ASTRONOMY IN WANSTEAD.
151
Fuller notices of this important collection may be found in Christy's "Birds
of Essex," pp. 23 and 36, and in a series of articles by Dr. Bree in the "Field,"
from September 28th to December 14th, 1867.
Mr. Miller Christy then made a few remarks on the collection, and asked the
members present to join in a very cordial vote of thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Lescher
for their kind reception, which was enthusiastically given, and responded to by
Mr. Lescher.
After a long examination of this fine collection, the party left the hospitable
mansion about half-past six, the walk being continued by some over Warley
Common through the woods and along Thorndon Park into Brentwood, while
others rambled by Warley Gap, from which a remarkably fine view (certainly one
of the finest in Essex) was enjoyed over the Thames Valley and the Kentish
Hills.
The rendezvous at Brentwood was the "White Hart" Hotel, where tea was
taken. This old inn is a very interesting example of an ancient hostelry, and is
mentioned in Miller Christy's "Trade Signs of Essex," p. 52 ; and two interest-
ing sketches of the courtyard and corridor were published in a series of views of
old Brentwood, by A. B. Bamford, in 1892.
Special thanks were voted to Mr. Harting for his kind and interesting exposi-
tions during the afternoon, and the meeting dispersed.
ASTRONOMY IN WANSTEAD:
A CHAPTER OF ITS PAST HISTORY.
By WALTER CROUCH, F.Z.S. (Vice-President).
(Read 16th December, 1893.)
THERE was a period in the past history of Essex when the
study of astronomy was sedulously pursued by at least two
competent observers, and the researches then made attracted the
attention of all who were interested in the progress of that science.
One of these observers was the Rev. William Derham,
D.D., F.R.S., Rector of Upminster from 1689 to 1735, and
Canon of Windsor, who even erected a platform on the tower of
his church (the door leading on to which may still be discerned)
to enable him to gain a more extended view whilst using his
instruments. (Vide Essex Naturalist, vol. ii., p. 133.)
But by far the more important results were obtained in "Wan-
stead Town" (as it is frequently called in old references), some nine
and a quarter miles away from Upminster as the crow flies, and
these form an interesting chapter of local and scientific value.
Having long ago gathered together a considerable amount of