THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 223
(in the true sense) this charming old Essex building, which, before his
advent, had long been in a crumbling state of decay. Mr. Hughes-Hughes
has also unmasked the foundations of the early 13th century monastic
buildings and church, which were destroyed at the Reformation by Lord
Rich, to provide a site for his baronial hall, and to-day the foundations
both of the destroyed church and of the ruined mansion of the destroyer
lie open to the sky in the grounds of the present owner. The site of an
extensive series of fish ponds belonging to the original Priory (now drained)
can also be seen in the valley of the little river Ter above the house.
The house contains a large collection of ethnographical, antiquarian
and other objects, including many interesting relics discovered during the
recent excavation of the site of the monastic buildings, and Mr. Hughes-
Hughes possesses a fine collection of birds' eggs.
The company was most kindly received by Mr. Hughes-Hughes, and
conducted to the many places of interest in his charming domain. Lun-
cheon was served on tables in the open courtyard or lawn.
Afterwards Mr. Wickham Chancellor gave an account of the buildings
and the works undertaken under his supervision, as architect, for the
restoration, and also demonstrated the foundations of the old structures
which had been traced out during the excavations. It is impossible to
describe here the fine gatehouse and the most judicious restorations under-
taken by the present owner. Everyone present was delighted with the
work and taste displayed in pres?rving the remains of this beautiful his-
toric mansion. The reader is referred to the excellent paper on the history
and structure of the Priory by Miss C, Fell Smith, published with some
very beautiful pictures in Country Life for 4th April 1914. Everyone
interested in Essex should procure this paper.
Most cordial votes of thanks were offered to Mr. Hughes-Hughes for
his delightful kindness and hospitality, and to Mr. Wickham Chancellor
for his very interesting demonstrations.
The journey was then resumed via Hartford End, How Street, and
Great Waltham, to Fanners Green, near which a large pit, some 30 or 40
feet deep, was inspected (Dannatt's Pit), at about 200 feet O.D. A large
colony of sand martins (one of the largest in the county) have excavated
their nests in the sandy seams of this pit.
Mr. W. H. Dalton, F.G.S., F.C.S., who was with the party, very
kindly furnished the Editor with the following notes of points of
geological interest noticed during the day :—
The region traversed consists of the following geological subdivisions :
Modern Alluvium.
Chalky Boulder-clay (Upper Glacial)
Coarse gravel, sand and loam (Middle Glacial)
Westleton Shingle (Pre-Glacial).
London Clay.
The London Clay extends downwards from its irregularly worn sur-
face to about 170 feet below Ordnance Datum in Chelmsford, rising so
gently northwards that at Felsted it is still some 12 feet below datum, a
rise of not quite 22 inches per mile. The dip of the chalk surface, from
which the London Clay is separated by the Reading and Thanet Beds, is
considerably greater, as the Thanets, 30 feet thick at Chelmsford, are want-