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THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB—REPORTS OF
MEETINGS.
VISIT TO THE ORSETT DISTRICT (671ST MEETING),
SATURDAY, 26TH APRIL, 1930.
This meeting had for objects a nature-ramble across the "Essex
fenland" (Bulphan and Orsett fens) and a visit to several buildings of
antiquarian and architectural interest in the district. 30 members
attended.
Assembled at Ockendon station at 10.22 o'clock, where a floral welcome
was given us by a glorious bank of Lamium purpureum, the party passed
through the quiet village to South Ockendon Hall, where the remains
of the gatehouse of the former moated Hall were inspected. Mr. John
Salmon, who was the leader for the day, gave a brief account of the history
of this manor of Bruyns, as it was formerly called : all that now remains
of the gatehouse is a length of about forty feet of stone wall with traces
of the entrance gateway. The large thatched barn adjoining, now judged
to be unsafe and soon to be demolished, was also inspected. Skirting
the broad moat, which is of unusual width on the south side and forms
a lake-like expanse, the picturesque view of the Windmill, seen across
the water and reflected therein, was much admired: some geese with their
goslings heightened the beauty of the scene. A water-mill stood, in the
13th century, on the site of the present windmill, and the associated
millponds are marked by three depressions in the ground nearby.
The windmill is of the smock type and was in use until some three
years ago, since when it already shows sad signs of dilapidation; the party,
in detachments, climbed the narrow stairs and inspected the whole
interior curiously.
From here, a little used lane, with deep ruts, led to the fens, where it
ended abruptly, and the rest of the journey lay across these bare, treeless
spaces, now reclaimed as pasture land and grazed by many sheep. The
day was dull, with no distant views: save for the conversation of the
party, a profound stillness reigned, broken only by the constant singing
of larks : no sound of traffic from the distant roads was audible in this
solitary country, where swallows, peewits, ducks, and an occasional gull
flying over were the only evident signs of life other than the grazing
sheep and cattle. A peewit's nest, containing four eggs, was found and,
of course, left untouched.
No profusion of wild flowers was seen; Miss Prince recorded a total
of 30 species, including Lithospermum arvense, but no rarieties were noted.
On arrival at the Mardyke lunch was taken, some members of the
party perilously perching themselves (for lack of better accommodation)
on the old decayed wooden bridge which, derelict, adjoins the modern
iron bridge over the stream. Orsett village, embowered in orchards in
full bloom, was reached at 3 o'clock. Passing Orsett House, a plain
square Georgian building, and the village pound, the Parish Church was
first visited, and proved to be of much interest: the fine Norman south
doorway, with its scratch dials, the Perpendicular font (c. 1500), the two