232
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
Harwich, and a various spots in Harwich harbour. Some hauls yielded
Echinus miliaris by hundreds of specimens ; some fine Solaster papposa were
taken ; and one huge Oyster, brought up near Wrabness, was estimated by
our dredgermen (themselves experienced in the Colne Oyster Fishery) to
be 15 years old.
The total yield of specimens was very considerable, and bids fair to prove of
scientific value when gone over by experts. It will form au important
addition to the museum at Stratford.1
At seven o'clock the members landed at Harwich Pier and proceeded to
the "Three Cups" Hotel, where they inspected in turn the Nelson suite
of rooms and 17th century fittings of this well-known hostel, and the famous
Clematis in its central courtyard. A substantial meat tea was served in the
Coffee Room, after which a short formal Ordinary Meeting (the 284th) was
held for the nomination of a new Member and other business, Mr. Miller Christy
in the chair. Soon after, the party made way to the railway station, to catch
the 8.15 train for home.
FIELD MEETING AT SOUTHMINSTER AND
BRADWELL-JUXTA-MARE.
Saturday, 6th August 1910.
The party assembled at Southminster Station at about 12.30, and at
once proceeded to inspect the interesting Church of St. Leonard, being
received at the entrance by the Reverend John Cole, brother to our Hon.
Secretaries, who is temporarily in charge of the parish. The perpen-
dicular north porch, with its room over the Norman south doorway, and
the massive western tower were in turn objects of considerable interest
to the visitors, and an extensive view was obtained by those members
of the party who ascended the Tower. The relics of Nelson, preserved
in the Vestry, also excited general interest, albeit that sundry doubters
questioned the possibility of getting such bulky articles of furniture into
the confined space of a cabin.
Lunch was served at the Railway Hotel, following which a drive was
undertaken to Bradwell by brakes, via Asheldham, Dengie and Tillingham.
At Asheldham Camp, Professor Primrose McConnell, B.Sc. read a
short account of what is known respecting this early earthwork, which
may be of Danish origin, but which has been almost entirely obliterated
by digging for gravel.
At Bradwell-juxta-Mare, the drive was continued through the
village as far as Eastlands Farm, where the conveyances were left,
and a walk was taken through the fields (noticing an experimental crop
of Sugar-Beet, seemingly in fine condition) to the old Chapel of St. Peter-
on-the-Wall, permission to inspect which had been kindly given by Mr.
James Brown, the tenant.
Here, several addresses were given to the party, marshalled within
the ancient ruin, by our Conductors. Mr. W. Howard-Flanders read an
interesting account of the history of the Chapel and of its site (the Roman
Othona), and Mr. Hugh McLachlan, A.R.I.B.A., followed with sundry
1 Mr. Whitehead took charge of the specimens collected, and he has prepared a full
report on them, which appears in the present part of the Essex Naturalist (See ante,
pp. 193-198).