THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
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b. Workers engaged in the staple industries of the town, agriculture,
weaving and dyeing.
c. The Battle of Maldon.
d. King John presenting a Charter to the town.
e. John Ray, the celebrated naturalist of Black Notley.
f. Braintree pilgrim-fathers sailing for America in 1632 in the "Lion."
g. The Martyrdom of William Piggott, a butcher of Braintree, in 1555.
The Chairman's Room, with its beautifully "quartered" walnut
panelling, and other almost equally richly lined Committee Rooms, were
inspected, and lastly the Museum, which contains many most interesting
exhibits of local character, such as specimens illustrating the former straw
plaiting industry of the district, a bronze mortar dated 1662 and a pill-
making machine, the stock-in-trade of an old time Braintree chemist,
examples of Castle Hedingham pottery, a model of Braintree Town Hall,
a "Scold's Bridle" (with a photograph of Mr. Hills wearing same !), and
many other "bygones" of local interest.
After the Hon. Secretary had voiced the thanks of the party to Mr.
Hills for his services throughout the day, leaves were taken and the
vehicles regained.
At 6.30 the homeward drive, by way of Chelmsford, Ongar and Epping,
began, and Stratford was reached at about 8.30 o'clock.
VISIT TO BRADWELL-JUXTA MARE (702nd MEETING.)
SATURDAY, 7TH MAY, 1932.
Over forty members took part in this excursion which took place,
strangely enough, in fine weather, the occasion being favoured with a warm
sunny day, after a long period of rain and wind.
The main party travelled down by motor-coach, other members came
by their own cars, Bradwell being reached at 12 noon precisely.
The restored Saxon Chapel of St. Peter-on-the-Wall was first visited :
this is one of the very oldest Churches in England, having been built about
the year 654 by Cedd, Bishop of the East Saxons. It was damaged, but
not destroyed, by Danish pirates in 870, later was probably a Benedictine
priory, at some period during medieval times fell into disuse, and for more
recent centuries suffered desecration as a barn, until, in 1920, it was re-
consecrated as a Chapel of the Cathedral of Chelmsford. It is built
entirely of materials taken from the derelict Roman fortress of Othona,
which formerly occupied its site, the Chapel being actually astride the
Praetorian Gate of the fort. An original eastern apse was destroyed, but
its foundation is still traceable beyond the present square east wall of the
Chapel: in this east wall were formerly three round-headed openings into
the original apsidal chancel, built of Roman bricks [considerable discussion
has taken place as to the number of these openings, it being noted that the
curvature of the remaining portions of the arches, over the side openings
scarcely allows room for three equal-width openings ; it is evident, however,
when viewed from the exterior that the arches, as now existing, are broken-
backed by slipping during later alterations : if correction be allowed for this
distortion, the difficulty disappears] : the window opening in the west
wall is the only original one left and it too is formed of Roman bricks.