THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
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of Bluebells (Scilla nonscripia) in the woods and in the grounds of Weald
Hall produced an effect which will not soon be forgotten by the visitors.
VISIT TO HADSTOCK AND ASHDON (807th MEETING).
SATURDAY, 3RD JUNE, 1939.
A delightful day's excursion, favoured by perfect summer weather,
to the chalky uplands of our county could not fail to be appreciated by
those taking part in it; unfortunately the date fixed, coming in Whit-
week, when many of our members were already from home, made the
party a small one, only 25 persons in all.
Travelling from town by way of Bishops Stortford and Saffron Walden,
"Walton's," a stately 16th century brick house in Ashdon parish, was
visited by invitation of Mrs. Luddington, who very kindly entertained
the party to morning coffee and herself conducted us through her residence
and the surrounding grounds: the view from the front of the house is a
magnificent one.
Leaving this hospitable mansion after thanking our hostess for her
kindness, a walk uphill brought the visitors to the restored post windmill—
an early example which is a landmark for miles around; here lunch was
taken by the party, picturesquely grouped about the roundhouse of the
mill, and enjoying a widespread view.
Regaining the vehicles, Bartlow village, just within the Cambridgeshire
boundary, was soon reached and the church visited. This is a round-
towered edifice, containing some interesting wall paintings on the walls
of the nave, one of St. Christopher being a remarkably fine and well-
preserved example.
Recrossing the boundary into Essex, the Bartlow Hills were visited,
and here our guide for the day, our member, Mr. George Morris, F.R.A.I.,
read an account of these tumuli, the largest of which is 48 feet high,
and which date from the end of the 1st century A.D. or the beginning of
the 2nd century, and which excavation has proved to be grave-mounds
erected over the remains of important Romanised Britons. Mr. Morris
detailed the many objects found during the excavation of the mounds,
practically all of which were unhappily destroyed in 1847 in the fire at
Easton Lodge, where they were "preserved"—an object-lesson against
the shortsightedness of retaining valuable objects of historic importance
in private ownership!
From Bartlow, Hadstock was reached by road and the church visited.
This venerable building dates back, in its oldest portion, to the early
11th century, and may possibly be the minster recorded as having been
built by Canute in the year 1020 A.D. in commemoration of his victory
over Edmund Ironside at "Assandun"; which is conjectured to have
been the modern Ashdon, the adjoining parish.
Hadstock church is cruciform in shape, but the original central tower
fell and has been replaced by a western tower of 15th century date;
the bold Saxon detail of the original work is very striking.