit's Cotty House is a very large group of colossal stones, which the peasantry call The Countless Stones, believing that no one can count them correctly."
Mr. Wright having represented to the Committee the importance of making some further researches into the monuments above described, for the purpose of ascertaining the objects for which they were originally designed, and having stated that the requisite permission had been obtained for digging, a grant of 5l. was voted for the expenses of excavating, to be applied under his directions.
Mr. Wright then added,—"A little below the single stone, under which we had been digging, in a sheltered nook of the hill, I accidentally discovered extensive traces of Roman buildings, which deserve to be further examined. The spot is only a few hundred yards to the south of that on which Mr. Charles, of Maidstone, lately discovered a Roman burial-ground. The cottagers who live on the hill tell me that they find coins and pottery over a large extent of surface round this spot, which is covered with low brushwood, and has never been disturbed by the plough. I uncovered a few square yards of a floor of large bricks, which had evidently been broken up, and were mixed with what appeared to be roof-tiles, with others which appeared like cornice-mouldings. They were literally covered with broken pottery of every description, among which were several fragments of fine Samian ware, mixed with a few human bones, some small nails, and traces of burnt wood, which seems to indicate that the buildings have been destroyed in the invasions of the barbarians which followed the retreat of the Romans from the island. The floor lay at a depth of from a foot to a foot and a-half below the surface, and was only two or three inches above the surface of the chalk."
The following letter, addressed by the Rev. W. Dyke to Mr. Albert Way, at one of the earlier meetings of the Committee, has been delayed insertion in the Minutes by accidental circumstances:—
"Cradley, May 10, 1844.
"My Dear Sir,—Of the two preceptories possessed by the Knights Templars in the county of Hereford, the remains are very scanty. The name of Temple-Court
