THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
217
During the ramble Chiffchaff, willow warbler, cuckoo, skylark, missel
thrush, chaffinch, greenfinch, swallow, and blackbird were frequently-
heard, but neither nightingale nor any other of the summer migrants.
Wild flowers noted totalled forty-eight, mostly very common species.
VISIT TO MARGARETTING, STOCK, PLESHEY AND
HIGH EASTER (761ST MEETING).
SATURDAY, 23RD MAY, 1936.
Between fifty and sixty members took part in an enjoyable visit to
the above places under the guidance of the Hon. Excursions Secretary
on this date.
Travelling by motor coach or car, the party foregathered at the
picturesque little church of St. Margaret, Margaretting, at shortly after
11 o'clock, where it was welcomed by the vicar. Mr. Salmon had prepared
a detailed account of the history and architecture of the church, which
he read to the party assembled in the nave, directing special attention
to the beautiful 15th century timber North Porch and Tower, to the
15th century glass of the E. window (a "Jesse Window") and to the
ring of four pre-Reformation bells which the church possesses.
Leaving this interesting building, the visitors entered upon a cross-
country ramble of some three or four miles, by field-path and through
private woods hazy with bluebells, which had kindly been thrown open
to the party, until Stock village was reached. Here, at the kind
invitation of Mr. R. A. Ellis, J.P., and Mrs. Ellis, "Greenwoods" was
visited, lunch being taken in the garden and coffee hospitably served by
our hostess. The house dates back, in its oldest wing, to Queen Anne's
time, but has been modernised and greatly enlarged in modern times.
It contains two richly carved wood mantelpieces in the Grinling Gibbons
style derived from older buildings elsewhere, one from an old merchant's
house in Fen Court, London. An Italian wellhead in Istrian marble,
brought from Venice by Mr. Ellis, stands in front of the house and is an
attractive feature.
Taking leave of our kind host and hostess, the vehicles were regained,
and by a circuitous route over Galleywood Common Margaretting parish
was re-entered and the moated house, Killigrews, visited by permission
of the owner, Mr. W. V. Wakefield, who himself was absent from home ;
the garden was, however, inspected and the moat with its 16th
century brick enclosing walls and corner turrets, admired.
From here the drive was continued through Chelmsford and Broom-
field to Pleshey. At the church of Holy Trinity the viistors were welcomed
by the vicar, the Rev. C. H. B. Woodd, who read an account of the
history of the village and its church ; the latter was largely rebuilt in 1868
and does not present much of architectural interest.
Tea was taken in the Village Hall ; following which a visit was paid
to the "Castle Mount," which was described by the vicar and its origin
and history related. The visitors noted with regret that the picturesque
brick bridge spanning the moat, which dates back to the 15th century,
is in sad disrepair, with ugly cracks through the arch and much of its
facing broken away ; it is to be hoped that this interesting structure,