THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
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tradition, Mistress Nell Gwynne once dwelt. It affords a good example of
ornamental raised plaster work, but the date of the building (close to the end of
the 17th century) hardly accords with that of the frail beauty of the "Merry
Monarch's" court. It was formerly an inn, with the sign of the "Horns," and it
is said that Charles II., the Duke of York, and Nell Gwynne used to stop there
on their way to Newmarket,1
There are some fine carved chimneys in the village, also the house known as
"Monks Barn" in the main street, a timber framed edifice said to have been used
in the latter part of the 14th century by Dominicans who received rents and tithes
there. It has a very noteworthy bay-window in the upper story, facing west,
underneath which, and forming part of it, is a bold carving out of solid oak,
depicting the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin, but this may have been inserted
at a later date than that of the house itself. The building, with its "herring-
bone" brick nogging and studs, well deserves a careful inspection. The "Coach
and Horses," an old hostelry, from which, according to tradition, the Duke of
Buckingham and the Earl of Rochester used to post ; and many very picturesque
cottages and other buildings. In a farm yard are still to be seen vestiges of St.
Leonard's Hospital for lepers, dating from "Good King John's" time.
A walk was taken through the village to the grounds of "Shortgroves," a man-
sion of Queen Anne's days ; in the park are some unusually fine timber trees, and
Cedars of Lebanon, one of which covers with its branches an area of about eighty
yards in diameter. On the roadside towards "Shortgroves" is a very large block
of sandstone.
The Vicar, the Rev. G. F. Tamplin, M.A., and Mr. G. E. Pritchett, F.S.A.,
acted as guides to the church of St. Mary the Virgin, Perpendicular and Decorated,
which was carefully restored in 1857 by Mr. Pritchett, but the tower was re-built,
because of its dangerous condition. The church is a noble structure, consisting
of nave, aisles, transepts, tower porch and chancel. The mouldings and details
are good, and at a spot near the pulpit the spectator may see first, second and
third pointed work. In the parvise over the S. porch is a remarkably fine oaken
chest of unusual size. On the interior of its lid are early painted panels ; it is
carved and moulded elaborately, and it has many old locks. How the chest was
got into the parvise is a mystery, as the staircase is narrow, and the window too
small to admit the great box without considerable disturbance of the masonry.
The lectern is of oak and of early type ; the pedestal is hollow ; the revolving
portion for holding the chained Bible can be let up and down to the required
height and is secured by a spring let into the woodwork. There is an inscription
on brass let into this lectern which reads as follows : "In the year 1535 the first
complete translation of the Bible was published, and in 1535 came out the king's
command, that a copy thereof should be set up in every church. Then the people
long thirst)' for the Word rushed to the waters of life and drank freely. Shall we
have known more and felt greater mercy and shall we love less." The west tower
is very lofty and has four octagonal turrets on its summit. In consequence of its
having been shattered by lightning and having a faulty foundation, it became
unsafe. It was rebuilt in 1855, re-using the original material and the Barnack free-
1 Mr. Probert says (in Trans. Essex Arch. Soc, v. (1st ser.) p. 77) that he has seen a play
in which the scene was laid at the "Horns" at Newport, the King, Nell Gwynne, &c., figuring
as characters in it. He adds, "Tradition says that they used to come with pack-horses by the
Great North Road, via Rickling, and the lane near Wicken Bonhunt, still called 'London Lane;'
then along the ancient road at the foot of Bury Field in Newport; then along the back of the,
Burywater House and so emerging opposite the Crown House"