THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
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It fell into the hands of Henry VIII. in 1537 in an exchange of lands
with the Earl of Rutland. The King granted it under the title of "late
parcel of lands of George Monoux" (a famous Lord Mayor of London and
founder of the school and almshouses bearing his name in Walthamstow),
to Geofrey Lukyn and his heirs. Lukyn sold it to Rowland Rampston, a
prominent Essex benefactor, buried in Chingford Old Church.
From the Rampstons the estate passed to John Hare, whose descendant
sold it in 1598 to Nicholas Barnsley. His son-in-law, in 1630, is recorded
as putting in a claim at Stratford Langthorne for the privileges of a manor
(which were allowed).
Shortly after this date Thomas Gundry, "first secretary of the
Treasurer's Remembrancer's office in the exchequer," bought the property
and it remained in his family for a century.
Some minor changes of ownership followed, culminating in William
Dent as holder in 1832. The estate, which has now reverted to the
manor of Chingford Earls, has been leased by the Bolton family for close
on a hundred years. On September 27th, 1928, the last Bolton tenant
moved out, having sold the unexpired lease (with seven years to run) to
Mr. Alfred Low, of Chingford.
The house itself stands in a beautiful setting on rising ground near the
outskirts of Epping Forest. It is well proportioned and picturesque.
It was built in the latter half of the 16th century on an L-shaped plan,
of two storeys with timber frame, plastered, upon a brick base. The
roofs are tiled ; the chimneys are fairly modern, but appear to have
replaced Tudor stacks of similar proportions. On the west front is a
large original window with moulded timber frames and many of the
ceiling beams are exposed.
Adjacent to the house at the western corner is a long well-preserved
barn of 17th century work. It has five bays with braced tie-beams and
wind-braced purlins, the whole frame being of timber, weather boarded
without, and the roof tiled. On the opposite side of the open space in
front of the house stands a very fine half-timbered dove-house, large
and lofty. This also appears to be of the 17th century and is built over
an old well.
There are two later structures. The porch, which is unusual, shows
features of English Renaissance architecture and bears the date 1576.
This date is probably that of the main structure. To the west of the dove
house stood until quite recently a cow-shed of timber with tiled roof.
This had no features of interest, but was merely picturesque. Part of
it was blown down in the gale of Nov. 16th, 1928. Some pieces of pond
water exist, possibly remnants of a moat, such as are still found in many
farms further north in the Stort and Lea valleys. The house is ap-
proached by a broad avenue of ancient and majestic elms.
The Curator exhibited a number of photographs of old Stratford and
Forest Gate, copied from negatives or photographic prints kindly loaned
By various old residents.
Mr. Thompson also exhibited a Great Skua (Stercorarius catarrhactes),
shot at Fowlness in January, 1908, by Mr. Geo. Cole, of Fowlness, and
presented by him to the Club as a skin ; this has only recently been set-up
in the Museum for exhibition. He also exhibited a series of eighteen