51
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB—REPORTS OF
MEETINGS.
RAMBLE IN EPPING FOREST AND VISIT TO
WALTHAM ABBEY (774TH MEETING).
SATURDAY, 10TH APRIL, 1937.
A small company of members assembled outside the "Wake Arms"
in Epping Forest at 11.20 o'clock on this morning with the intention of
engaging in a Forest ramble. But the weather was dull, with a drizzle
of rain, and the state of the woodlands distinctly muddy: it was therefore
decided, by general consent, to vary the programme by substituting a
country walk for the woodland ramble originally proposed. The route
chosen was by way of Woodreddon Farm to Copt Hall Green, visiting the
beautiful modern church of St. Thomas, at Upshire, with its quiet daffodil-
strewn churchyard and memorials of the Buxton family, thence proceeding
by lanes to Honey Lane, where lunch was taken in the "Volunteer" inn,
and afterwards continuing the walk into Waltham Abbey town. But few
flowers, and those of the commoner sorts, were in evidence. Lesser
Celandine, an early specimen of Greater Stitchwort, Bittercress, Chervil
and Coltsfoot were observed, but neither primroses nor violets were seen.
The only summer-migrant noted was the cuckoo, which was heard several
times during the walk: Blackbirds, Chaffinches and Tits were busily
singing, and a Heron was glimpsed flying over the meadows at Waltham.
Arrived at Waltham at about 2.30 o'clock, the party was augmented
to 24 by later arrivals, and the venerable Abbey entered. Here the party
was welcomed by the vicar, and Mr. Salmon gave a resume of the history
and architectural features of the fabric. The Lady Chapel, the Gateway
entrance to the vanished precincts, with its look-out which enabled the
monk-porter to scrutinize visitors applying for admission before the gates
were opened, the 14th century bridge, miscalled " Harold's Bridge," and
the Transitional Norman passage of two bays (formerly used as a dark
"potato cellar," but now ventilated and in charge of H.M. Office of
Works) which linked the monastic buildings with the cloisters, were in
turn visited. The reputed site of the tomb of Harold the Saxon king, and
of the high altar, were visited in the modern churchyard.
At 4 o'clock tea was taken in a nearby cafe, and by 5.15 the party had
dispersed in various conveyances homewards.
A short, formal meeting of the Club was held at the "Volunteer," with
Mr. J. Ross, a vice-president, in the chair, when Miss Ivy Leeper, of 55,
Disraeli Road, Forest Gate, and Miss Edna W. Rodwell, of 83, St. George's
Road, Ilford, were elected members.
It had been desired to visit the old house in the Sewardstone Road,
which, in the 16th century, is reputed to have been the home of Foxe,
the martyrologist ; but unhappily this historic building, following the
death of the owner and occupier, Miss Lee, has only recently been sacrificed
for the erection of some unnecessary shops, and its site lies waste. A
fireplace and some wood panelling, preserved in the Lady Chapel of the
Abbey church, are the only remaining relics of the demolished building.