THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
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past greatness. The "great glory of Thaxted is its church, a splendid structure,
which well deserves the description applied to it of 'the cathedral of Essex,'
there being (if we except Waltham Abbey Church) no other of equal magnificence
in the county." The Vicar (the Rev. L, S. Westall), Mr. F. Chancellor, and
Mr. Miller Christy acted as guides here, and a very considerable time was
occupied in the church, and in viewing the many quaint timbered and plastered
houses in the town. Samuel Purchas, author of the celebrated book of Pilgrim-
ages, was born at Thaxted in 1577.
Carriages and cycles were resumed to reach Horham Hall, situate in the
parish, where the now large party was most kindly received by our kind host and
hostess, Mr. and Mrs. Cranmer-Byng. The hall, to quote again from Mr.
Christy "though much modernised and reduced, is still a remarkably fine
example of the style of residence which came in when the grim feudal castle went
out of fashion. It is of brick, and the whole forms a venerable and picturesque
pile of gables, turrets, battlemented parapets, ornamental chimneys and bay
windows. The entrance-hall is still just as it was built ; the remains of a gate-
house may be traced, and part of the old Moat still remains. It was built by Sir
John Cutte, who died in 1520, and was for long after famed for its splendour and
hospitality. Queen Elizabeth, before her accession, resided here for a time, and
in 1571, when ou a tour through the county, was entertained by its owner."
Luncheon was served in the ancient hall, and Mr. Cranmer-Byng, as chairman,
gave a most entertaining account of the house, and the memories and traditions
attaching to it. Afterwards Mr. Chancellor read a paper on its archaeological
and architectural history, followed by Mr. Miller Christy and Mr. Gould. This
paper and discussion must be reserved for the present.
The afternoon was most pleasantly spent in the grounds, under our hosts'
genial guidance. The county about the hall appears to be delightful, and likely
to be of the greatest interest to the naturalist.
Bidding farewell to our kind friends, the return journey was taken by way of
Elsenham, where a section of the party stayed for tea and to catch the return
train. Others continued the drive back to Saffron Walden, and after tea at the
inn spent the remainder of the evening in exploring the town and visiting the
Museum.
[The Editor regrets that his slight acquaintance with the district and the want
of space compel but a very meagre and unsatisfactory account of a most pleasant
and instructive holiday. It is to be hoped that another meeting in the beautiful
Thaxted country may be held in the near future, and that this may afford oppor-
tunities for descriptive accounts from some of our members having special know-
ledge of the district—and there are many with such qualifications.]
INSPECTION OF HAINHAULT AND LAMBOURNE FOREST.
Saturday, June 4th, 1904.
This was the third official visit of the Club to the newly-recovered lands of
old Hainhault Forest, and it was held again under the direction of Mr. E. N.
Buxton and by the kind permission of the Parks and Open Spaces Committee of
the London County Council.
The two previous meetings on June 14th, 1902, and June 6th, 1903, were
fully reported in the present volume of the Essex Naturalist (ante pp. 30—32,