THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
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XIII., pp. 1-5). A full prospectus was inserted in the part of the same journal
for October, 1904 (Vol. XIII., part 7).
Favoured with delightful weather the company gathered at Colchester Cattle
Market at 11 a.m., and were met by Alderman Henry Laver, F.S.A., Councillor
Shenstone, F.L.S., Mr. W. Gill, F. R. Photo. Soc, and these gentlemen
acted as guides throughout the day. Much of the success of the ramble was due
to the lucid and lull explanations of Dr. Laver, whose knowledge of the history
and archaeology of the town is probably possessed by no other man in such
degree.
The party ascended Balkerne Hill, Dr. Laver explaining the various points of
interest associated with the building of the old Roman wall in the first or
second century A.D. At the Balkan Gate—which was viewed with special
interest—the doctor remarked that this was one of the original entrances to the
town, and shared, with a gate at Lincoln, the distinction of being the only two
Roman archways of the kind remaining in England. Having viewed the old
Roman guard-room, the company proceeded to St. Mary's steps, where they
inspected the remains of one of the towers built in the wall for defensive purposes
by the Romans.
At Mr. Gill's house in High Street, some beautiful specimens of the new art
of tricolour photography were much admired, and Mr. Gill took an excellent
photograph of the company in his garden.
At Sir Isaac's Walk, Alderman Laver pointed out stones at the side of the
roadway, forming the top of the Roman Wall. Scheregate Steps, and the two
bastions on the wall in Vineyard Street and Priory Street having been viewed,
the ruins of St. Botolph's Priory were then visited. The Priory, remarked Dr.
Laver, was founded in 1109, being entirely built with Roman tiles and debris. It
was dedicated to St. Botolph, and was a very important monastery—indeed, in
1116 Pope Pascal gave it priority over all other Augustine monasteries
in England. It was one of the most beautiful examples of early Norman building,
but great care was needed to preserve the ruins. There was considerable diffi-
culty in regard to this, as there were those who did not like to sacrifice the
ivy which clung to the building. They thought it picturesque ; but Dr. Laver
said soon there would be no church and no ivy. The Church of St. Giles
containing the vault where lie the remains of the "two valiant knights," Lucas
and Lisle, who were shot after the surrender of Colchester, was then visited.
The tomb, said Dr. Laver, was of special interest to him, for an ancestor of his
was one of the Royalist colonels.
St. John's Abbey was then visited, the doctor remarking that its abbot was
one of three who, at the dissolution of the monasteries, refused to acknowledge
the King's supremacy, and was therefore tried for high treason, and hanged.
An adjournment to the Masonic Hall for luncheon was then made. Dr,
Laver presided, and was supported by the Mayor of Colchester (Alderman
Henry Goody), Alderman Wilson Marriage, Councillor J. C. Shenstone, Mr. A.
E. Briscoe, B.Sc. (former principal of the Technical Institute, West Ham, and
originator of the survey), and Mrs. Briscoe, Mr. A. Horsley Hinton (Editor of The
Amateur Photographer), Mr. Horace Wilmer, F.R.P.S., Mr. Bryan Corcoran,
Mr. E. McA.. Moir, Mr. W. Gill, Mr. M. Veasey and Miss Veasey, Mr. W.
Ping, Mr. G. E. Lyddon (hon. secretary Ilford and District Camera Club), Mr.
T