THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
161
"done which later knowledge would not accept as correct it is probable
"that without his effort the place would have become ruinous."
The panelled staircase and gallery along the western side of the Hall
were erected by Mr. Humphry in 1906 to remove the extreme incon-
venience caused by the separation of the upper floors at the two ends.
The moat does not now completely encircle the Hall the north arm
und parts of the east and west arms alone remaining, and I am inclined
to think that this fragmentary moat is older than any part of the existing
house which was, even in its earlier portions, built when the need for
such defensive and protective works was past.
Following Mr. Barns' illuminating account, a detailed inspection of
this interesting Tudor "home of ancient peace" was made, the party
separating into four smaller groups which were each taken in charge by a
member of the household.
Finally reassembled in front of the house, the visitors, with our hostess's
permission, constituted themselves into a formal meeting of the Club,
under the presidency of our President.
Two new members were elected, viz.:—
Miss Edith Allard, of 68, Wanstead Park Road, Ilford; and
Mr. Bernard T. Ward, of 24, Long Deacon Road, Chingford.
Mr. Glegg expressed the thanks of the party to Mr. Barns for his paper
and to Mr. Salmon for his excellent leadership during the day, and also to
Mrs. Humphry for her kind hospitality, associating with her the Rev.
Mr. and Mrs. Westall.
Mrs. Humphry replied.
Leaves were then taken and the homeward route, by way of Elsenham,
Bishops Stortford, Harlow and Epping, entered upon. Thus ended a
most delightful excursion, one of the best in the Club's history, held in
ideal weather, without a hitch of any description.
FIELD MEETING AT FOBBING AND CORRINGHAM
(720TH MEETING).
SATURDAY, 9TH SEPTEMBER, 1933.
Some 35 members assembled at Pitsea railway station at shortly after
11.35 o'clock on the above day, with the object of visiting a still rural
corner of Essex which is being rapidly transmogrified by the fungal growth
of bungalows spreading in all directions from Pitsea, Vange and Stanford-
le-Hope. To avoid this dubious phase of modern civilisation, an omnibus was
chartered as far as the "Five Bells" inn at Vange, where the visitors were
at last able to reach a country lane unmarred by uncongenial erections.
The village of Fobbing, still happily an oasis as yet unaffected by
"bungalowitis," was reached at 1 o'clock; here, the first consideration
was lunch; this was disposed of in the shelter of some trees, which formed
a welcome screen from the strong east wind which tempered the otherwise
uncomfortable heat of an ardent sun in a cloudless sky. Some hour or
so was spent on the marshes seeking for plants and insects, or on the
look-out for birds, which, however, were not much in evidence.
At 2.30 o'clock the parish church of St. Michael was visited, and here
the party was welcomed by the rector, the Rev. Ernest A. Gardner, M.A.,
who entertained his guests with a well-informed account of the church,