228
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
Striking across the marshes by a rough track, the visitors reached
the sea wall near to "Fleet Head," and here, at 1.20 o'clock, lunch was
taken, the party seated on the earthen wall and basking in the gratefully
warm sunshine, with far views over the fleets and saltings. A long winding
marsh-pool in the foreground was fringed with a markedly crimson border
of Salicornia herbacea—a glorious subject for an artist ! Here collections
were made of various salt-marsh plants flowering profusely at the base
of the sea wall, such as Salicornia herbacea, Sueda maritima, Aster Tripolium
and Statice Limonium.
Proceeding along the wall in its tortuous course towards Barling,
much interest was shown by the rinding of the cast sloughs of two Grass
Snakes, which were partially drawn into holes in the bank, presumably
by the snakes themselves in the act of wriggling out of their old skins,
and which were with difficulty dug out, almost entire, by Mr. F. J. Lambert,
who, with Mr. L. S. Harley, had organised the expedition and who acted
as conductor on the occasion.
Arrived in Barling village, which abuts directly upon the creek and
marsh, the parish church, dedicated to All Saints, was visited : apart
from its noble stone W. Tower, Barling church presents comparatively
little of architectural interest. The late 17th century oak pulpit, with its
sounding board, is an arresting feature. Two small headless and other-
wise defaced white alabaster figures preserved in the vestry are relics of
an earlier (15th century) reredos.
Leaving the church, an inspection was made of the near by Barling
Mill, a smock mill on a circular brick base, now, alas, without sails. Mr.
Salmon supplies the following description of this windmill from his notes :—
" An octagonal smock of 4 floors surmounted by cap, standing on
" circular red brick base. The cap is of the Kentish boat-shaped pattern
" prevalent in South Essex (e.g., Upminster, South Ockendon, Orsett, etc.).
" One of the earliest smocks in England stood on this site, as one with
" a cap similar to the present one is marked on Chapman & Andre's map
" (published 1777, material gathered 1772-4) : on this map 129 post-mills
" are marked, but only 6 smocks or towers. Whether the present smock
" at Barling is the same as that shown is uncertain. This mill never
" had a fantail and the gearing (mainly of iron) for bringing the cap round
" into the wind by hand is still in good condition. There is no other
" hand-turned cap to a smock or tower in Essex, although they were
" formerly quite common (e.g.. Great Bardfield till 1904, and Great
" Ilford in 1899). Apart from the above-mentioned gearing, the working
" parts of the mill (brake wheel, main shaft, etc.) are entirely of wood,
" excepting, of course, the governor. There were 3 pairs of stones : 5
" of the stones are in situ, the sixth being outside by the mill house.
" These stones were driven from underneath. One triple governor
" controlled all three pairs of stones, the only triple governor I have seen.
" The stones are about 4 ft. in diameter, or slightly more. The sails were
" taken off circa 1890, and apparently grinding was subsequently carried
" on by engine. There are the remains of a flour boulter. Structurally
" the mill is still fairly sound, and is an exceptionally interesting example
" on account of the triple governor, the handworked cap and the possibly
" early date."