THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
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enlarged in 1834, Mrs. S. Hatton gave by far the largest subscription, amounting
to £110. A pretty view of the old church, as it appeared in 1833, is given in Palin's
"Stifford and its Neighbourhood.''
An estate in this parish was settled by Thomas White, D.D., the munificent
founder of Sion College, as an endowment of the Professorship of Moral Philosophy,
founded by him in Oxford in 1621.
After thanking Mr. Poole for his kindness the party re-ascended the lane to the
top of the hill, where the new church, built 1877 of Kentish rag-stone and
dressed flints, was passed on the way to the "Crown" inn, where the usual
"high tea" was served. After tea an adjournment to the garden of the inn took
place, where, at a spot commanding extensive views to the north and east in clear
weather, a meeting was held, and on the proposal of Mr. Fitch, as President of
the Essex Field Club, and Mr. F. W. Rudler, as president of the Geologists'
Association, a vote of thanks was heartily given to Mr. Whitaker for his exertions
as geological guide. In replying, Mr. Whitaker, at the request of many members,
gave some account of the geological conditions necessary to ensure success in the
boring of deep wells, such as that at the railway station, and the party descended
the northern slope of the hill to catch the London train.
[It should be stated that the greater part of the above report was kindly
furnished by Mr. Holmes, and the Editor has also to thank Mr. Crouch for some
notes. We were indebted to the Manager of the London, Tilbury and Southend
Railway Company for concessions, most useful in arranging this large and
successful meeting.—Ed.]
Upminster Hall, June 30th, 1888. From a Drawing by H. A. Cole.
Field Meeting at Upminster, Saturday, 30th June, 1888.
A pleasant excursion to this rural village was made by about seventy members,
under the leadership of Mr. Walter Crouch, F.Z.S., one of the vice-presidents,
when, favoured by sunshine, the chief points of interest were visited, before
proceeding to Upminster Hall, to which a kind invitation had been issued by Mr.
and Mrs. G. P. Hope.
The first place visited was the church, where the party was received by the