154 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
other objects of antiquity, were much admired. The early 17th century
staircase, with its carved open well, the original plastered ceiling of the
Saloon, and the contents of the fine libraries, may be mentioned as being
of special interest. Some time was spent in the lower corridor examining
the magnificent collection of stuffed birds and animals housed there. The
small Museum of antiquities, obtained from excavations in the locality by
the Hon. R. C. Neville between 1840-1860, was visited, and some time
was spent examining the Saxon remains from the cemeteries at Linton
and the Fleam Dyke, the fine series of Bronze Age pottery from the barrows
of the vicinity, and the Roman remains from Great Chesterford, Ickleton
and other sites. The buried outfit of a Roman blacksmith, with his stock-
in-trade of scythe blades, slave fetters, chariot tyres, etc., excited particular
attention.
Altogether our inspection of Audley End was a much more appreciative
one than was that of Samuel Pepys, who, on his second visit in 1667, was
decidedly difficult to please, and had scarcely a good word to say for either
the house or its furniture. But Pepys warmed up in the cellars! "Only
the gallery is good, and above all things the cellars, where we went down
and drank of much good liquor. And, indeed, the cellars are fine: and here
my wife and I did sing to my great content." The present party, although
"mighty merry," did not share the diarist's advantages in this respect.
Leaving the Mansion the visitors then inspected the Abbey Farm and
Almshouses. This interesting structure was built circa 1600 on a double
quadrangular plan as an almhouse of twenty tenements, with a chapel, hall
and kitchen in the range between the two courts. One court is still used
as an almshouse, the second being now converted into two tenements and
farm buildings. The Almshouse court, and the kitchen, with its fine fire-
place, were inspected. It was noted with regret that the leaded windows
with their fragments of stained glass from Walden Abbey and Jesus College,
Cambridge, were in a sad state of disrepair.
Returning to Walden, afternoon tea was partaken of in the Humming
Bird Room at the Museum, by kind invitation of Mr. and Mrs. George Morris,
after which the Castle was visited. This building was probably erected
upon the site of the Manor House of Ansgar, Master of the Horse to Edward
the Confessor, by Geoffrey de Mandeville, first Earl of Essex, who had re-
ceived the Manor of Walden as part of the 117 lordships granted him by
the Conqueror. The grim Norman keep, built entirely of flint and chalk,
was granted by Stephen on the rebellion of the third de Mandeville to one
Turgis d'Avranches, a typical "robber" baron. On the rebellion and
downfall of this said Turgis the Castle appears to have been dismantled,
as it is not mentioned in any later records. The present building consists
merely of the shell of the lower storey or dungeon, but traces of the well
shaft and fireplace of the first storey and the original wall facing are still
visible. In the Castle, an old stone filter from a farm at Hempstead, stone
coffins from Berden and Ickleton Priories, and the pillory from Newport
are preserved.
At 7.30 p.m. the members of the party attended a reception and enter-
tainment, given in their honour by the Worshipful Mayor (Alderman David
Miller, J.P.) and Corporation of the Borough. The visitors were received
in the Council Chamber by the Mayor and Mayoress. An excellent musical