142 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
capital, debarring the use of costly modern appliances, thus compelling him to
use (as did the potters of old) his own natural resources. Thus Mr. Bingham
and his family still dig and refine their own clay, mix their own colours, fire their
own kilns, and do every necessary part of the work with their own hands. From
these causes, and by imbibing ideas and styles of antiquity, the Pottery of Castle
Hedingham seems to be a continuation of medieval work, as formerly carried on
for the Earls of Oxford in the demesne of Hedingham Castle, the keep of which
generally appears on the ware manufactured at the Pottery as a kind of trade
mark. There is a charm about the Hedingham Pottery from its originality and
quaintness, and we bade farewell to its maker feeling that no collector's cabinet
of pottery would be complete which did not contain specimens of Hedingham
ware."
The fine Church was then visited, where they were very kindly received by
the Rev. H. A. Lake, Vicar, who explained the features of principal interest.
The chief portion of the Church is late Norman, or Transition, the carving
being more elaborate than that at the Castle. The chancel arch especially is one
of the finest pieces of work of the period to be found anywhere. The double
hammer-beam roof is of much later date, and also the screen, which is an
exquisite piece of carving. The fine tomb of De Vere, formerly in the centre of
the chancel, is now on the north side ; and also a stone (in a glass case) bearing
what is said to be a portrait of Queen Maud, wife of Stephen, which was found in
a niche on the north side of the Church. The Rev. J. Harvey Bloom, curate of
Springfield, then described the sepulchral monuments and heraldry, and Mr.
Walter Crouch added many interesting particulars, mentioning inter alia, that a
shaft of stone, curiously carved, and supposed to be a portion of the ancient
market cross at Castle Hedingham, had been found supporting a beam in the
cellar of the Falcon Inn. The date is circa 1120-30, and Mr. Hay ward, who had
made a full-sized model of it, considered it was in all probability carved by the
same artist who carved the door of the Church. This model will be exhibited at the
next meeting of the Essex Arch. Soc. Some ingenious archaeologist hazarded the
opinion that the stoup for holy water in the Church had been hollowed out from
a portion of the base of the same cross, and judging from the character of the
carving such a supposition might be correct.
With the kind consent of Mr. and Mrs. Bevington, the present occupants, tho
party proceeded to the handsome modern residence near the Castle, where,
although Mr. and Mrs. Bevington were away from home themselves, they had
left instructions that every hospitality should be shown to the visitors, who were
accordingly entertained to an excellent tea, Miss Lake and other ladies presiding
at the tables.
Then the grand old Norman Keep, the ancient home of the De Veres, Earls
of Oxford from 1100 to 1703, whose grey walls, built of Barnack stone, promise
to "stand four-square to all the winds that blow" for centuries yet to come, was
examined by the kind permission of the owner, Mr. Majendie, and the roof also,
though somewhat insecure, was ascended.
In the chief apartment on the state floor, a noble room spanned by a huge
arch, rising to a height of 21 feet, a meeting was held, when the Chairman, Mr.
E. A. Fitch, gave an admirable description of the Castle and its present remains,
and a short historical sketch of the family of De Vere. This was illustrated by
a fine collection of engravings, plans, etc. The first De Vere in this country
was Alberie, who came over with the Conqueror, "a man of good manors," no