THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
197
but the following may be recorded :—Walking from Harold Wood to Tyler's
Common but little was noticeable. Calystegia sepium occurred in the hedge-rows.
On the common was a profusion of Ranunculus flammula, and also Calluna
erica, Ononis spinosa, Hypericum pulchrum, Linum catharticum, Hieracium pilosella,
and Achillea ptarmica. In the hedge-row there was a good deal of Guelder-rose
(Viburnum opulus). As the route led towards Upminster, it was not noticed that
the prevalent hedge-row elm hereabouts, as in so many other parts of the county,
was Ulmus lavis, Spach. (U. suberosa, var. glabra, Syme) which Edward Forster
proposed to call U. elegans.
At "Martyn's," a picturesque old house with carved "Barge-boards," the
party was met by Mr. Champion Branfill,4 and the next halt was made at the Tile
Kiln grounds ; here for 116 years the manufacture of tiles and pipes has been
carried on. The two interesting sections shown here and in the more recently
developed brick-works on the other side of the lane, were examined by the geolo-
gists of the party (Mr. W. H. Dalton and Mr. T. V. Holmes), and Mr. Dalton has
since more carefully surveyed them. (See Mr. Dalton's paper, "Note on the
Upminster Brick-yard," ante, p. 186.)
A walk through the cornfields and meadows towards the Hall led past the
Shubbery Wood, permission to explore which had been kindly given by Dr.
Wright, of Romford. It is a pretty and secluded spot, surrounded by some fine
old trees, but time was wanting for any extended search, and as a botanical locality
it was disappointing ; Evergreen Oaks (Ilex), Pines, and Robinias, showed only
too clearly the artificial character of the locality, so that the "rare plants"
mentioned in the programme could have but scant claim to be indigenous. The
ponds here were partially drained some years ago. From the wood a walk over the
meadows (in which were some very fine Spanish Chestnuts), and from which a distant
glimpse could be caught of the Laindon Hills, brought the party by the rustic bridge
into the grounds of Upminster Hall, where they were most cordially received
by Mr. and Mrs. Hope.
An account of the village of Upminster and of the Hall (with views of the
latter) was given in the report of the former meeting (June 30th, 1888), in the
ESSEX NATURALIST (vol. ii. pp. 131-37), and the "History and Topography of
Upminster," before referred to, should also be consulted.
Tea was taken under the very fine lime-trees on the lawn ; after which an
Ordinary Meeting (the 116th) was held, Mr. E. A. Fitch, President, in the
chair.
The following were elected members :—Prof. Almond, F.R.C.V.S., Rev. R.
E. Bartlett, M.A. ; Messrs. C. E. Benham, W, L. Brown, L. Cranmer-Byng, W.
B. Cartwright, Frank Christy, Ass. Inst. Elect. E., N. Holland, H. E. Jones, C.E.,
George E. Pritchett, F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A., E. N. Rankin, B.A., F. W. Rogers, M.A.,
and T. Sutcliffe.
The President proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Hope for their
kind hospitality on this the second visit of the Club to Upminster Hall. The
proposal was seconded by Prof. Meldola, and carried by acclamation.
4 It is with great regret that I have to record the sad death of Mr. C. E. Branfill, hut a few
days after our meeting, in which he had taken considerable interest, aiding Mr. and Mrs. Hope
to entertain us, and kindly sending me some information for the programme. On the following
Saturday he was taken ill with inflammation and died on the 5th August, at the age of thirty-two.
To all those who knew him his untimely death came as a keen sorrow. He was the eldest son
of Col. Benjamin Aylett Branfill, and heir to the Upminster Hall estates. He leaves two young
children, a girl and a boy, the latter but a few months old.
The Branfill vault under Upminster Church being now practically closed, his remains were
buried in the churchyard at North Ockendon, on the following Saturday, in a grave close to that
of his uncle, Col. Russell.—Walter Crouch.