THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
237
At a crossing near to Hazeleigh all alighted, and Mr. Fitch made a graceful
acknowledgment of the great kindness received from Mr. Middleton, as in
addition to the fittings, trucks, and engine, for the journey itself, much of
the work along the portion of the line traversed had to be stopped during
the progress of this "first passenger train," and he also thanked Mr. Forbes
for his courtesy and willingness to oblige. The vote was seconded by Mr.
T. V. Holmes and carried amid cheers. Mr. Forbes having replied, a move-
ment was made towards the Moated Manor House of Hazeleigh Hall,
once the home of the Essex family of the Alleynes, one of whom, Edward
Alleyne, the celebrated actor and "Master of the King's Bears," having re-
tired from the stage in 1612, founded the "College of God's Gift" at Dulwich.
This house, with the farm and woodland connected with it, is one of Mr.
Fitch's holdings, and here the large party was most kindly received by Mrs.
Fitch, who had driven over from Maldon, on hospitable thoughts intent, and
under whose direction the tables in the quaint old building had been loaded
with a most bountiful and refreshing afternoon tea, and refections of all kinds,
for those who had travelled long distances to be present at the meeting.
Closely adjoining the Hall, there stands :—
" * * * * a little Church beside a wood,
Securely sheltered from the sweeping blast;
So quiet, so secure, it seems to be
A very type of rest and all that's still." 6
It is the tiny church of St. Nicholas, built of timber and plaster, like the
country-side cottages ; so modest in appearance that it has been called "The
meanest Church in Essex," and yet having a quaint simplicity that seems
appropriate to its place beside what may have been an old Saxon homestead,
once "held by Ailmar, a free man, in the time of King Edward," before the
writing of the Domesday. There is a nave and chancel, and a small turret at
the west end, with one poor bell. Inside—
" 'Tis plain and simple—here no tracery
Stretches across the windows—no fair form
Of Saint, or Martyr or the Holy Cross,
Gleams in the sunlight,"
And almost the only noteworthy feature is the sixteenth century iron hour-
glass stand, fixed near the pulpit—a relic of the times when the preacher
regulated his discourses by the passage of the sand through the glass, and
perhaps drew many a moral, "fifthly and sixthly," from the sight of the falling
grains slowly but relentlessly marking the flight of time.7 Mr. Fitch exhibited
the Registers, containing the arms of "Gyles Aleyne, gentileman," fully
emblazoned; the records of burials dating from 1584; the weddings from 1589;
and the christenings from 1590.
Before plunging into the wood, Prof. Boulger and Mr. Letchford asked the
party to return their thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Fitch, and the heartiness with
which the response was made denoted the company's due feelings of gratitude,
and a lively sense of favours to come; for the pleasures of the meeting had only
just commenced, and there was all the morrow to look forward to !
6 From "Recollections of Hazeleigh Church," in a small volume entitled "Poems by a
Country Curate, H.R.W.," written by the Rev. H. R. Wadmore, who was curate here,
1848-1850. This poem was read by Mr. Fitch at the Church gate.
7 So far as we know, there are only two other examples of these stands now existing in
Churches in Essex—one in Ingatestone Church, and the other in that of South Ockenden. Both
are figured in Buckler's "Churches of Essex."