218 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
now scheduled as an Ancient Monument under the Act, will not long:
have to wait for funds to safeguard it from otherwise imminent destruction.
Some members of the party paid a visit to the village church school,
where an interesting little collection of local antiquarian finds has been
assembled. From Pleshey a hurried visit was made to the parish
church of St. Mary the Virgin at High Easter, where the beautiful early
16th century roof of the nave was an admired feature ; the lofty stone
Tower was ascended by some of the party and fine extensive views
obtained over the countryside.
The homeward journey was entered upon shortly after 6.30 o'clock, so 
ending a most enjoyable excursion.
During the day, which was somewhat cold and dull with a northerly
wind, birds were not much in evidence, but skylark, cuckoo, willow
warbler and pied wagtail were noted among others.
Flowering plants were more abundant. Miss Greaves and Miss
Prince, who acted as recorders, report a total of 90 plants noted in flower
or bud, the more interesting of these being Alchemilla arvensis, Smyrnium
Olusatrum, Conopodium denudatum, Lysimachia nemorum, and Lamium
Galeobdolon.
VISIT TO NEWPORT DISTRICT (762ND MEETING).
SATURDAY, 20TH JUNE, 1936.
Another visit to the delightful north-western corner of our county
was made on the above date, and was attended by 47 members and
friends.
The place of assembly was the "Leper Stone," a well-known "sarsen
stone"—a Glacial erratic—which is placed on end on the grass verge
of the main road to Cambridge. Mr. W. Giles, president of the Society of
Graver Printers in Colour, who met the party here, gave an account of
the origin of the stone, and considered that it became a meeting stone or
boundary between neighbouring tribes or parishes in early historic times.
Walking back into the town of Newport by the lower, older road, the
visitors paused to notice the beautiful clustered chimney stack, of 16th
century date, on Martin's Farm. This stack, of four cut brick flues,
each of different design, is one of the finest in the County.
Crown House, near by, was next noted ; of 16th century date, but
dated on its front 1692, the elaborate pargetting of panels containing
floral patterns and the shell canopy to the doorway, with the plaster
crown above to which the house owes its name, were much admired.
Passing beneath the railway arch, the adjoining cottage—one of
several known collectively as "the Priory"—was inspected by kind
permission of the tenant. The entire house is timber-framed with visible
oak studding in every room and in one lower room with faded mural
decoration between the studs ; the ceilings have moulded beams.
Noticing, in passing, the old Newport Toll Bridge, the stately parish
church of St. Mary, Newport, was visited ; unluckily the vicar, the Rev.
G. S. Cain, was away from home, but the visitors found plenty to see
and admire. The magnificent 13th century parish chest is now utilised
as an altar table in the N. transept, the open lid with its remarkable