THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
49
EXCURSION TO BURNHAM, ACROSS FOWLNESS
ISLAND AND THE MAPLIN SANDS TO SOUTHEND, 1
Saturday, May 25th, 1807.
We assembled at Burnham about 11 o'clock, coming by varied modes of
conveyance from many parts of Essex and London. The weather was ideal, the
warmth being pleasantly tempered by a gentle breeze, just sufficient to make
walking pleasurable. The district chosen was particularly interesting, as it
embraces many features that are quite unique—for instance, the seven-mile
Broomway by which the mainland is approached from Fowlness Island. Not a
little of the success which attended the excursion, and certainly a full share of the
enjoyment, was due to Mr. John Hepburn, of East Newlands Farm, Fowlness,
and to his brother, Mr. J. W. Hepburn, who undertook the local arrangements,
and witli Mrs. John Hepburn they had gone to infinite pains to insure the
success of the meeting, and they succeeded admirably.
The Conductors were Mr. Miller Christy, F.L.S. (President), Mr. T. S.
Dymond, F.I.C, F.C.S., and the Hon. Secretaries. At the waterside the smart
sailing boat "Victoria" was awaiting the party, and in charge of one of the
well-known Wisemans, of Paglesham, the excursionists set sail for Church End,
Fowlness. There was very little breeze, and barely a ripple on the water, but,
in spite of the lack of wind, the trip proved so pleasant that a few members of
the party sailed round, and met the main body at East Newlands. The
innumerable boats moored in the Crouch awakened general interest, and all
appreciated a late tide, which caused delay in starting the important yacht race
from Burnham to Harwich, and so enabled the Club to witness an attractive
sight. Burnham, from the water, presented a beautiful prospect ; the sun on the
houses of red brick, with slated roofs, nestling amongst a wealth of trees in their
fresh Spring verdure, giving a charming effect, especially delightful to those
members of the party who hailed from town. On branching off into the Roach,
and running between the islands of Fowlness and Wallasea, the view changed,
and the flat but pretty country scene was replaced by earth embankments, broken
here and there by numerous creeks. The journey was enlivened with a friendly
discussion as to the derivation of the name "Fowlness," which, it was generally
admitted, originated from the fact that great numbers of wild fowl frequented
the saltings of the island during the winter.2 Much interest was taken in the
Coastguard vessel "Frolic," which was passed as the lauding place was being
neared, and conversation at once turned on the ideal haunt the place would
make for smugglers—but for the presence of the boat. A little under an
hour's sailing brought the "Victoria" to the primitive quay, a sloping pro-
trusion, faced with Kentish rag, and the majority of the party landed, preparatory
to a ramble across the island.
The present is the second visit of the Club to Fowlness, and in the report of
the meeting on July 22nd, 1899 (Essex Nat., vol. xi., pp. 193-5), are given some
interesting details, and references to previous papers in our journal, notably that
of Mr. Dalton (vol. iii., pp. 239-243), which is probably the best account extant,
1 The Editor has much pleasure in acknowledging his indebtedness to the excellent
report ("Through Unknown Essex,") in the East Anglian Daily Times of May 27th, and
reference should be made to the clever and amusing account of the meeting in Farm Life
(of June 15th and 25th, Nos. 108 9) by our esteemed member, Prof. Primrose McConnell,
B.Sc, under the title of "A Farmer's Holiday."
2 This question is very fully discussed in the note, "Correct spelling of Fowlness
Island," in the Essex Naturalist, vol. vii., pages 25-27.
D