THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
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demi-figure supposed to be a Mediaeval caricature. A mural monument in the
vestry is dedicated to the memory of Robert Turner who "dyed the second day of
February, 1657," it is recorded that "it was the deceassed's advise to the Lyoeing
that noe man should suffer no ounces of blood to be taken from him !" There are
also several interesting tombs, including an Easter tomb on the north side, some
12th century painted glass, &c. The whole church and its belongings are well
worthy of a visit from ecclesiologists.
The President and many members from Chelmsford, Maldon, &c., had to
hasten back to catch their last train home, but the remainder of the party lingered
on the return to Newport to inspect (under the guidance of the rector, the Rev.
A. E. Tollemache, and Mr. Pritchett) the little church of St. Mary (?) Quendon,
one of the early "first pointed" churches of Essex, consisting of nave, aisles, chancel
and porch. The west wall is of unusual thickness and has one large and lofty
lancet window in its centre, very boldly splaved internally. Probably this wall
carried a good bell turret ; it had one of the most ancient bells known, but, alas,
it went to the melting pot when the church was "restored," a good many years
ago (1861). A singular feature about this west wall is, that it is not nearly at
right angles with the north and south walls, being about 2 feet out of square, so
that the north wall is shorter than the south. There is no apparent reason for
this departure, as the churchyard is not cramped in any way.
The chancel is a rebuild of late 15th century work. In the north and south
angles of the east end are two curious twisted pedestals, which, at some period,
doubtless carried two figures, probably representing St. Simon and St. Jude, to
whom the church may have been dedicated, but there seems to be some doubt as
to this. The original chancel was probably apsidal. On the occasion of the
underpinning of the north wall some years ago, the skeleton of a man was found
completely covered by the wall ; he had probably been buried before the present
quadrangular chancel was built.
To the great regret of many members time would not allow of the remainder
of the programme being carried out, and the interesting and beautiful village of
Clavering, with its fine perpendicular church, the embankments and moat of the
demolished Clavingbury Castle, and the little village of Wicken Bonant, were
reluctantly left for a future visit to this picturesque district.
On returning to Newport tea was taken at the "Rose and Crown" Inn, but
unfortunately the President and many members from Chelmsford, Maldon, &c.,
had to leave to catch the train.
After tea an Ordinary Meeting (the 124th) was held, Prof. R. Meldola, F.R.S.,
in the chair.
The following were elected members : Messrs. Leonard Brown, Hugh Cranmer-
Byng, W. G. Gimson, M.D., W. F. Kelsey, T. F. Sanderson, F. Kemp-Smith, and
Miss Smoothy.
On the motion of Prof. Meldola a very hearty vote of thanks was accorded to
all who had contributed to the success of the day's meeting, including Mr. L.
Cranmer-Byng, Mr. G. E. Pritchett, the Rev. G. F. Tamplin, the Rev. A. E. Tolle-
mache, and others.
Mr. Walter Crouch exhibited, on behalf of Mr. French, of Felstead, two shells
of a distorted form of Limnaea palustris, which he had found "in flood debris in a
meadow just below the water mill on the Chelmer at Felstead." In these the
columellar of the last whorl is widely reflected and gaping, so that the interior of
the shell may be seen from the anterior end. They appear to be recent shells,