312
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
Returning to the village by another route, a visit was paid, by invita-
tion, to the Rectory, where the Rev. H. M. Lang, M.A., received the visitors
in his garden and showed some of the fine trees which it contains. Grand
specimens of Turkey Oak, Cedar of Lebanon, Sequoia gigantea and
Copper Beech, together with Snowy Mespilus, Cut-leaved Birch, Judas
Tree, Catalpa and other trees, made a delightful sanctuary embowering
the retired parsonage.
The rector then led the way to his church, dedicated to St. Michael
the Archangel, a mellowed red-brick structure, known by documentary
evidence to have been built in 1562-3, its gables ornamented in the Dutch
Renaissance style with crow-stepping. Mr. Lang gave the visitors a brief
account of the fabric, which consists of a nave, north aisle and chancel,
with four-centred Perpendicular arches to the nave-arcade, probably,
derived from the earlier church which stood near, but not on, the same
site, and pointed out some late 14th century and 15th century fragments
of glass from the earlier church and the one remaining brass, a small
rectangular plate in the floor of the chancel, representing a human skull
a rare type in the county.
The church plate, consisting of a large flagon dated 1728, a paten
(1705) and a chalice (1646), each of silver, was exhibited and admired ;
and the earliest Register, dating from 1565, was inspected with interest.
From the church the party proceeded to the moated ruins of Woodham
Walter Hall, a building probably of 16th century date, the home of the
Barons Fitzwalter, which was demolished about the year 1700, leaving
to-day only the remains of the curtain wall next the moat and of the large
fishponds as evidences of its former importance. Here Mr. Lang read
to the assembled company a fascinating account of the frustrated attempt
to escape to the Spanish Court in Brussels of the Princess Mary (after-
wards Queen Mary "of bloody memory") in July, 1550, during the
short reign of her brother Edward VI. Listening to the detailed narrative
in that peaceful retired spot one could not but be impressed with the
important part so often played in history by similar out-of-the-world
villages, and one ruminated on the changes in our national religious
history which might have supervened had the attempt succeeded.
Time did not permit of Oak Farm, another 16th century erection,
which was probably originally an outbuilding belonging to the Hall,
being inspected.
Tea was taken at. the Bell Inn at 5 o'clock, after which an al fresco
meeting was held in a field above the village, at which, in the absence
abroad of our President, Miss G. Lister, F.L.S., the senior vice-president
present, presided. Two persons, Mrs. G. M. German, of 24, Water Lanc,
Ilford, and Mr. W. J. F. Barrett, of 125, Dyer's Hail Road, Leytonstone,
were elected members of the club, and thanks were voted to the Rev.
H. M. Lang and to Messrs. Mothersole and Thorrington for their services
as conductors.
The Hon. Secretary alluded to the co-operation of the Chelmsford
and District Field Club in the present excursion, and expressed a hope
that the future might see a closer association of that and similar local
societies with our Club, as affiliated bodies. Mr. Saunders replied for the