THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
35
of the mound upon which once stood the keep of the Castle, built soon after the
conquest by Geoffrey de Mandeville, Earl of Essex, and High Constable of
England is more doubtful. Conjecture on these matters is useless in the absence
of systematic exploration. Mr. Chalkley Gould demonstrated the most interesting
features of the earthworks, and distributed the plan of them prepared for his
chapter on Ancient Earthworks in the Victoria History of Essex; but, unfortu-
nately, a heavy fall of rain forbade a thorough inspection, and a retreat was made
to the inn for lunch. Here Mr. Gould gave a capital resume of the later history
of Pleshey. The Castle passed from the Mandevilles to the De Bohuns, and later
came into the hands of Thomas of Woodstock, uncle to Richard II., and it is
in Shakespeare's "Richard II." that Pleshey is mentioned.
The reader is referred to Mr. Horace Round's article in Trans. Essex Arch.
Soc, vol. v. N. S. pp. 84-86, and to Mr. Gould's notes in the Victoria History
of Essex, vol. i., pp. 297-9) and also, for much information on the general subject
of earthworks resembling Pleshey, to Mr. T. V. Holmes' article in the Essex
Naturalist, vol. X., pp. 145-158, entitled "Notes on Ancient Defensive
Earthworks in connection with those of Rayleigh 'Castle,' Essex."
Mr. Gould pointed out an old stone, with an incised inscription "Ricardus
Rex ij," let into a wall near the Castle Keep.
Dr. Laver has, we understand, some Bronze Celts stated to have been found
at Pleshey, and in Murray's Handbook to the Eastern Counties it is stated that
urns and other antiquities have been found there. But how curious it is
that antiquaries should spend their lives in endeavouring to extract some
meagre information respecting such earthworks from old records, when a week or
two's work with the spade and the expenditure of a score of pounds would
probably afford data of the greatest interest in the consideration of the period of
such entrenchments.
Leaving this old-world village, the drive was continued by How Street and
through charming lanes, by verdure-clad hedgerows and waving corn-fields,
through Great Leighs, and so skirting the valley of the Ter River, to the little
village of Terling, celebrated the world over as the residence of one of the
greatest experimental physicists of his age.
Here we were met by the President and Mrs. Meldola, and by our Vice-
President, Mr. J. C. Shenstone, who had cycled over from Colchester. At
the Church of All Saints, the party was welcomed by the Vicar, the Rev. C.
Boutflower, M.A., who very kindly explained the most interesting features of
the building. The nave is apparently 14th century decorative work, and there
are some good brasses.
The park adjoins the Church, and at Terling Place a very kindly welcome was
given by Lord and Lady Rayleigh, who personally conducted the visitors over
the beautiful grounds. The Park is famous for its fine trees, and the garden-
wild abundantly testified to Lady Rayleigh's skill as a horticulturist. The
association of wild and cultivated English plants with foreign shrubs and flowers
was greatly admired, producing often some charming combinations of colour and form.
On the terrace Lord Rayleigh gave a demonstration of his new signal
trumpet, which he had constructed in connection with his work as a scientific
adviser to the Trinity House.
Time would not permit of a long ramble in the garden, and the party was
summoned to tea in the house. The dining-room in which it was served contains
some notable portraits of members of the family and others.
c