THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
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"Saffron Walden Region," which he illustrated by an exhibition of the
flint implements found. A discussion followed, in which Dr. Laver,
Messrs Bull, Mothersole, Austen and Thompson joined, and the lecturer
replied to questions raised.
On the President's motion, the thanks of the meeting were warmly
accorded to Mr. Morris for his communication.
The meeting was declared closed shortly before 5 o'clock.
VISIT TO EAST HAM CHURCH AND EASTBURY
HOUSE, BARKING (755TH MEETING).
SATURDAY, 15TH FEBRUARY, 1936.
A blanket of cold damp fog, widespread over the entire south of
England, did not deter a party of twenty-five Members from assembling
punctually at 2.45 o'clock in the ancient parish church of St. Mary Magda-
lene, East Ham, where it was received by the vicar, the Rev. M. O. Hodson,
who conducted the visitors in a detailed inspection of the sacred edifice,
both within and without.
Mr. Hodson's knowledge of his church and its history is exhaustive
and the account with which he favoured his auditors was most detailed
and instructive. After a passing reference to the Roman coffins which
were unearthed in 1863 within a quarter-mile of the Church, he entered
upon a detailed description of the many interesting architectural features
which it presents.
The reference in Domesday Book to "Edwin the free priest" of King
Edward the Confessor's time implies that already a church stood here in
Saxon times, but no trace remains of Saxon work in the present building,
which was erected about the year 1130 A.D., the W. Tower (largely built
of ferruginous conglomerate, or "pudding stone") being added four
hundred years later. In the south wall of the Chancel are two low side-
windows, the different theories as to the purpose of these being discussed
in turn.
The anchorite's cell in the N. chancel wall, opened out during the recent
restoration of the church by Mr. P. M. Johnston, F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A., was
inspected with curious interest; this is believed to date from circa 1230.
Above the Chancel ceiling is placed, most unusually, a priest's chamber,
to which access is alone possible by means of a ladder : here in pre-Refor-
mation days, the monk from Stratford Langthorne Abbey, to which
foundation this church belonged, lodged and slept when he came to take
the Sunday services.
The Norman apse, originally with a vaulted ceiling, still has its original
roof of converging axed timbers—this being an almost unique survival.
The vicar drew attention to the double piscina, of Norman character,
in the apse, which he suggested was not intended for its present position
and may have come from another church ; he also pointed out that the
Chancel arch which the church originally possessed was wholly destroyed
when a rood screen (of which only a trace now remains) was erected.
The beautiful though much mutilated Norman interlaced arcading to the
Chancel walls is a much admired feature.
During the late restoration, six courses of Roman bricks were found
to have been used in the foundations.