THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 261
Five years before his death, that is in 1593, Rowland Rampston parted
with this estate, by sale, under the name of "Gowers and Buckerels,
alias Pimp Manor," to John Hare, Lucy his wife, and Nicholas their son,
and Nicholas in 1598 sold it to Nicholas Barnsley. By inheritance it came
to his daughter Susan, who carried it by marriage to her husband George
Nodes, who was in possession in 1630, for in that year he put in his claim
at the Court of Stratford Langthorne for the privileges of a manor, which
was allowed with the exception of Free Warren, Soon after this date
he sold it to Thomas Gundrey, first secretary in the Treasurer's Remem-
brancer's office in the Exchequer, from whom it descended to his son,
grandson and great grandson, all named Thomas, which last conveyed it
in 1730 to Israel Hammond, whose son James, a ginger bread baker,
inherited, and his daughter succeeding to the property, it became vested
in Joseph Venour, her husband. In 1832 it was in William Dent.
In the Court-rolls of the Manor of Chingford St. Paul occur occasional
references to this property. Thus, on 2 June, 1626, order is made to
John Noades to scour his ditch from Snigges to Buckerills, and on 18 May,
1627 the tenant, possessor or occupier of Bockerells to cleanse his ditches
and plash his hedges from Botfield to the Hall in Manfield Lane before
Xmas. Penalty 8d. per perch. This ditch evidently fouled rapidly,
or was neglected, for similar orders are made in 1628 and 1630, At the
court of 30 May, 1634, presentment was made of the death of Susan,
wife of George Nodes, and that George Nodes, her younger son, was her
next heir according to the custom of the manor. Nevertheless we find a
surrender made to the use of George Nodes, her husband, dated 14 Apl.
1632, but we cannot say whether she herself was examined. At this
court, according to the custom, proclamation in a loud voice, and thrice,
was made, that George Nodes Junior, if he wished to claim should come
and take it up and satisfy the lord's claims under penalty of forfeiture.
George Nodes, the son, duly turned up at the next court of 6 Oct.,
1634, made fealty, and was fined £26 to be paid at All Saints following.
Thomas Gundrey, gent., was fined in 1641, 1645 and 1646.
The house is of two storeys, timber framed and plastered, and would
appear to have been originally constructed on an L-shaped plan probably
late in the 16th century. It is said to bear the date 1576 on its S.W.
front, and as this date corresponds with the style and method of con-
struction, it may be assumed with a fair amount of certainty that it was
either begun or finished in that year. On the same front is an original
window of two lights with a moulded frame. Parts have been repaired.
but the ancient work is still in good condition. Internally the original
plan is difficult to make out, so many alterations have been made and
smaller rooms constructed out of larger, but some original ceiling beams
remain.
Standing over an old well to the north of the house is the 17th century
timber framed and plastered dove house, and on the west is a barn of
five bays of the same date, timber framed and weather boarded.
From Pimphall Farm the visitors proceeded over Friday Hill, pausing
to admire the extensive view eastwards over the Ching valley to the
opposite ridge of Buckhurst Hill and Woodford, thence descending to
Chingford Hatch and, passing Nightingale Hall, by way of the Sale to