50
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
Dr. Laver has given some short notes of the bird-fauna of the island (vol. xiii.,
p. 127), and his Mammals, etc., of Essex and Christy's Birds, of Essex contain
numerous notes on the natural history of the district.
By superficial people Fowlness might be described as uninteresting, but to
the lover of nature this spot in unknown Essex has many charms. It is
exceedingly picturesque, and at our visit it was at its best. Like many islets
around the Essex coast, it forms a tribute to man's skill and ingenuity in over-
coming the sea, for the island is reclaimed land, protected from the water by the
system of dykes and ditches borrowed from the Dutch. Fowlness is some five
miles long and two and a half miles in breadth, and its 6,122 acres are protected
by an earth embankment running all round the island—which its extremely flat
surface renders indispensable—and drained by ditches innumerable. The
population, which about last census numbered 537, do not grow greatly in
number, and it is said that there are very few wives now to be had on the island,
in spite of its healthy nature. The houses are few and scattered, but pretty
scenes abound, for, unspoilt by the jerry-builder or modern motor-car, Fowlness
retains all its primitive beauty, and. though but a few miles removed from
Southend, with its throngs of noisy holiday-makers, has few visitors. Trees are
scarce, but a clump here and there adds to the beauties of the land.
On landing, the party were received by the Rector (Rev. J. Romanus
Brown), who cordially welcomed them,
Mr. McConnell made many observations from a farmer's point of view in the
fields traversed. He remarks : "I have had occasion to point out aforetime that
the pernicious weed known as 'Pepper-wort' or 'Pipeline' is slowly and
gradually creeping over the arable land of this region. It is botanically known
as Lepidium campestre, and seems to favour Lucerne fields more than any other.
Ordinary weeding or fallowing seems to be of no use, for it grows from a deep
root-stalk perennially, I was sorry to find it on Fowlness, for once it gets a hold
it will not be easy to exterminate it. The next enemy noted was the 'Black
grass' or Field-Foxtail. A botanical friend could not find it in his list. I
called it Alopecurus agrestis to distinguish it from the Meadow-Foxtail (A.
pratensis). He thought I must be right, and I think I was, for I have several
millions growing on my own arable land at Southminster (especially among
wheat after fallow) and I could call a few more names without any trouble and
without indulging in Latin or Greek ! It is strange to know that its close ally
is one of the earliest and most valuable of pasture grasses.''
The Church, a stone building in the Early English style, built over half a
century ago to replace a very ancient edifice of wood, was inspected. It forms a
prominent landmark and can be seen plainly from all parts of the island.
The village "Cage" or "Lock-up," a wooden building just outside the
churchyard, was viewed with interest, as was the pillar letter-box, which
intimated that the next collection would be on Monday, but warned writers that
the collections were governed by the tides ! A old-world windmill drew
general attention, and recalled the days of gleaning and good honest whole-meal
flour, ground out fresh and nourishing from between the upper and the nether
miillstones !
At the church, during the afternoon, a memorial service to Mr. G. H.
Finch, M.P., "the Father of the House of Commons," was held, Mr.
Finch. having been Lord of the Manor, patron of the living, and principal land-
owner of the island. The gravestones recalled the fact that some of the native