106 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
Leaving the church and crossing the road, Mr. Prance pointed out the site of
the old hall, close to a good spring of water, and thence over a few fields the
rectory at Stapleford Tavvney was reached, where the members were entertained
with tea by the rector and Mrs. Prance. Both parishes and churches are now
under the same rector, the vicarage of Theydon ad Montem being probably
dispensed with during the incumbency of one of the Smijth family.
A field was passed which showed the ravages of the Bean-beetle (Sitona),
specimens of which were afterwards exhibited by Mr. Sworder under a magnifying
glass.
A sketch map was also shown giving the positions of several borings for water
surrounding the rectory, and also near the church and hall, at all of which the
search was fruitless. One of the bores entered a mass of conglomerate to a depth
of six feet without passing through it; this bed extends for about an acre. At the
Hall Farm, within a few hundred yards of the other spot there are two good wells
of water each about thirty feet deep obtaining their supply fro:n a vein of gravel
at about the same depth as that at which the conglomerate was reached.
The rectory garden is a charming spot, it being an elevated plateau, the
ground sloping away in all directions affording fine views over the very pleasant
country surrounding it.
After tea an Ordinary Meeting (the 133rd) was held, Mr. Walter Crouch,
Vice-President, in the chair.
Mr. A. W. Harrison was elected a member of the Club.
Various specimens obtained during the afternoon were exhibited. Mr. Sworder
showed some geological specimens collected in the parish, including fossil wood
bored by Teredo from the London Clay, Inoceramus in flint, Echini, Belemnites,
oysters, sponges, etc.
Mr. Harry Sworder and Mr. Ernest Fitch, exhibited specimens of the Great
and Lesser Grebe, which had been shot in the parish a few years since.
Time would permit only of a brief resume of the intended address by Mr.
David Houston, F.L.S., being given. It was entitled "Some Practical Sug-
gestions concerning Botanical Field Work in the County." A paper on
the subject by Mr. Houston will appear in a future number of the Essex
Naturalist. A short discussion took place in which hearty agreement with the
proposals put forward by the lecturer was expressed by Prof. Meldola, Mr. Charles
Browne, Rev. W. C. Howell, and Mr. A. P. Wire, and Mr. Houston was warmly
thanked for his address.
On the proposal of the Chairman, seconded by Prof. Meldola, a vote of thanks
was passed to the Rector and Mrs. Prance for their kindness in receiving the Club.
It was found also impossible to stay long enough to examine the ancient and
picturesque Church of St. Mary's, Stapleford Tawney (about which Mr. Prance
had gathered some notes), nor to visit Albyns, the seat of the Abdy family at
Stapleford Abbotts, permission to view which had been courteously given to
compensate for the disappointment of the refusal at Hill Hall, which the con-
ductors had hoped to obtain. It was felt that the whole district was so interesting
that another meeting should be held as soon as possible to complete the survey of
the same by the Club.
The return journey was a very pleasant one, over Passingford Bridge to
Stapleford Abbotts, and so to Lambourne End, skirting the remains of the old
Forest of Hainault, through Chigwell, and along the new road over the Roding
Valley to Buckhurst Hill Station.