THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
147
presented a pleasing prospect to the farmer and his family when they
came to inspect their guests.
From here the route pursued was by way of Thornwood Common
to the Lower Forest, which was traversed from north to south ; whence,
across Epping Plain, the town of Epping was reached at about 4.30 o'clock.
after a total ramble of somewhat over 61/2 miles.
Tea was taken at the Cock Hotel in the High Street, following which
the party left for home by bus, train or car.
A total of 79 species of wild flowers was recorded by the Misses Greaves
and Prince; among the more interesting were Genista anglica, Sanicula
europaea, Viburnum opulus, Lysimachia nemorum, Veronica chamaedrys,
Lamium Galeobdolon, and Ulmus glabra, the last in abundant fruit.
Nearly all the bird migrants were seen or heard during the day, in-
cluding nightingale, Chiffchaff, willow wren, cuckoo, blackcap, white-
throat, housemartin, swallow and swift; other birds noted were peewit,
pheasant, stockdove, sky-lark, wren, and redbreast.
VISIT TO LAYER MARNEY (717TH MEETING).
SATURDAY, 27TH MAY, 1933.
In response to a kind invitation from Dr. and Mrs. Campbell for the
Club to visit them at Layer Marney Hall, a meeting was arranged in that
neighbourhood on the above date, in which just sixty members and
friends took part.
Travelling from town in motor-coaches or in cars, the party assembled
at Messing Church at shortly after 11.30 o'clock, and were welcomed by
the vicar, the Rev. W. G. Whittam, who gave a brief account of the
sacred edifice and its contents. He said that the church, dedicated to
All Saints, had been largely rebuilt during the last century, but still pre-
sented some ancient features, especially in the Chancel, in the walls of
which Roman bricks are introduced. It is, however, in its interior fittings
that the chief interest of the building consists; the very beautiful Jacobean
oak panelling of the sanctuary, 6 feet in height, and the pulpit, of like
character, are especially noteworthy; the Flemish glass of the east
window is also remarkable. The huge church chest, over 7 feet in
length, is among the largest in the county; it dates from the 13th or
14th century, is strongly bound with iron strap-bands, and, as the vicar
reminded us, has a history. During the iconoclastic Puritan regime of
the 17th century, this chest was filled with the altar-vessels and the old
glass from the E. window, and was buried to be out of the way of danger
from fanatics. Hanging in the S. transept are the Royal Arms, dated
1634, on the back of which are the insignia of Charles, Prince of Wales.
The oak panelling of the S. wall of the sanctuary contains a lifting panel,
which conceals a cavity in which the registers, which go back to 1558,
are now kept.
Regaining the vehicles after a three-quarter hour stay at the church, the
visitors drove by way of Tiptree village, passing the well-known jam factory,
to Park Farm, Tolleshunt Knights. From this point a cross-country walk
was entered upon, during which opportunity was taken to search for wild
flowers and insects, and to observe the bird-life of |the district. Lunch