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48<br />

the last siege of the city, when many valuable documents<br />

were destroyed. At the bottom of the same street, close to<br />

the river, is another bastion, called St. Mary's Tower, where<br />

were outworks or guard-posts of observation. Having com-<br />

;pleted our survey of the walls, we will now visit The Museum.<br />

THE<br />

MUSEUM.<br />

MUSEUM GARDENS, EUINS OF ST. MARY'S ABBEY,<br />

ST. LEONARD'S HOSPITAL,<br />

MULTANGULAR TOWER, MUSEUM, AND<br />

HOSPITIUM.<br />

The above are situate on a plot of ground extending from<br />

Esplanade to the<br />

Museum Street to Marygate, and from the<br />

back of the School for the Blind, the entrance being in<br />

Museum Street. On passing through the gate and turning<br />

to the right, we enter the ruins of<br />

ST.<br />

LEONARD'S HOSPITAL,<br />

said to have been founded in 936 by Athelstane for the<br />

relief of sick and indigent poor. All that remains of this<br />

once large and wealthy establishment is the entrance passage<br />

leading to the ambulatory or covered cloisters of transition<br />

Norman^ at the east end of which is a small room. Above is<br />

the chapel, of Early English^ and the infirmary, so arranged<br />

as to give the sick the benefit and consolation of hearing<br />

divine service. Many privileges were granted by William<br />

the Conqueror, William Rufus, Henry I., and King Stephen.<br />

In the middle ages its revenues were enormous, but its former<br />

prosperity had sadly diminished at the time of the dissolution<br />

by Henry VIII. A few paces further on is the<br />

MULTANGULAR TOWER,<br />

with ten sides, forming nine obtuse angles, hence its name.<br />

It is undoubtedly Roman work, as is proved by inscriptions<br />

on stones discovered near the foundation. A few feet above<br />

the ground five rows of Roman tiles are built into the wall,<br />

the upper part being of mediseval date, and is of great<br />

interest to the antiquary. Both here and in the Hospital of<br />

St. Leonard's are a number of stone coffins. Passing the<br />

Curator's residence, we arrive at the

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