194
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
Field Meeting on Tyler's Common, and Second Visit to
Upminster Hall. Saturday, July 26th, 1890.1
Mineral Spring on Tyler's Common, June 21ST, 1890. From a Drawing by H. A. Cole.
Under the guidance of one of our Vice-Presidents, Mr. Walter Crouch, F.Z.S,,
a pleasant afternoon was spent in the northern part of the straggling parish of
Upminster, the southern portion of which had been visited in June, 1888, under the
same leadership (vide Essex Naturalist, vol. ii., pp. 131-137). About eighty
members mustered at Harold Wood Station at 2.30, and after a short walk across
the meadows, passed over the Ingrebourne by Cockabourne Bridge (75 feet
above O.D.) into the parish of Upminster. The road gradually ascends, and on
the south (right) side may be seen the old farm-house of "Wingle Tye," and the
spire of Hornchurch in the distance above the trees. On the north (left) side
the most conspicuous object is the grey stone tower of South Weald Church,
standing out against the dark belt of trees in Mr. Christopher Tower's park.
The land on this side was unenclosed until about fifty years ago, and was known
as Upminster Common. A little way beyond the "Shepherd and Dog," stood
Upminster Mill—for over two centuries a well-known land-mark, and often
mentioned in Dr. Derham's works ; but this was pulled down about eight years
ago2; nearly opposite, standing back from the road, is "Page's," an old home-
stead dating from 1663 ; and a few yards beyond stands the sign-post at the
cross roads (147 feet O.D.). Ascending the breezy slopes of Tyler's Common the
fine view gradually opens out—from the highest ground (219 feet) southward,
over the villages of Upminster and Hornchurch, to the hills of Kent, and the
Crystal Palace ; westward, among the trees, we catch sight of the spire of St.
Edward's Church, Romford, and further along the wooded heights of Havering-
1 For the major portion of this report the Editor is indebted to Mr. W. Crouch.
- A sketch of this old Mill, and of Tyler's Common, by Col. B. A. Branfill, was published in
Wilsons "History of Upminster"