94
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
picked stones nearby, one of the party, Mr. Mothersole, found a rough
palaeolithic implement of Chellean form. Some huge specimens of the
fungus, Polyporus squamosus, were noticed on a decaying tree.
From here, a long walk by lane and field path, the latter affording
fine views of the lower reaches of the Thames and of the Kentish shore
beyond, was entered upon until Mucking church was reached, whose
approach, by a fine chestnut avenue, was a grateful change after the
shadeless fields and roads. The church is very much restored, but the
triple Early English arcade in the north Avail of the chancel and the
carving to the central pillar of the south nave-arcade are interesting
features.
The 15th century gabled farmhouse now known as the Manor Farm,
but formerly called Cabborns, an example of an old-time manor house
with originally open central hall, was visited on the way back to Stanford-
le-Hope and inspected inside and out by permission of the tenant.
Arrived at Stanford, tea was taken at the King Street Bakery, after
which the Hon. Secretary, on behalf of the party, thanked Mr. L. S. Harley,
who had organised the excursion and acted as its conductor, for his services
throughout the day. The party then dispersed, at shortly before 6 o'clock,
to catch their various trains homewards.
Some 105 kinds of wild flowers were collected during the day, and of
these the more interesting were Ranunculus arvensis, Papaver Rhaeas,
P. dubium, P, argemone, Chelidonium majus, Thlaspi arvensis, Viola
tricolor, Spergula arvensis, Spergularia rubra, Spiraea filipendula, Scandix
Pecten-veneris, Scabiosa arvensis, Onopordon Acanthium, Centaurea
cyanus and Phalaris canariensis.
RAMBLE IN THE ABRIDGE AND THEYDON GARNON
DISTRICT (675TH MEETING.)
SATURDAY, 13TH SEPTEMBER, 1930.
History is said to have a habit of repeating itself, and certainly the
history of this day's field meeting was, in the matter of weather, a repetition
of our forbears' experience of just fifty years ago, almost to a day! On
September nth, 1880, our Club paid its first visit to Theydon Garnon
church; and on that occasion its recorder writes "our adventures are to
be wept over rather than recorded." The same might well be said by
the present chronicler of the repeat visit.
The excursion, planned to be, in the words of the Circular which
announced it, a "cross-country nature-ramble," had perforce to be
modified drastically on account of the weather, which, promising enough
at the outset, deteriorated by midday into a thoroughly soaking down-
pour, which persisted until early evening and effectually disorganised
the itinerary planned. Between forty and fifty members had notified
their intention of joining the excursion, but only about thirty-five
materialised and of these only a score of hardy specimens lasted out the
day, others dropping away homewards from time to time (not unwisely!)
as the diligent downpour soaked through their ineffective raiment.
Under the leadership of Miss G. Lister and the Honorary Secretary,