THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
115
By the kindness of our member, Mr. John Phelp, Plates from photograph-;
of this celebrated "Brass" and of the School-House are inserted in the
present number (see p. 125). The altar plate, which was exhibited and
explained by the Vicar, is sixteenth century, of beautiful design and
workmanship, and is believed to be one of the best sets in Essex.
Luncheon was taken in the Chester Room of the "King's Head"
Inn, opposite the Church. This picturesque old hostelry is, as all Essex
folk know, the "Maypole" of Dickens' Barnaby Rudge, and the building
and gardens are well worthy of inspection. A stroll down Hall Lane to
the "White Bridge" over the river Roding enabled those coming by
field paths from Loughton to join the company. Some time was spent
in collecting plants and insects, and in inspecting the Chigwell Moat, a
small square enclosure without any trace of buildings, surrounded by a
moat, as to which not even a local legend exists.
On returning to the village, the Club was most kindly entertained at
tea by Mrs. Wall, at "Brook House," and afterwards a short meeting
(the 407th) was held, Mr. J. C. Shenstone, F.L.S. Vice-President, 111 the
chair. The following were elected members :—
Mr. J. R. Airey, M.A., B.Sc., Principal of the West Ham Technical
Institute, 73, Claremont Road, Forest Gate, E.
Mrs. J, R. Airey, 73, Claremont Road, Forest Gate, E.
A hearty vote of thanks was passed to our kind hosts, and an in-
spection of the house enabled the visitors to see some very good 17th cen-
tury oak-panelling, which had been recently exposed from its coating
of plaster. Then the party walked by a field path to the cutting of the
loop railway line between Chigwell and Grange Hill Stations, to inspect,
by permission of the G.E.R., the section (now somewhat defaced by slips),
at about 200 ft. O.D., of the high-level gravel of the Valley Drift.
MEETING IN THE ARKESDEN AND ELMDON DISTRICT
(THE CHALK DOWNS OF ESSEX).—THE 408th MEETING.
Saturday, 22nd June 1912.
This meeting was organised by Mr. Guy Maynard, Curator of the
Saffron Walden Museum, and Mr. G. Morris, B.Sc., of the Friends' School.
Other conductors were Mr. L. F. Newman, of the School of Agriculture,
Cambridge, Mr. Whitaker, F.R.S., and Mr. J. T. Wilkes, J.P.
The geology and botany of the district are of considerable interest,
and, aided by fine weather, a most enjoyable day was spent.
The London party arrived at Audley End station by slip carriage
attached to the 8.40 express from Liverpool Street, and being met by the
county members, proceeded by brakes to Newport, where Mr. Whitaker
made a few remarks on the interesting well boring at Newport Grammar
School. Here, although the Chalk was expected at a moderate depth
from the surface, yet no less than 340 feet of drift sands and clays were
pierced without its being reached, the bottom of the bore being 138 feet
below the present sea level when it was abandoned. The evidence of
other local wells also pointed to the existence of an ancient gorge or river
channel running through the district, which was filled up with drift sands
and clays probably during the Glacial Period. Proceeding to Wicken
Bonhunt, the little wayside chapel of St. Helen, now used as a stable,