THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
147
are two names that will ever be remembered in connection with Romford'—
Francis Quarles, the poet, born at "Stewards," near Romford, in 1592, and
Humphrey Repton, landscape gardener.
Mr. Crouch read short memoirs of both these worthies; that of Humphrey
Repton will probably be printed in a future number of the Essex Naturalist.
The President, in moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Crouch, and to those who
had assisted in making the meeting a success, took occasion to refer to the
geological characters of the site of the royal palace of Havering. It had been
suggested that the spot was chosen as being in the heart of the Essex forests,
which abounded with game, and because it was a scene of great natural beauty.
The first-mentioned quality was no doubt an important one in the eyes of the early
kings, but it was one that attached to many other parts of the district. As to
natural beauties and extensive scenery he thought the Saxons and Normans cared
for none of these things; but they could and did appreciate the advantages of
good drainage and a plentiful supply of water. It would be seen from a glance
at the geological map of Havering that the site of the palace was on a little oasis
of pebble beds and pebble gravel, in the desert of London clay, and just on the
borders of the fertile Chalky Boulder Clay. On these pebble beds good drainage
and spring water could no doubt be had, and the early royal settlers knew this
and acted on their knowledge. They had freedom of settlement in those primitive
days—"the earth was all before them where to choose their place of rest"—and
the strongest took the best positions.
An adjournment was then made to the Church of St. Edward the Confessor,
where the party was received by the Rev. G. E. Hitchcock, in the unavoidable
absence of the Vicar, Canon Hitchcock. Under Mr. Crouch's guidance the many
interesting monuments in the church were inspected, and in the course of an
address on the history of the town and church of Romford, Mr. Crouch said :
"The stream called the River Rom rises in the valley between Havering and
Navestock, where it is called the Bourne Brook, and passes through Collier Row,
by Easthouse, and through the town at the brewery to Old Church, and thence by
Dagenham to the Thames. It was in old days known as the Mercke-dych, pro-
bably from its running through the Manor of Marks, and the name remains in
Dagenham, where the river runs past Mardyke Farm and Little Mardyke.
There can be little doubt that Dr. Stukeley was correct in identifying Romford,
of its immediate neighbourhood, with the Roman station Durolitum, and the site
of it was doubtless about half a mile south of the town at Old Church, where we
find, from a map dated 1696,2 certain fields described as "Ruin Meadow,"
"Great Ruings," "Lower Ruings," and "Three Little Ruings."
At this place, in Ruin Meadow by the (Rom) ford, was built in 1323 the Chapel
of St. Andrew, for the use of the people of Romford, whose parish church was
far away at Hornchurch ; but as the town spread and grew rapidly in size and im-
portance, probably from its proximity to the Royal demesne, a grant was obtained
in 1406 to build a new Chapel of larger size in the town on the present site, and
this was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St. Edward Confessor. It consisted of
a nave, chancel and north aisle with square embattled west tower, containing a
peal of eight bells.
This Church stood for 443 years, and was pulled down in 1849, and the present
larger and handsome structure was built, chiefly through the exertions of Arch-
deacon Grant, the then Vicar. A portion of the old materials were utilized, and
the important monuments carefully preserved. Many of the old tombs and inscrip-
tions described in the Visitation of Essex (1634), and "Weever's Ancient Monu-
ments" (1631), had disappeared long before; amongst them the altar-tomb, with
2 Now in possession of E. J. Sage, Esq., and copy of which was exhibited by Mr. W. Crouch.