268 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
Wren's nest, constructed in a cocoanut shell, which was used by the
birds both for breeding: and also, in winter, for shelter. Miss Lister also
exhibited the nest of a Dormouse, constructed of the fibrous outer bark
of honeysuckle stems ; and also a curiously contorted growth of Hazel
stem, resembling a "witches-broom."
Mrs. Hatley showed an unusual form of Septarian nodule from the
London Clay at Chingford.
Mr. Avery exhibited Smith's Map of Essex, 1804, also sixteen prints
of Woodford, from his collection.
The Curator exhibited forty photographs of Great Bardfield and
Finchingfield from the Club's Pictorial Survey Collection ; also a Teal,
found dead at Staines in November last by Mr. W. E. Glegg and presented
by him, in the flesh, to the Stratford Museum, where it had been set-up
in flying attitude.
Mr. S. Hazzledine Warren, F.G.S., read a paper on "The Palaeolithic
Industries of the Clacton and Dovercourt Districts," which he illustrated
by numerous lantern-photographs and by specimens of the implements
typical of the various cultural stages described. Mr. A. S. Kennard,
F.G.S., followed with an account of the mollusca found at Lion Point
in association with palaeolithic implements, and described the probable
physical characters of the district at the time the beds were deposited.
A short discussion ensued, in which the President and the Horn
Secretary took part.
A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Messrs. Warren and Kennard
for their communications, and the meeting terminated.
VISIT TO WOODFORD (698TH MEETING).
SATURDAY. 12TH MARCH, 1932.
This visit, planned to afford an opportunity to inspect some of the
older and more interesting houses in Woodford, under the conductorship
of our member, Mr. C. Hall Crouch, Fellow of the Society of Genealogists,
was paid by some thirty members on the above afternoon in ideal weather
conditions of bright sunshine, accentuated, however, by a cold easterly
wind.
The party assembled slightly before 3 o'clock outside the first residence
to be visited, "Grove Hall" (formerly "The Grove"), which was inspected
by kind permission of Mr. and Mrs. J. Saxby and of Mr. Squire Single
and Mrs. Stirling Lee, the respective occupiers of the two holdings into
which this early 18th century building is now divided : the separate
two-story stable building is older, dating from the late 17th century.
A remarkable trophy mantelpiece in the hall, exhibiting various naval
emblems, which attracted the special attention of the visitors, bears the
arms of Captain Nicholas Eaton impaling those of his wife, Mary (married
in 1714), daughter of Peter (afterwards Sir Peter) Eaton. The same arms
appear on the magnificent wrought iron entrance foot-gates to the property.
Peter Eaton was living here in 1701 ; he was knighted on July 29th, 1715
Captain Nicholas Eaton was a naval officer, commanding a third-rate
man-of-war of 70 guns, the Sterling Castle, during the war with Spain.
He died in 1720. His will begins quaintly: "God's Will be done,
mine is as follows." His only son, Peter, succeeded to "The Grove"