98
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
of an ankerhold where a hermit was immured: a memorial slab to Jane
Pallavicine, cousin to Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector, is in the Chance].
From the Church the visitors proceeded to the adjacent site of the
Norman castle, where the keep-mount, surrounded by its moat, and the
enclosure of the bailey were inspected by permission of Mr. D. Buxton,
the owner. Mr. Salmon had prepared and exhibited a drawing of the
earthworks, which greatly facilitated the understanding of the existing
remains of this one-time stronghold.
Lunch was taken, by invitation of the rector, in the rectory-garden,
beneath the grateful shade of some fine old elms.
After lunch, the party made its way through the town, passing the
"King's Head" hotel, which bears on its front a panel dated 1697 together
with the initials PTS, and noticing the picturesquely tottering old house
at the corner of the passage-way leading to the church; this house although
bearing the date 1642 carved above its shop-front, is evidently, in part at
least, a century older than that and is probably the most ancient building
in the town. Lower down the High Street, the house adjoining the Con-
gregational Chapel where David Livingstone lodged when a student was
pointed out.
From the lower end of the town a footpath over the fields led the entire
way to Stanford Rivers and here the botanists of the party were gratified
to meet with several choice plants, including Trifolium ochroleucum in some
abundance; in all, some 120 species were recorded.
Arrived at Stanford Rivers church (St. Margaret's) the visitors were
welcomed by the rector, the Rev. Canon R. Cobden Earle, who gave a
detailed description of the fabric to his hearers; this church presents
several interesting features, one remarkable peculiarity being that the last
six pews, placed in the Chancel between the pulpit and the sanctuary,
have their backs to the altar and face the pulpit, this most unusual arrange-
ment being, it is supposed, a relic of Commonwealth times, when long-
winded exposition was more considered than reverence for the holy places
and when "Divine Service" was supplanted by such terms as "morning
exercises." The N. porch, now degraded as a coke-store, is a pleasing
example of 15th century carved timberwork and will, it is hoped, before
long be restored to its former office: the S. Porch is replaced by a vestry,
the W. door being the only entrance at present to the church. Some of the
oak benches are of 15th century date. Several interesting brasses, with
inscriptions unmutilated by later reformers remain, including one to a
"chrisom child," Thomas Grevile, dated 1492.
By kind invitation of Canon Cobden Earle, the party next proceeded
to the rectory to inspect the extensive garden which the rector(who has been
but a year in the parish) is laboriously reclaiming from the overgrown
condition produced by many years of neglect. The grounds contain some
fine conifers, including a truly patriarchal Cedrus Libani, a curious weeping
form of Wellingtonia, and a Ginkgo biloba ; there is also a large Fern-leaved
Beech which bears both dissected and ordinary leaves on its twigs.
Tea was taken at the White Bear hotel, Stanford Rivers, Canon and
Mrs. Cobden Earle joining as guests of the Club, and here two new mem-
bers were elected, viz.:—Miss E. Craddock, of 34, Bushwood, Leyton-
stone, E.11, and Mr. William Heeley, B.Sc., of the Essex Museum, Strat-
ford, E.15.