THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
113
The accompanying illustration represents the iron inscription plate affixed to .
the cement foundation of this stone, as a permanent record cf its re-erection.
Similar iron plates were affixed to all the other stones.
The projected visit to Curtis Mill (or Court Mill) Green, an outlier of the
old Forest and still in its primitive condition, was reluctantly abandoned. Near
it is "Navestock Stone," on the margin of the Bourne Brook, in the farm
garden; and on the common is "Richard's Stone," the last-mentioned in the
Perambulation, the Forest Boundary then following the River Roding to
Abridge.
Then a very pleasant drive brought the party to the old and quaint village of
Havering-atte-Bower, Edward the Confessor's favourite seat. The most ancient
relics now existing are probably the great Elm on the green, beneath which
stand the village stocks.
"At Havering, there were two palaces—one, the Bower, where Edward
sought peaceful retreat, and one that came to be called Pyrgo Park, which for a
time made a sort of Dower House for English Queens. Both of these have
disappeared, the royal demesne being split up into several private ones, such as
the Dower House, that large red mansion passed as one mounts into the village;
here Princess Charlotte stayed for a time in her childhood."1
At Pyrgo Park, the company was most kindly and hospitably received by
Lady O'Hagan at tea.
Afterwards an Ordinary Meeting (the 275th) was held, Mr. T. S. Dymond,
President, in the chair.
The Rev. E. N. Dalton, 62, The Avenue, Highams Park, Walthamstow,
was elected a member.
1 "The ruins of the ancient Pyrgo Palace were pulled down in the last century by the will
of Lord Archer, and a farm-house took their place. This last gave way some 50 years ago
to the present stately mansion of Pyrgo, now the home of Lord O'Hagan and his popular
and gifted mother, Lady O'Hagan, the widow of the first Lord O'Hagan, K.P., P.C, twice
Lord Chancellor of Ireland."—From the Homeland Handbook.