THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
303
The spring flowers noted included Genista anglica, Wood Violet, Wood
Sorrel, Ground Ivy, Greater Stitchwort, Arenaria trinervia, and Holly.
In one of the larger ponds at Cuckoo Pits the hepatic, Riccia fluitans,
was found growing in profusion, associated with quantities of Lemna tri-
sulca. The rarer Liverwort, Ptilidium pulcherrimum, was found in its
known station.
Various specimens of myxomycetes were noticed : Reticularia lycoperdon
occurred frequently on old tree-trunks, and fine masses of Lycogala
epidendrum were seen.
A magnificent Beech tree near Ludgate Plain attracted general admira-
tion, especially as growing in a low-lying part of the Forest, where beeches
are not of very frequent occurrence.
The Hon. Secretary pointed out a prehistoric cooking-site on the
bank of the Cuckoo Brook, which he had investigated a couple of months
earlier. A black carbonaceous layer is exposed in the bank of the brook,
extending continuously for some 16 feet, and 4 inches in thickness in the
centre, thinning out to each end ; it lies immediately on bare clay, and
is overlain by a later accumulation of rainwash up to 18 inches thick.
The black layer contains many hundreds of calcined flint "potboilers,"
but no pottery fragments nor flakes were found in it. The party evinced
considerable interest in the site, and specimens of the "potboilers" were
collected by various members.
After a delightful ramble Gillwell Lane was reached at 2.30 o'clock,
and the White Cottage, the residence of our member, Miss A. Hibbert-
Ware, F.L.S., was visited. Here our hostess greeted the party most
hospitably, and cups of tea were served to those "weaker vessels" of
both sexes (including the recorder), who felt in need of mild stimulation.
Miss Hibbert-Ware exhibited her extensive collection of bird-skins, made
by herself, and gave a charming account of incidents connected with
their acquisition, it being, as is well known, her firm resolve that no bird
should be sacrificed for its skin.
At shortly after 3 o'clock the adjacent Gillwell Hall was approached,
and here the visitors were welcomed by Major Lucas, the mess president,
and Mr. J. S. Wilson, camp chief.
Mr. S. J. Barns, who was of the party, kindly contributes the following
account of Gillwell Hall and Park, which comprises in all some 63 acres.
Gillwell Hall, standing in, a park of between sixty and seventy acres,
is in the hamlet of Sewardstone, in the parish of Waltham Holy Cross.
Sewardstone Manor was given by Henry II. to Waltham Abbey when
he dismissed the Dean and secular Canons instituted by Harold and
converted this religious house into an Augustinian order (1177). It re-
mained in the possession of the Abbey for 363 years, being surrendered to
King Henry VIII, on the dissolution, 23rd March, 1540, at which time the
rents of the manor were £11 3s. 4d. King Edward VI. granted this manor
of Sewardstone to Sir Ralph Sadleir, but he did not retain it very long,
as in 1547 Sir Anthony Denny, by licence, purchased it from him on
July 1. With the exception of Sewardstone and Woodridden the con-
ventual estates of Waltham, including the right of advowson, the tithes,
the patronage of the vicarage and the site of the Abbey, with the manor,
were granted by Edward VI. to Sir Anthony Denny, who was one of his