220 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
RAMBLE IN THE EAST HORNDON AND GREAT
AND LITTLE BURSTEAD DISTRICT
(763RD MEETING).
SATURDAY, 4TH JULY, 1936.
Some two dozen members assembled at the parish church of All
Saints, East Horndon, at 11 o'clock on the above date and were welcomed
by the rector, the Rev. R. Houlston, who favoured them with a brief but
most interesting account of the fabric and its history. Largely rebuilt
in brick about the year 1500, the building presents a most unusual
feature in the Priest's Lodging, which persists today as two small Galleries
in the Transepts, that in the S. Transept having a fireplace and no doubt
being the priest's living room, the Gallery in the N. Transept being his
sleeping apartment, the two connected by the Rood-gallery, which no
longer exists : the Rood itself still remains in situ affixed to the roof
timbers. Today access to the Galleries is afforded by modern stairs.
The fine incised slab to Lady Alice Tyrell and her children (1422),
now placed on a brick support in the S. Chancel Chapel, is, of course,
a chief feature of interest in this church.
From here a ramble of a couple of miles by way of Thorndon Park
yielded much of botanical interest. Some large bushes of Sea Buckthorn
(Hippophae rhamnoides) growing on the slopes of the Arterial Road
cutting near the Church, were surprisingly met with, while the banks
of the lake in Thorndon Park yielded some interesting plants, including
Scutellaria galericulata, Sparganium ramosum, and several Carices (C.
vulpina, C. Pseudo-cyperus and C. muricata).
Arrived at Herongate at 1 o'clock, lunch was taken in the rectory garden,
where Mr. and Mrs. Houlston hospitably dispensed tea. The Hon.
Secretary expressed the grateful thanks of the party to our host and
hostess for their kindness.
Continuing the ramble, almost wholly by cross-country field-paths,
Heron Hall, the ancient home of the Tyrells, was passed and the moat,
now choked by reeds, glanced at : the house itself was rebuilt in 1790.
Hatches Farm was next reached and, by courtesy of the tenant,
inspected ; much oak studding and chamfered ceiling beams are visible
in the various rooms. The principal room is lined with 17th century
oak panelling, and the mantelpiece and one of the doors to this room
have carved panels of Renaissance character (early 16th century).
From here to Little Burstead the ramble afforded delightful distant
views to the Laindon Hills and far beyond to the North Downs of Kent.
At 4 o'clock tea was taken in the Burstead Village Hall, following
which a short formal meeting of the Club was held for the purpose of
electing new members. In the absence of a Vice-President, Miss E.
Prince, Member of Council, was voted to the Chair.
Miss Maud F. Carpenter, of 25, St. Martin's Avenue, East Ham, E.6,
and Mr. George T. Carter, of 44, Oak Street, Romford, were elected
Members of the Club, and the Chairman thanked Mr. Salmon for his
careful organisation of a delightful excursion.
The beautiful garden of Hope House, Little Burstead, was next
visited, by invitation of Commander Hurt, C.M.G., R.N., and proved