310 . Enquiries concerning the

ames of the great Alfred, after having been fcattered about by the rude hands of convicts, are now probably covered by a build- ing erected for their confinement and punifhment. And when you are told that this occurred fo late as the year 1788, and that no one in the neighbourhood, led either by curiofity or veneration for his remains, attempted to difcover or refcue them from this ig- noble fate, your furprife will not, I think, be lefs than my own. To the account I fend you (in the hope, that fome one more converfant in antiquity, may make this a fubject of further in- quiry or illuftration) I have added a rough drawing, (PL XXIII) to which I mall make references, but muft forewarn you not to expect great accuracy, as the plan and meafurements are taken folely by {tcpping the ground in different directions, and without inftruments or chain. The foundations of Hyde Abbey church, for I am informed that little elfe remained of the ftructure, were fituated in the inclofure A, which is raifed two feet above the level of the valley. In the year 1787-8, this fmall field was purchafed by the county, and in it they erected the New Gaol or Bridewell. Mr. Page, the keeper of the Bridewell, who is a very intelligent, and apparently accurate man, and of much refpectability in his line of life, was the overfeer of the prifoners and other workmen there employed, during the whole time of the building of this gaol, the removing the ftones and rubbifh, and preparing the gar- den. He very obligingly attended me two mornings ; and from his repeated and uniform defcription, and the points he mewed me, I give you the following meafurements and account. He ftated that the infide of the church, which flood on fpringy ground, was eafily diftinguifhed by its being laid with ftrong beaten clay to the depth of nearly four feet, the whole forming an oblong fquare, enclofed by the foundations and rubbifti. At