150 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
on the south side a block of buildings about 45 feet in length. From its
more imposing and ornamental character it is evident that the principal
entrance was intended to be on the south side and not on the north, as
now, which is much plainer and heavier in appearance. As we have seen
this noble pile was begun in the early 16th century, the main material
employed being red brick with black diapering of the same material. The
east and west flankings are of two storeys, the gatehouse of three, with
semi-octagonal towers of eight stages; but the most notable feature is
the employment of terra cotta for the large windows of the tower and
the west wing, a material hitherto quite unknown in England, but not
uncommon in Italy. Layer Marney Towers, if not unique in this respect,
without doubt constitutes the best surviving example of Renaissance
Terra Cotta work in England. The credit of its introduction and use is
given to Girolamo de Travizi, who was architect to Henry VIII., and
would assuredly be well known to Lord Marney, and it is therefore probable
that he was responsible for designing and planning the Towers and possibly
personally superintended the erection. Two of the original chimney
shafts with moulded bases and spiral flutings, with spurs, remain. There
were originally six, but only the moulded bases of the other four exist,
the shafts having been rebuilt. A full description of the architectural
details, too numerous to mention now, will be found in the Report of the
Royal Commission for the Survey of Historical Monuments.
Upon the death of Henry, Lord Marney, in 1523, his son succeeded to
the property, but he died the following year, and his two daughters and
co-heiresses sold it to Sir Brian Tuke, secretary to Cardinal Wolsey.
Sir Brian died in 1545, and was followed by his third son, George Tuke,
who married Margaret, daughter of William Morice of Chipping Ongar,
and, dying in 1573, his son, Peter, sold it to Sir Samuel Tryon of Bois
Hall in Halstead. He died in 1627, and his son Samuel sold the estate
to John Ellys, woollen draper and alderman of London, who again sold
it to Nicholas Corsellis, of London, merchant. Subsequent owners were
of little importance; for a time it was used as a farm-house, and the building
was long neglected and uncared for; but when it was taken by Mr. W. M.
de Zoete he spent a good deal of money in putting it into order and making-
it habitable as a gentleman's residence, and it has since been well kept
and preserved.
The buildings as we see them to-day are substantially as William,
Lord Marney, left them, with some additions by his son, John, but the
plan was never completed and Layer Marney Towers remains only a
fragment, but a splendid fragment, of a scheme which would have rivalled,
if not have excelled, any other house in the County.
Miss M. S. Campbell, the daughter, and Mr. J. W. Campbell, the son,
of the house, both members of our Club, are keenly interested in one or
other branch of natural history. Miss Campbell had guided the party
earlier in the day in search of wild plants, and she had set out for its
inspection a portion of her herbarium, while her brother exhibited to the
visitors his extensive collection of birds—in part his own collection and
in part bequeathed to him by the late Dr. J. H. Salter, of Tolleshunt
D'Arcy—in the long S. building which has been utilised as a museum
by the present owners of the Hall. Both these exhibits, and the lucid