THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
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Dr. Laver and Mr. Mitchell called special attention to the curious structural details
of the tower, and to the ornamental designs in terra-cotta, which was plentifully
used in the building, and which affords one of the earliest examples of the influence
of the Italian Renaissance on architecture in England. The brickwork is of a deep
red colour diapered with diagonal patterns in blue vitrified bricks. Mr. Mitchell was
of opinion that the bricks were made on the spot, as the soil is heavy and clay
abundant, and in a field to the south-west of the tower there is a hollow which
has all the appearance of an ancient brickfield. But two of the beautiful carved
brick chimneys now remain ; many were standing in 1884, but were shaken down
by the earthquake on the 22nd April of that year. The towers suffered a great
deal in other ways, many of the roofs being injured, and some old fissures in the
walls, previously scarcely noticeable, became at once alarmingly apparent.
By the kindness of the Rector, the Rev. H. J. Boys, and under his superinten-
dence,a visit was then made to Layer Marney Church, dedicated to the Virgin
Mary, which closely adjoins the Tower. The greater portion of the building
appears to be of the same date as the Hall, having probably been rebuilt or greatly
enlarged by the Marneys early in the 16th century. The fine rood-screen, the
alabaster tomb of Sir William Marney (1414), and the very beautiful terra-cotta
base and canopy of the tomb of Lord Marney, with its Purbeck marble effigy, all
bear witness to the former importance of the church. There can be little doubt
but that this latter elaborate tomb was the work of the same hand that modelled
the ornamental parts of the grand gateway to the Hall. The roof of the aisle
was anciently covered with lead, but the metal was sold by the church-wardens
during the civil wars to make bullets. In the church is a Latin memorial to
Nicolas Corsellis, one of the later owners of the lands thereabouts, in which there
is an assertion that one "Corsellis, an Hollander (at the royal request and induced
thereto by encouragement), taught the English the admirable art of printing. In
the mercantile way he was noted to the farthest Indies. He is now an inhabitant
of heaven. His virtue and fame still live," But the story appears to rest upon
the slender foundation of a statement by Richard Atkyns in his work on printing,
published in 1664, which can hardly be considered authoritative.
A hearty vote of thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Maclean for their hospitable reception
of the meeting was proposed by the President, Mr. Fitch, and warmly seconded
by Dr. Laver, who expressed his great gratification in finding that this grand old
place, which he remembered well since he was a boy as a scene of utter neglect,
had at last come into the possession of one who understood its value, and took
such care in its preservation. Mr. Maclean expressed in a few words the pleasure
it had given him and Mrs. Maclean to welcome the Club, and added that, although
the great and costly work of restoring the Tower substantially was one he could
not himself undertake, he might assure those interested that during his occupancy
it should not become worse, but rather better, than he found it.
Quitting this antique retreat, the carriages were again entered, and the horses,
heads turned north-ward to Copford, where, under the kindly guidance of the Rev
B. Ruck-Keene, the very curious little church was visited. In some respects the
church is one of the most remarkable in the county. The walls of the nave are
of very great thickness, with Roman tiles built into them ; this portion is usually
considered to be of Norman age, but some have not hesitated to assign to it an
earlier date, and even call it the remains of a Roman basilica. The chancel has
a remarkable apsidal termination, with massive Norman buttresses, and Norman
windows. About 1690 the church was repaired, and upon scraping the walls as
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