108
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
In addition to the stopping of extremely fine organic and inorganic particles
by means of the gelatinous material alluded to, the various organisms composing
the living felt undoubtedly acted in many other ways upon the water. Some,
for example, actually ingested organic matter, both living and dead ; others acted
as bactericides ; and others absorbed substances in solution or in the colloidal
condition. Altogether, the efficiency of the sand-filter, owing to the living felt
which formed on the surface of the sand, was, as a general rule, very great indeed,
and the water issuing from the filter-beds was wonderfully free from impurities of
every kind. Without the organisms, however, the sand alone would be nearly
useless for purposes of filtration, so far as the finest particles were concerned, and
those, of course, included the most dangerous of all.
The afternoon was only moderately fine, but the interest of the meeting was
fully sustained until the end.
FIELD MEETING IN THE BILLERICAY DISTRICT, AND
VISIT TO RAMSDEN HALL.
Saturday, 10th July 1909.
Conductors and Referees:—Mr. T. W. Bacon, J.P., Mr. W. W. Bull, Mr.
Miller Christy, F.L.S., Mr. T. S. Dymond, F.I.C, Prof. R. Meldola, F.R.S.,
Mr. Edwin E. Turner, and the Hon. Secretary.
This meeting afforded an opportunity of visiting a very interesting bit of
sylvan country, which had not been hitherto explored by the Club. Mr.
Bacon's hospitable invitation to Ramsden Hall added greatly to the charm
and interest of the day's proceedings.
The main company reached Billericay at about half-past eleven. A train at
one enabled later arrivals to join the party after luncheon.
Some time was occupied in viewing the town, which is of high antiquity.
Mr. Becket thus describes Billericay in his Romantic Essex:—"The name has
sorely puzzled those curious in such matters. The town, with a broad street of
old houses and shops, stands on high ground. It was a Roman station, and,
here, during the Peasant Revolt in the 14th century, the Essex men made a
second abortive stand. Ecclesiastically, it was, in mediaeval times, in the parish
of Great Burstead, now a hamlet with a fine but decaying church facing the
Langdon Hills. For a long time, Billericay had no church of its own, while
to-day its church is, strictly speaking, a Chapel [St. Mary Magdalene], This
building, which stands half-way down the High Street, has an Early-
Perpendicular brick-work tower. In the tracery of the tower window, one can
but admire the skill with which the detail usually carved in stone is worked out
in moulded brick; vet one feels that it is, after all, a tour de force."
Years ago, the late Mr. J. A. Sparvel-Bayly, J.P., related, with striking
reality of detail, in the Supplement to the Stratford Express (6th April 1895),
a weird ghost story of the Great House in the High Street,
Luncheon was taken at the "Crown Hotel." Afterwards the ramble
commenced by entering (by kind permission of Mr. Coverdale, Lord Petre's
agent) Norsey Wood, which extends to about 195 acres, diversified by hill and
dale, the latter being often filled with bogs, in which flourish swamp-loving
plants. In one valley, we were told the Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis) grows;