50 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
As Hon. Editor: Mr. C, Bignell Pratt.
As members of Council: The following, being due to retire were nomi-
nated for re-election: Miss Alice Dofort, Mr. W. Howard, and Mr. S.
Waller.
No further nominations were made.
The President mentioned that Mr. Bernard Ward was only able to accept
the office of Joint Hon. Secretary until 30 June 1951 and it would then be
necessary for Council to appoint a successor to that office for the remainder
of the year. Mr. Richard Ward had provisionally acceded to the Council's
request to accept the office and this would render it necessary to appoint
another member as Field Meeting Secretary. Members' nominations for either
of these appointments would receive the due consideration of Council.
Dr. Rudge showed an iron boundary post with a plate on which were cast
the words "St. Mary Magdalen Milk Street London". This was one of several
similar posts which he had found at Tanners Green Farm, Chignal Smealey.
He said that the parish of St. Mary Magdalen, London, ceased to exist as a
separate parish in 1666. Reference to the records of the parish in which it was
incorporated and to Guildhall, London, had failed to explain the meaning of
these posts or how they came to be at Chignal Smealey. No record of property
owned by the parish of St. Mary Magdalen in that area had been traced. It
appeared that the posts were much later than seventeenth century.
Miss Milroy showed recent press photographs of the River Ingrebourne in
flood and of Gosfield Hall. It appeared that the latter had been reprieved from
demolition and that part, at least, might be preserved.
Mr. William Addison, j.p., then gave a lecture on "The Character of our
County". He commented on the present widespread interest in books relating
to the English scene which was due to the facilities now enjoyed by so many
people for travel to see for themselves the beauties of our countryside. After
the poor repute in which Essex was held in the eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries, he went on to explain the reasons which it seemed to him accounted
for the great appreciation now so generally shown for the intimate charm of
our county.
The character of the people of Essex as affected by the soil and the historical
associations of the county were treated and the most enjoyable lecture gave
ample evidence of the careful study devoted to the subject by the lecturer over
so many years. An interesting discussion followed in which Dr. and Mrs.
Rudge and Messrs. Harley, Hastings, Howard, R. Ward, Foster, and Austin
took part. On the motion of the President a hearty vote of thanks to the
lecturer was accorded by acclamation and the members adjourned to the
refectory for tea.
The Annual General Meeting (932nd Meeting)
SATURDAY, 31 MARCH 1951
This meeting was held at the West Ham Municipal College at 3 p.m. with
the President, Mr. Laurence S. Harley, in the chair. Forty-nine persons were
present.
The following were elected to membership of the Club:
Miss A. Gray (junior member), of "Ashenden", Coppice Row, Theydon
Bois.
Miss A. M. Howard, of 78 Princes Road, Buckhurst Hill.
Mr. C. E. Redmill, of 187 Goodmayes Lane. Ilford.
Mr. V. N. Casey (junior member), of 18 Green Way, Dagenham.
Mr. Howard showed, on behalf of the President, leaves of Arum maculatum,
A. italicum and A, immaculatum from a lane at Polstead, Suffolk.
Mr. Howard also showed a small painting depicting a railway arch and its
surroundings near the junction of the Fairlop line with the Loughton line as it
appeared in 1883.