THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
311
"earths" were numerous. Here an important botanical discovery
awaited the party, a patch of Lycopodium clavatum being found growing
in the pit : unfortunately the plant was seared by a recent grass-fire,
but was certainly alive and growing in this unsuspected locality. A
specimen was gathered for the Club's herbarium.
A stroll along the crest of the hill past the new church of Langdon
Hills gave us another view-point, equally extensive, in the direction of
London : the Crystal Palace, and, on rare occasions, St. Paul's and West-
minster Abbey, can, we were told, be seen from hereabouts in favourable
circumstances.
Tea was taken at the Crown Hotel, following which the President
expressed the thanks of the party to our leader and also to Mr. Watkin
for the services they had rendered during the excursion. Mr. Harley
and Mr. Watkin severally thanked the President for his remarks.
Continuing the ramble, the visitors made their way by field path
across country over the foothills to the newly-acquired sports field of
some 12 acres, which was already being utilised as cricket-pitches by the
village lads, and so back into Laindon, where a hurried visit was paid
to Great Gubbins farm, with the remains of its homestead moat.
At 6.50 o'clock the return train to town was easily caught, and a
successful day's expedition brought to a close.
FIELD MEETING AT LITTLE BADDOW (658TH MEETING).
SATURDAY, 1ST JUNE, 1929.
This meeting was organised by Mr. F. W. Thorrington to allow of
natural history pursuits in this charmingly diversified district, and also,
in response to kind invitations from the owners, to inspect some of the
old-world residences in the neighbourhood.
The party, to the number of forty persons, which included some
half-dozen members of the affiliated Chelmsford and District Field Club,
assembled at Chelmsford Railway Station shortly before 11.30 o'clock
and thence proceeded by private char-a-banc and cars to the entrance to
Riffham's Chase, on the road to Danbury, where it was met by Mr.
Thorrington, our leader for the day, and the conveyances left.
Passing along a picturesque lane where Melica uniflora was noticed
on the hedge-bank, and through the well-wooded Chase, Old Riffhams
was reached, and here Mr. and Mrs. Paterson welcomed the party and
conducted it over the house and gardens. Old Riffhams is a picturesque
Elizabethan building, built about [563, and much altered in external
appearance by a new facade being added in Queen Anne's time. The
interior exhibits a quantity of early 17th century oak panelling, especially
in the Hall, which also possesses an original brick fireplace of that date.
A small panelled "powder-closet" opens out of one corner of the Hall.
A fine hob grate is in the Drawing Room, and a window on the upper stair-
landing retains its original 16th century sash with moulded muntins
and transome.
Mr. Leonard Wooley, the archaeologist, lived here before Mr. Paterson
came into residence.