THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 57
Margaret, the small brass of an unknown civilian, circa 1420, and a curious
stone, at present in the tower, with five cuplike hollows in its upper
surface, opined to be a cresset, the only example known to exist in Essex,
were inspected with interest. By permission of Lieut-.Colonel Bishop,
the adjoining gardens of Jericho Priory were also viewed.
From here a ramble (covering five miles in all) through delightful lanes
and fieldpaths in a richly-wooded country, allowed scope for the botanists
and bird-lovers to exercise their expert knowledge.
A visit was paid on the way to the few remains of the hermitage at
Monks and Barrows Farm, a farm which some years ago bore (and may
still bear) the following quaintly worded notice to possible trespassers:—
However, on the present occasion our party experienced no difficulty
in getting either in or out, and the ramble was continued, lunch being
taken by the roadside, until Mill Green, Fryerning, was reached at some
time before 4 o'clock. Here, by kind permission of the tenant, Commander
Armitage, the gardens were visited and also the windmill in the field at the
back, a post-mill of mid-18th century date, still in good repair through the
efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Goulden, the owners of the property.
Arrived at Fryerning, tea was taken by the party in the charming
garden of " Wellmead," the home of Mr. and Mrs. Archibald Christy,
who had kindly offered this appreciated facility. Some considerable
time was spent in roaming about this delightful spot, which possesses
many fine trees, including a well-grown Tulip Tree, and enjoys a magnificent
view over south Essex. The nearby Fryerning Hall was also visited, by
courtesy of Commander and Mrs. Pelly, who conducted the party over
their house, which contains much oak studding and 17th century panelling ;
the linen-pattern dado in the drawing room is said to have come from
Fryerning Church.
At Fryerning Church Mrs. Archibald Christy gave us an account of the
history of the village and the church : subsequent inspection revealed
many interesting features. The walls are built of a local conglomerate
(gravel indurated by infiltration of iron-peroxide), with the quoins of
Roman bricks. The church is aisleless, the walls, N. and S. doorways
and some of the windows dating from the Norman period: on the S.
doorway-jamb, low down near the floor, is a small Consecration Cross,
and on the same jamb a well-defined "mason's mark." The font is a
square one, of unusual design, bearing a resemblance to those at Little
Laver and Abbess Roothing (circa 1200). The handsome W. tower of
mellowed red brickwork, and ornamented with the mullet of the De Vere