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THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
Field Meeting at Ingatestone, in the Writtle and Blackmore High
Woods, and at Writtle Park, Saturday, May 11th, 1889.
On this occasion, the almost proverbial good fortune which the Field Club has
hitherto shared with Her Most Gracious Majesty of choosing fine days for any
special assembly, deserted it, and the meteoric conditions of the day were those of
continuous downfall of heavy rain. But in spite of the weather, about 50 or 60
members assembled at Ingatestone by mid-day, and many others joined at Writtle
Park, making in all about 80, thus establishing a record for a wet-day excursion.
And so courageous were leaders and followers, that the programme was carried out
almost in its entirety !
The first party of members reached Ingatestone about 10 o'clock, and Mr. E.
A. Fitch (in the absence of Mr. Walter Crouch, who was unable to attend through
illness) led the way to the church, the massive tower—a noble piece of brick-work
of the 15th century—attracting much interest. Mr. Buckler describes it as a
"remarkable specimen of bold detail and fine proportions ; showing what may be
accomplished with common bricks, of which upwards of half-a-million were con-
sumed in its erection." The church itself is fully described in Buckler's "Twenty-
two of the Churches of Essex," where the tower is figured, and also the hour-glass
stand, an interesting relic of the days of voluble Puritan preachers and hour-long
sermons. Only three others are known to exist in Essex—at South Ockenden, High
Laver, and Hazeleigh (the latter is figured in Essex Naturalist, vol. ii, p. 29).1
The church has lately been much restored, during which operation a very curious
fresco was discovered on the north side of the nave. It represented the seven
deadly sins, in the form of a wheel of seven compartments, each occupied by a
picture. "The subject was a favourite one with the mediaeval painters, but was
generally shown as a tree with seven branches. Only one other example in the
form of a wheel is known, at Arundel, in Sussex." Most unaccountably this
interesting mural painting has been plastered over again in the "agony of restora-
tion !" An ascent was made to the top of the grand old tower, from whence, in
clear weather, fine views may be had ; but the steady "drizzle" sadly marred the
prospect. [Mr, Crouch had prepared an account of the church, and the interest-
ing monuments, but he was unable to be present, much to the general regret.
The party then walked from the church to the Hall, through the avenue of lime
trees, which were bright and fresh in their spring verdure. The Hall was
originally erected in the 15th century, but was probably much altered later, and
was originally a grange, or summer residence, belonging to the Abbey of Barking.
It early came into possession of the Petre family, and continued to be occupied as
their seat until the middle of the last century, but is now the residence of several
Roman Catholic families. It is one of the few magnificent mansions of the olden
time left in Essex, but it would occupy too much space to attempt any detailed
description (for which our readers are referred to Buckler's book, above quoted,
pp. 112—130), and we must content ourselves with culling a "bit" from the
1 One of the earliest references to these hour-glasses in churches is in the "Praise of Folly" by
Erasmus :—"If what is delivered from the pulpit be grave solid, rational discourse, all the con-
gregation grow weary, and fall asleep, till their patience be released ; whereas if the preacher
pardon the impropriety of the word, the prater I would have said) be zealous in his thumps on
the cushion, antic jestures, and spend his glass in the telling of pleasant stories, his beloved shall
then stand up, tuck their hair behind their ears, and be very devoutly attentive."
P 2