276
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
Crossing the road to the parish church, dedicated to St. Peter, the
party was welcomed by the vicar, who led the way on a round of inspection
of the sacred edifice. Unhappily, this church, although ancient, was
so drastically over-restored in the last century, that but few original
features have been retained unspoilt : the Norman S. doorway is the
only remaining detail of early date. Several good 15th century brasses
and one to Sir Anthony Browne and his wife Joan, dated 1567, are
interesting and have been carefully mounted on the W. wall of the nave.
Less care has been taken of the slate armorial slabs which formerly paved
the aisles and which now lie (in more than one sense!) outside the church
exposed to the weather, all to make room for the spick-and-span tiles so
beloved of 19th century "restorers."
The parish registers, which were shown to interested members of
the party, date from 1539 and are in an excellent state of preservation:
a portion of them has been printed.
A visit was next paid, by special permission obtained, to the gardens of
Weald Hall, the Tudor seat of Sir Anthony Browne, the founder of
Brentwood Grammar School in 1557, and of almshouses in the parish,
and the home for a while of the Princess (afterwards Queen) Mary, at a
somewhat earlier date. The mellowed red bricks of the original fronts
of the mansion, contrasting so favourably with the new stone main front,
of classic design, erected in the 18th century, and the stone "Belvedere"
on an artificial mound in the grounds, were noted. The gardens (now,
alas, neglected for years past owing to there being no resident owner)
were a dream of bluebells and white narcissi run wild, which invaded the
very paths and, in the opinion of some of the visitors, had a beauty
which more formal, tidy conditions could not surpass.
A further walk of two miles brought the party to Noak Hill, where
St. Thomas's Church, a modern structure containing some interesting
glass of 16th and 17th century date, was visited; the glass was described
to the visitors by the Rev. E. C. Blaxland, vicar of Romford: much of it
was brought here from abroad.
At about 730 o'clock the homeward journey was entered upon.
As regards the natural history observations made during the ramble,
Mr. Glegg and Miss Dofort report a total of 36 birds seen or heard, including
Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap,
Willow Wren. Chiffchaff, Redstart, Nightingale, Swallow, House Martin,
Cuckoo, Swift, Peewit and Stockdove.
A nest of Pheasant, containing 17 eggs of three distinct types of
colouration, was found, the bird being flushed while sitting: the eggs
were, of course, not disturbed.
Mr. Hugh Main called attention to various insects observed, such as
the Alder Fly, the Grizzled Skipper Butterfly, and others, but no list of
insects was made.
Eighty-six wild flowers were recorded, of which the more interesting
were Caltha palustris, Chelidonium majus, Trifolium incarnatum, Prunus
Cerasus, Sherardia arvensis, Lysimachia nemorum, Lamium Galeobdolon,
Orchis maculata and Melica uniflora. The blue mist of untold numbers
.