CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY......Part IX SECOND DAY’S EXCURSION. SOCKBRIDGE HALL. Passing through Eamont, an arrival at Sockbridge Hall was soon effected. This very curious old edifice is situated off the highway behind some splendid timber. A paper on its history was read by DR. TAYLOR, and from this it appeared that it belonged originally to the LANCASTRE family, which failing heirs male, it passed by marriage into the possession of the LOWTHERs in the reign of JAMES I. It had never been adapted for defence, and there was nothing exceptional in its architecture, except as illustrating the mode in which families of consequence lived in those times. A chapel, the entrance to which was from the hall, and which is now used as a dairy, had evidently been added by the last generations of the LANCASTREs. The tower had been taken down about fifty years ago. After the reading of the paper, a close inspection of the house and some old panelling and carved oak chests was made. The sleeping chambers are small and low, and in the panelling of most of them there was a kind of railing at the top, which, remarked DR. TAYLOR, if it did not conduce to privacy at least was good for ventilation of such sleeping boxes. There was some good carved and moulded panelling to be seen in the outbuildings, though the members regretted to see that some of it had been used for mending purposes. ASCHAM HALL. The next stage was to Ascham Hall, the residence of the VEN. ARCHDEACON JACKSON, who is at present residing in Oxford. The site had evidently been chosen as a good defensive position, and now presented in its parts two characteristic structures, – the early or defensive portion, and the later or domestic portion. The tower, the walls of which are about six feet thick, was built probably at the end of the fifteenth century, when the character of the place as a fortress was subordinated to the requirements of domestic convenience. It was an advance on the rude and simple plans of the border towers. The other alterations would be made in the time of CHARLES II, when there was a great passion for altering old houses. The interior of the house, the antique furniture, and the antiquities of the courtyard presented subjects for a lengthened and very interesting investigation. The drawing-room chimney-piece, of carved oak, with inlaid panels, evidently very old, provoked various conjectures; while outside a carved coat-of-arms of the SANDFORD family attracted most attention. A vote of thanks was passed to DR. JACKSON for having so kindly thrown open the house to the Society. AN ENCAMPMENT. Bampton was to have been the next place on which to call, but on the road a detour was made in order that the site of an encampment in a field at the Settra Park Farm might be examined. By this time the rain had ceased, and though the walk was through wet grass, it was very pleasant. The high authorities of the Society disagreed as to the use to which this site had formerly been put. PROFESSOR HARKNESS was of opinion,, and so were some others, that it had been a Roman encampment of a temporary character, inasmuch as there were no evidences of any preparation for defence; while DR. SIMPSON and others were of a different opinion, though not giving expression to any definite conjectures. BAMPTON. >From this, the drive was to Bampton, past Haweswater, of which a glimpse was obtainable, and through one of the prettiest districts in the sister counties. On every side were fertile pastures, and picturesque moors, backed by well-wooded hills and mountains, rendered still more effective by the breaks and passes in them. At Bampton the most interesting feature to the now hungry excursionists was a scrambling lunch of “cakes and ale”. After a glance at the old church and an object or two of some interest, the conveyances were again in requisition. SHAP ABBEY. This was the last place set down on the programme to be favoured with a visit. It was described by DR. SIMPSON, who, after refuting mistakes made as to its history, showed that the Abbey was the possession in 1199 of the Order of White Canons, and so remained for many years. He described its style of architecture, and gave a general outline of its history. Afterwards a return was made to Penrith in order to catch the evening trains, and the first excursion of the season of this Society terminated. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~