160
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
Essex Churches." He was followed by his son the Rev. George West,
who died on May 10, 1897, at Bath, whither he had gone for the benefit
of his health and was buried at Thaxted.
Horham Hall was purchased in 1906 by the late Col. Alfred Paget
Humphry, M.V.O., who died there on 6 October, 1916. He was the elder
son of Sir George Murray Humphry, M.D., F.R.S., and Mary, daughter of
D. R. McNab of Epping Place, and was born at Cambridge 20 June,
1850, educated at Rugby and Trinity College, Cambridge, and called to
the Bar in 1875. He was a noted rifle shot and won the Queen's Prize
at Wimbledon in 1871; created M.V.O. in 1909. It is by the kind per-
mission of his widow that we are allowed to inspect this interesting house,
and to her that we are indebted for hospitable entertainment.
Horham Hall externally presents a pleasing appearance, its mellowed
red brick with some diapering and stone facings is mainly of Tudor work,
although it incorporates some details of an earlier date, notably in the
south wing, which embodies a timber framed building, probably Large's
handiwork of c. 1470, and this portion of the building is entirely in the
parish of Broxted. The remainder of the erection may generally be
attributed to Sir John Cutte, and the whole was far more extensive than
the portion now standing, and probably quadrangular in plan. The
reduction of the house to its present size has left it an irregular H shape.
the central block being occupied by the Great Hall, which is to the right
of the entrance by the porch and into which you pass through the screen.
This Great Hall measures 471/2 ft. by 233/4ft., and its most striking feature
is the magnificent oriel window which rises to the full height of the
building and has six panels of contemporary heraldic glass, including
(1) argent a fesse engrailed sable with three plates thereon (Cutte),
quartering, argent a chevron sable between three hunting horns sable
with a ring for difference (? Corney or Ruda) impaling:—argent a bend
cotised sable with three molets argent thereon (? Esmerton or Andrews).
(2) a crowned portcullis; (3) a crowned red rose. (4) the feathers and
motto of the Prince of Wales. (5) a shield of Esmerton or Andrews,
(6) Cutte quartering Corney or Ruda. Originally panelled, this feature
was unfortunately removed and re-erected in the old House of Commons,
and was destroyed in the disastrous fire that occurred there soon after its
removal, so that the only contemporary panelling left is in the screen. An
unusual feature, as pointed out by Mr. Humphry in his pamphlet of 1913,
is a lantern as well as a great fireplace. "The use of the lantern being to
"let out the smoke from a brazier standing on the floor." There are also
good fireplaces in the Library and Drawing Room and in the bedroom over
the Library. Above the Drawing Room is an apartment known as Queen
Elizabeth's room, which has a barrel vaulted ceiling with moulded and
painted ribs and a fireplace similar to the one in the room below it.
On the west wall in the morning room by opening the doors provided
in the modern oak panelling, some much decayed painted wall decoration
may be seen, including foliage, a Wyvern, a guilloche frieze and interlacing
foliage all in white on a black ground.
To quote again from Mr. Humphry's pamphlet "In 1841 Sir Edward
"Smyth Bt. of Hill Hall, took in hand at great cost a substantial restoration
"of the house which he also somewhat reduced. Though much was