40 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
Others, who were unable to leave town earlier, travelled down by early
afternoon trains and joined the main party in the meadows near Abridge.
The route taken, some six miles long in all, was designedly by field-
paths and bridle-paths and by the river banks, roads being avoided as far
as possible. During the ramble, several portions of the narrow mediaeval
highway from London to Harlow, now long since disused by travellers,
and in places overgrown, were explored.
At the picturesque old church of All Saints, at Theydon Garnon, the
visitors were received and welcomed by the rector, the Rev. W. P. Rowley,
and here a brief account of the architectural history of the fabric and of
the interesting Priest's House in the churchyard was given by Mr. Percy
Thompson. The wish was voiced that steps might be taken in the County
to raise a fund to restore the old Priest's House, now in a deplorable state
of dilapidation, before it fell into actual ruin.
The registers and the contents of the fine iron-bound oak church chest,
where inspected with much interest.
Leaving the church, after thanks had been tendered to Mr. Rowley
for his kindly welcome, the Party picnicked in the mediaeval roadway
before mentioned, and later made its way across country to the Roding
meadows, where a number of riverside plants were noted and gathered.
Notwithstanding the exceptional drought, which had persisted from
early spring until only a week before the excursion, no less than seventy-
seven wild plants, actually in flower, were recorded during the day's ramble.
None of these were noteworthy rarities, however.
On arrival at Abridge the preparation of tea was expedited in deference
to the feelings of some of the weaker members of the party, who were chilled
by the persistent wind.
After tea a short formal meeting of the Club was held, with the Presi-
dent in the chair, when
Mr. H. S. Cousens, M.A., of 60, Croftdown Road, Highgate Road, N.W.5,
Mr. Arthur C. Guppy, of The Coppice, Hutton, and
Mr. C. Rix Jeyes, of The Lindens, Hutton,
were elected to membership, and three additional candidates were
nominated. The President alluded to the presence with the party of a
distinguished visitor, Dr. R. Lloyd Praeger, of Dublin, and of our honorary
member, Dr. A. Smith Woodward, President of the Linnean Society.
The homeward journey from Abridge, by field-path and bridle-path
to Chigwell Lane Station, was undertaken in a drizzle of rain which had
now set in; a few more plants were collected, and the ponds and swamps
en route were tried for microscopic life, but failed to yield any noteworthy
"takes"; a small pit in the Roding Valley gravel was visited by a few of
the party, and specimens of Hertfordshire conglomerate, Bunter quart-
zites, and Carboniferous sandstone were noted.
The up-train was caught at Chigwell Lane at 7.5 o'clock, and so con-
cluded a pleasant day's excursion in spite of somewhat bleak climatal
conditions.