practicalguideto00unse_0

51
assemblage of fossils from the chalk, greensand, Gault,
Neocomian and Wealden. Many of the siiicified forms are
shown in beautifully polished sections. 8. A very large and
valuable series of Jurassic forms. 9. All the British Palaeozoic
formations are well represented, especially the, carboniferous
limestone of Yorkshire in the neighbourhood of Settle, of
whose fossils there is a fine collection (upwards of two
hundred species). An invaluable feature from a scientific
point of view in Mr. Eeed's collection is the great care which
has been taken to indicate the exact locality from which the
several specimens have been obtained, so that thorough
reliance may be placed in them as geological data."
There is also a large collection of Yorkshire fossils
found in Elirkdale Cave— the gigantic fossil Irish elk, the
"Rudston" collection of British birds, numerous Roman,
Saxon, and other coins, an old mortar (1308), once belonging
to the adjoining abbey, &c., &c., full catalogue of which may
be obtained at the lodge.
On the plot of ground occupied by this building, the residence
of the Lords President of the North was erected in
Henry VIII. 's time.
At the further end of the grounds are the picturesque
ruins of
ST.
MARY'S ABBEY,
in a good state of preservation, though only small in extent.
It was a Benedictine monastery, founded in 1078 by
Stephen, a monk from Whitby, who having obtained,
through the patronage of Alan, Earl of Richmond, the
Church of St. Olave, with four acres of land, built thereon
the Abbey of St. Mary's, which was partially destroyed by
fire in the reign of King Stephen. In 1270, the building,
of which the present ruins are the remains, was commenced,
and completed in twenty-four years. The Mitred Abbot
was one of the great dignitaries of the land, had a seat in
Parliament, which entitled him to be addressed as My
Lord," possessed several country houses, and a residence in
London. His retinue when he travelled was always exceedingly
numerous. At the dissolution this abbey was taken
possession of by the Crown, condemned as useless, and was
partially pulled down to furnish materials for the building