THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
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Bay and Say Mill, formerly the centre of an important industry of the place.
Remarks on this were given by Mr. Benham. In the seventeenth century,
Dedham was a noted seat of the once famous woollen trade, which, in spite of the
attempt to maintain it by the dernier ressort of "burial in woollen," has now com-
pletely decayed. In the church are the memorials, merchant marks, etc., of
Thomas and John Webbe, woollen manufacturers, who here carried on an exten-
sive trade in their day, and in the chancel a quaint monument to "Roaring
Rogers," a veritable Boanerges, who was such a noisy preacher he made the win-
dows rattle, and his congregation adjourned to the churchyard to listen. A brief
inspection of the church was made, with its fine tower, and the open porch (or
galilee) at its base. Flatford Mill was the next halting-place, and in the lock
there tea was partaken of; the miller, Mr. Benneworth, having kindly under-
taken to provide hot water.
At this point Mr. C. E. Benham pointed out some of the spots associated with
Constable—the Mill house in which he lived, though he was not, as has often
been stated, born there, but at East Bergholt. The thatched cottage, the little
bridge, the scene of the "Barge Builders" picture, the Water Lane (scene of the
"Haywain"), the lock, Willy Lott's house, and other places associated with the
great painter were indicated, and it was remarked that while Suffolk might claim
the honour of Constable's birth, it was towards Essex that he preferred to turn
when painting, his choice being the effect of the southern sky in front. In one of
his writings he says : "I associate my careless boyhood with all that lies on the
banks of the Stour—those scenes made me a painter, and I am grateful." And
in another passage : "The landscape painter must walk in the field with an
humble mind. No arrogant man was ever permitted to see Nature in all her
beauty." With regard to many of his paintings it was shown that he so far made
free in point of composition that often it was impossible to identify the exact