120 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
to Gravesend, to bar the river-passage. Here it was that Queen Eliza-
beth visited her troops in person, and harangued them: here, too, it was
that the first tidings came of the dispersal of the great Armada by the
mosquito-like attacks of the tiny English vessels.
A line of entrenchment, believed to mark an ancient camp of much
earlier date than that of Elizabeth, may be seen running along to the
south of the Church and Hall, just below the crest of the hill.
A walk of 11/2 mile brought the party to Chadwell St. Mary, whose ancient
Church of Norman date was next visited, and was found to possess many
points of interest the north door with its Norman tympanum and arch
enriched with the "sunk-star ornament," the remains of the original
Norman clerestory windows, the curious trefoil-headed external niche
at the side of the W. door, the rood-stair (now debased to serve the exit
of an iron smoke-pipe!), and some excellent Jacobaean wood panelling
to a window seat in the chancel, were in turn inspected and admired.
Two Sarsen stones in the churchyard, one of them with typically
mamillated surface, and both probably derived from the Thanet Sand,
were viewed with interest.
As the afternoon was rapidly passing, it was decided to walk back
to Tilbury, across the marshland, instead of continuing along the ridge
to Low Street station as originally proposed. Several yellow wagtails
were seen on the way, and Hottonia palustris and an uncommon variety
of moss (Hypnum riparium, var. longifolium) were gathered in a marsh-
ditch.
Tilbury station was regained at about 5.15 o'clock, and tea was ex-
peditiously served to the weary ramblers in the Tea Room adjoining the
Booking Hall.
After tea a formal Meeting of the Club was held, with Miss E. Willmott,
F.L.S., V.M.H., in the Chair, when Mr. Henry F. Ball, of 30, Upton Avenue,
Forest Gate, and Mr. Alfred J. Heasman, of "Erlsmere," Pembury Road,
Westcliff-on-Sea, were elected members, and one nomination was read.
Train was taken at 6.20 o'clock for London.
BOTANICAL RAMBLE FROM CHINGFORD TO ENFISLD
(504th MEETING).
Saturday, 5th July 1919
In spite of a threatening weather-outlook, following a night of heavy
rain, 21 Members presented themselves for this expedition, which involved
a cross-country walk of 81/2 miles, chiefly through grass: happily, q a.m.
brought a promise of better things, and, with the exception of a heavy
downpour in the late afternoon, when the Party were luckily in shelter,
the day continued fair and dry.
Assembling at Chingford railway station shortly before 11 o'clock,
the visitors walked briskly through the town and down the hill to the
King George Reservoir of the Metropolitan Water Board in the Lea Valley,
where they were met by our Member and Conductor, Mr. J. Mackworth
Wood, M.I.C.E., who is Chief Engineer to the Board (Northern Section).
Entering the Reservoir enclosure, the party was shown the outlet