genuine Roman camp inside an older trench.  Large quantities of pottery and coins belonging to the Roman period have been found here and are stored in various collections.  The way is now picturesquely beautiful as it goes by Steepleton Iwerne, that has a little church lost behind the only house in the hamlet, and Iwerne Courtenay.  The last-named village is off the main road to the left, but a by-path can be taken which leads through it.  The poorly designed Perpendicular church (with a Decorated tower) was erected, or rather rebuilt, as late as 1641.  The building is famous as the prison for those guerilla fighters of the Civil War called “Clubmen,” who consisted mostly of better class farmers and yeomanry.  They had assembled on Hambledon Hill, the great entrenched eminence to the west of the village, and seem to have been officered by the country clergy.  At least they appear to have greatly chagrined Cromwell, although he spoke of them in a very disparaging way, and deprecated their fighting qualities.  Iwerne Minster, the next village on the road, possesses a very fine cruciform church of dates varying from Norman to Perpendicular, though the main structure is in the later style.  The stone spire is rare for Dorset.  Iwerne Minster House is a modern mansion in a very beautiful park and is the residence of one of the Ismays of steamship fame.  Sutton Waldron has a modern church, but Fontmell Magna, two miles from Iwerne Minster, will profitably detain the traveller.  Here is an actual village maypole, restored of course, and a beautiful Perpendicular church, also restored, but unspoilt.  The lofty tower forms an exquisite picture with the mellow roofs of the village, the masses of foliage, and the surrounding hills.  The fine east window is modern and was presented by Lord Wolverton, a one-time Liberal Whip, who was a predecessor of the Ismays at Iwerne Minster House.  The west window is to his memory.  Compton Abbas, a mile farther, has a rebuilt church.  The charm of the situation, between Elbury Hill and Fontmell Down, will be appreciated as the traveller climbs up the slope beyond the village toward Melbury Down (863 feet), another fine view-point.  As the road descends to the head waters of the Stour, glimpses of the old town on St. John’s Hill are occasionally obtained on the left front and, after another stiff climb, we join the Salisbury road half a mile short of High Street.

Shaftesbury is not only Shaston to Mr. Hardy, but to the natives also, and, as will be seen presently, it had at least two other names in the distant past.  It is one of the most romantically placed inland towns in England and would bear comparison with Bridgenorth, were it not that the absence of a broad river flowing round the base of the hill entirely alters the character of the situation.  According to Geoffrey of Monmouth it was founded by Hudibras, son of the builder of Caerleon, and was called Mount Paladur (Palladour).  It was without doubt a Roman town, as the foundations