THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
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the old story as related above, arose at this tragic scene of martyrdom. In the
year 1118, Richard de Belmeis, Bishop of London, founded the priory, and
up to the time of the suppression its endowment and possessions throughout
the county were very considerable. After the suppression the site was
converted into a seat by Lord D'Arcy, son of Roger D'Arcy, of Danbury,
Sheriff of Essex, to members of whose family the handsome monuments and
effigies in the church were erected. Here Queen Elizabeth was entertained
in 1561 and 1579. The priory stands in a beautiful park of 250 acres, in
which are some fine Cedars of Lebanon, and also some old Lombardy Poplars,
planted in 1768 by Lord Rochfort, and supposed to be the first specimens
of the tree introduced into England (see Essex Naturalist, i., 34, and ii.,
40). The extensive remains of the old building were visited, and a magni-
ficent mulberry tree came in for some attention, but the theory that it might
have been planted in the days of the monastery, was quickly disposed of by
Prof. Boulger, who stated that the tree was unknown in this country till a much
later date. In the grounds was noticed a fine tulip tree, Robinia pseudacacia, and
a profuse "escape" of Impatiens parviflora. And on the walls of the priory was
noticed Diplotaxis tenuifolia (the wild mustard), a station recorded by Varenne in
Gibson's "Flora of Essex."
The visitors would gladly have lingered longer amid these delightful sur-
roundings so rich with historic interest, but the nineteenth century whistle of the
directors abruptly interrupted their old world musings, and bidding a hasty
farewell to this scene of mingled history and tradition a further stage in the day's
pilgrimage was entered upon. The return journey was made by Brightlingsea,
the first two miles in the brakes and the remainder on foot, over country of
considerable interest to the botanist and entomologist. (A few notes on the
entomology and botany of the district will be found in the Essex Naturalist,
ii., 115-116, and in Mr. Shenstone's papers in vol. i.)
The short drive over "The Hard" and on towards the first Martello Tower,
disclosed a fine prospect of the mouth of the Colne with the open sea beyond,
and away to the right appeared little red-brick Brightlingsea, fronted by an
array of masts and rigging, clearly betokening the principal means whereby this
small town maintains its livelihood. Resting on the grass at this vantage-point
the company listened to some very interesting remarks by Mr. J. C. Shenstone on
the valuable oyster fishery at Brightlingsea, where the celebrated "Colchester
Natives" are reared :—
Notes on the Colne Oyster Fishery.
By J. C. SHENSTONE F.R.M.S., and Dr. HENRY LAVER, F.L.S.
It is a matter of regret that Dr. Laver should have been prevented from
addressing us upon the subject of the Oyster Fishery to-day. Not only has he
taken a very practical interest in this fishery, but has collected notes with a view
of writing a full account of the subject, and would therefore have given us a
valuable paper. I have to thank him for lending me some of his notes, and thus
enabling me to address you with more confidence than I should have otherwise
been able to do.
I will adopt the ordinary course and first deal with the history of the oyster :
I mean, of course, the history of the oyster as an edible mollusc. It is quite
possible, with a large number of modern food stuffs, to state accurately when they
were first used by man, but the only statement with regard to the introduction of
oysters that I know of is "That it must have been a very brave man who first
swallowed one of these delicate but questionable-looking morsels of flesh."
Now my own opinion is, and possibly such of you as hold by the evolutionary