278 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
From here a cross-country walk over rather rough ground enabled
the botanists to add to their record list of plants in flower, and afforded
some excellent views over the countryside.
Ashdon village was reached at 5 o'clock and tea was taken, in
somewhat primitive conditions, at the "Rose and Crown" inn, when
the opportunity was taken to inspect the celebrated panelled wall paintings
in the best room, which date from the early part of the 17th century and
have been carefully restored in recent years. A cottage in the village,
now converted into a bijou residence by a lady friend of Mr. Morris,
was also inspected at the invitation of the owner.
Ashdon parish church was also visited, an interesting building, which
the late hour prevented us from adequately examining, it being now
nearly 7.30 o'clock; the vehicles were accordingly summoned, and the
return journey to town entered upon.
The chalky soil of this part of the country gave promise of a rich
harvest of wild flowers, and in this the botanists were not disappointed,
for Miss Greaves, who acted as recorder, was able to report 126 species
as having been seen actually in flower: of these the more interesting were
Chelidonium majus, Reseda lutea, Helianthemum Chamaecistus, Viola
arvensis, Erodium cicutarium, Poterium Sanguisorba, Scandix Pecten-
veneris, Viburnum Opulus, Sherardia arvensis, Lagousia hybrida, Litho-
spermum arvense, Melampyrum cristatum, Listera ovata, Orchis maculata,
Habenaria virescens and Paris quadrifolia. Pastinaca saliva (not yet
flowering), Viburnum lantana (in fruit), and Centaurea scabiosa (not in
flower) were also noted.
RAMBLE IN THE BRAXTED PARK DISTRICT
(808th MEETING).
SATURDAY, 1ST JULY, 1939.
Assembled at Witham at about 11.15 o'clock, the party proceeded by
footpath along the valley of the Blackwater to Little Braxted, passing a
most picturesquely situated watermill and the Hall, with its fine Tudor
chimneys, until the Church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, was reached.
Nineteenth century restorers have robbed this pretty little Norman
building of most of its architectural interest, but the apsidal chancel,
with one of its original windows remaining, is notable, and on its floor
is the brass to William Roberts, and his two wives, of date 1508, a good
example of its date.
Continuing the walk into the adjoining parish, the extensive Braxted
Park, filled with magnificent trees (Quercus ilex, Sequoia gigantea, Tulip
Tree, Deciduous Cypress, Cedar of Lebanon, Scots Pine, etc.) of ancient
growth, and possessing a noble lake of many acres extent, covered in
places with white waterlilies, and the haunt of duck and moorhens, was
entered by kind permission of the owner, Mr. W. W. Boulton, M.P., and
here lunch was taken on the shore of the lake.
After lunch both the house itself and the nearby portions of the park
were inspected, under the personal conduct of Mr. Boulton, who pointed
out individual points of interest to the visitors and devoted over an
.