THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
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peewit, heron, rock-pipit, sedge-warbler, Whitethroat, lesser Whitethroat,
swallow, housemartin, willow warbler, magpie, jay, little owl, partridge and
green woodpecker. Scattered feathers of a dunlin—probably the victim
of a hawk—were picked up, which showed the cinnamon edging to the black
rump feathers characteristic of the summer plumage of the bird.
Striking inland from the coast by fieldpath and lane, Bradwell village
was regained at just before 4 o'clock.
At the Rectory, the party was welcomed by Canon and Mrs. Owen,
who had kindly supplied tea in their dining room—a very welcome meal.
After tea, by Canon Owen's permission, a brief formal meeting of the Club
was held, with Miss G. Lister, F.L.S., in the chair, when two certificates of
nomination for membership were read. The visitors then divided into two
parties, which were alternately conducted over the Church by Canon
Owen and over the Rectory by Mrs. Owen.
The parish church, dedicated to St. Thomas, has been largely restored
in modern times and now presents few points of architectural interest. The
chancel arch dates from the early 14th century, as does the font, which is
curiously embellished with grotesque human heads : this font was dug up
in 1870 by Canon Owen's father, the then rector, and replaces a more
modern one then in use. A small brass effigy, date 1526, of Margaret Wyott
in pedimental head-dress, is affixed to the north wall of the chancel.
The village lock-up, built in 1817 and whipping posts, added in 1823,
and a much-worn mounting block, adjoin the churchyard wall and were
in turn curiously inspected.
Mrs. Owen did the honours of the Rectory in charming fashion. The
Library, situated in the older north wing, was built in Henry VII's time,
and, with its adzed oak ceiling rafters and moulded beams, and lined as
it is with many tomes, is an ideal bookworm's retreat : the newer part of
the house, which dates from about 1780, includes some fine Adams mantel-
pieces and paintings by Angelica Kauffman. Mrs. Owen pointed out an
oil painting by Etty, another of Mr. Childers, Chancellor of the Exchequer
in one of Gladstone's Cabinets, and many other items in this richly fur-
nished residence. In the garden, a huge figtree, said to be 400 years old,
and covering 1-17th of an acre of ground, is supported on props, and still
bears a few figs each year.
At 6.30 o'clock, after Canon and Mrs. Owen had been warmly thanked
for their hospitable reception, leaves were taken and the homeward journey
begun, Stratford being reached just two hours later.
BOTANICAL RAMBLE IN THE RODING VALLEY
(703rd MEETING).
SATURDAY, 4TH JUNE, 1932.
A small party of some twenty members had a very enjoyable after-
noon ramble from Chigwell to Woodford on the above date, the principal
object being to study the flora—especially the grasses and sedges—of this
portion of the Roding valley, under the conductorship of the Misses E. A.
Greaves and E. Prince. Attention was also given to the birds seen or heard
during the ramble.
The party assembled at the entrance to Luxborough Lane, by "West
Hatch," 1/2 mile to the south of Chigwell railway station on the road to