88 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
Mr. Syms gave an account of the insects seen, and showed the members
a larva of the Essex Emerald moth (Euchloris smaragdaria Fab.) from the
Essex coast. Mr. Ross remarked on the absence of oak-apple galls, and
attributed their scarcity to the destruction by the hard frosts of the insects
which cause them. Miss Hilbert and Mr. Howard spoke of the flowering
plants, about fifty species of which had been recorded, including a plant
of the primrose, now so rare in the Forest. Mr. Howard also showed a
specimen of moonwort (Botrychium Lunaria Sw.) from Devonshire.
The party then divided, some members returning home by bus and
the remainder rounding off the day's ramble by walking through the Forest
to Loughton or Chingford.
VISIT TO COGGESHALL AND CRESSING TEMPLE (874th Meeting)
SATURDAY, MAY 24-TH, 1947
Leaving "The Castle," Woodford, at 10 a.m., some thirty members
enjoyed a journey through countryside now looking its best in the bright
sunlight. Passing through the Roothings, the roadsides were rich with the
flowers of chervil, and as the ridge dividing the valleys of the Roding and
the Cripsey Brook was traversed, good views were obtained on either hand.
Beyond Leaden Roding it became obvious that the route followed a Roman
road, and the straightness of the way became even more obvious on reaching
Stane Street stretching away to Dunmow.
Arrived in Coggeshall, Paycock's House was first visited. This fine
survival of domestic architecture was the residence of Thos. Paycock in the
sixteenth century and, after examining the ancient carved oak gateway and
decorative frieze from the outside, members were shown some of the rooms
richly lined with linenfold panelling.
The next hour-and-a-half was spent very pleasantly in the vicinity of
Coggeshall Abbey Farm and Mill. Here stood one of the earliest Cistercian
foundations in the country. The white, weather-boarded walls of the mill
surrounded by pleasant gardens and the mill-pond with its swans made a
picture which some members of the party would have liked to sketch ; they
were kindly invited to come again for this purpose whenever they pleased.
The parish church of St. Peter ad Vincula was then visited, and the Vicar
gave us an interesting account of its main features. It was, until recently,
one of the finest examples of Perpendicular architecture, but was badly
damaged by a bomb in 1940. The chancel has been rendered safe and
weatherproof, and the bells, which were removed from the tower before its
collapse, have been mounted in the belfry by a few parishioners. After
thanking the vicar and wishing him success in his rebuilding plans, the party
looked at the ancient Woolpack Inn and then rode on to Ladle Meadow.
The meadow gets its name from a large spoon or ladle which used to hang
from a post near the spring in the Rectory corner of the field.
About four o'clock the party arrived at Cressing Temple, to be greeted
by the owner, Mr. Frank Cullen, and Mr. E. E. Turner, who acted as
botanical adviser. The members were then entertained to a most welcome
tea by Mr. and Miss Cullen and Mrs. Taber, and afterwards were made
free of the many interesting features of the delightful residence. Our mem-
ber, Mr. Alfred Hills, being unfortunately indisposed, Mr. Thompson read
for him his paper on Cressing Temple. The author related that, in 1135,
Queen Maud, consort of Henry I, gave the Knights Templars lands upon
which they built Cressing Temple. When the Order of Knights Templars
was dissolved by Philip of France nearly 200 years later, the property at
Cressing was handed by the Crown to the Hospitallers (Knights of St. John).
After 1540 the estate passed into yeoman hands. The magnificent timbered