THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 85
Miss E. Willmott, F.L.S., who was of the party, remarked that she
had known this plant as growing wild on her own land at Great Warley
for many years, and produced several freshly gathered specimens. Some
ten years ago she had also noticed it growing abundantly in a field at
Stifford, but did not know whether it still persisted there.
The President expressed warm appreciation of Miss Prince's excellent
arrangements for what had been a delightful excursion, and the thanks
of those present were heartily accorded to Miss Prince.
The return walk to East Horndon station was made by way of Childer-
ditch, which afforded beautiful views over the lower country of the Thames
valley to the distant blue Kentish hills beyond.
VISIT TO COGGESHALL (582nd MEETING).
SATURDAY, 3IST MAY, 1924.
This visit was arranged, firstly, as permission had been obtained to
inspect the famous Paycocke's House, which had recently been handed
over to the National Trust, as a public possession, by our Member, the
Right Hon. Noel E. Buxton, M.P., Minister of Agriculture, and secondly,
to inspect the many other interesting buildings in this old-world town,
under the expert guidance of the Rev. William C. Hall.
The party travelled by train leaving Liverpool Street at 10.47 o'clock,
and arrived at Kelvedon at 12.22 o'clock. Nearly 40 members and
friends took part in the excursion.
At Kelvedon station a motor-omnibus was waiting to convey the
visitors to Coggeshall, which was reached by 12.45 o'clock.
A visit was first made to St. Nicholas Chapel, built about 1220 A.D.,
and formerly the Gate-house Chapel of the Cistercian Abbey ; it is a
remarkably early example of mediaeval brick building.
Passing the site, now an open field, of the Abbey Church of St. Mary,
not one fragment of which former stately edifice remains above ground
(as Miss Eileen Power has it, the church is now "only a shadow on the
surface of a field in hot weather"), and proceeding to the Abbey Farm,
some time was spent in examining the 12th and 13th century remains
of the Cistercian Abbey (founded about 1140 A.D.), incorporated in the
picturesque 16th century dwelling house now on the site.
The charming surroundings were much admired ; the neighbouring
water-mill, once a silk mill and still retaining its characteristic "weavers'
windows," and the flower-bordered mill-stream and mill-pool formed by
diverting the river Blackwater, made a delightful picture, a real "abode
of ancient peace," which was greatly enjoyed by the visitors.
Entering the town proper, Paycocke's House, a handsome half tim-
hered building erected by John Paycocke, or Pecok, butcher, about 1500
A.D., was soon reached, and a detailed inspection made of it, both within
and without. John Paycocke probably built this house for the occupation
of his youngest son Thomas on his marriage, and he bequeathed it to
Thomas at his death in 1505. His Will exactly describes it as "my house
lying and bielded in the West Strete of Coggeshall afore the vicarage