REPORTS OF MEETINGS 123
On the invitation of the President, Mr. Howard reported on the botanical
finds of the day: Mr. Williams reported that he had seen the Brown Argus
and Common Blue butterflies and had also noticed two Weasels on the road
from Beeleigh Abbey. Mr. Branson contributed a brief account of the
striking cloud formations seen during the day, and some discussion of their
meteorology followed, which novel feature of the Club's interests was
favourably commented upon as worthy of future attention.
The geology of the remarkably varied stones seen in the walls of the
Leper Hospital was the subject of Mr. Waller's remarks. There had been
noted, not only the Septaria from London Clay, presumably re-used Roman
material, but also quartzite, Hertfordshire pudding-stone (seen also in the
north wall of Beeleigh Abbey), Brockram pudding-stone, apparently from
the Vale of Eden or the Permian outwash from the Pennines, and Aberdeen
or Annerdale granite. This wide variety of stone used for building in the
12th century seems to argue a glacial moraine or at least an outwash from
the foot of a glacier, but it has not hitherto been accepted that the Ice
came quite so far down as Maldon, and the Geological Survey shows no
Boulder Clay hereabouts to account for these erratics.
The Conglomerate Track (952nd Meeting)
SATURDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER, 1952
On the 11th of March, 1950, members of the Club and their guests were
shown by Dr. Budge evidence of this track in Essex between Holyfield and
Beauchamp Boding (see Vol. 28, p.303). Today, starting at 9 a.m., mem-
bers were again taken by Dr. Budge to see further evidence, this time
between the Rodings and White Notley on the River Brain.
The party of thirty, under the guidance of Dr. and Mrs. Budge, travelled
by motor coach from Wanstead, via Ongar and Boswell, to Boyton Hall
Barm, lying about midway between Boswell Brook and the River Can.
Here, in the yard, they saw the large boulder of ferruginous conglomerate
and, in the garden, what was called the "rockery", made up for the most
part of conglomerate stones. Also of interest to members at this place was
the old barn, said to be the largest of its age in Essex.
After meeting other members who had come by car, the party then moved
on to the roadside stone marking the ford over the River Can at the rear
of Stevens' Barm. Dr. Budge then took his convoy to Broomfield Church,
where he showed them the "pagan" stone in the south wall of the nave
and suggested that this indicated the probable direction of the ford over
the River Chelmer, some four miles south of the place previously supposed.
The day was clear and sunny, and the quiet sheltered green by Broomfield
Church was ideal for lunch and refreshment.
At Belsteads, one and a half miles east-north-east of Broomfield, Dr.
Budge was able to point out, beside the house, a fine track-stone which he
had discovered only the previous month. After crossing the River Ter at
Terling Ford, Dr. Budge put the "pack" in to draw Ivy Wood near Great
Loys Farm. He had hopes of locating a great "block of concrete" said
to lie in the wood and which may prove to be another track-stone, but, in
spite of members' enthusiasm, nothing was found.
After tea at Witham, the party was permitted, by courtesy of the owners,
to see the many interesting features at Feeringbury Manor House and its
gardens and grounds, and to hear some of its history. It was with difficulty
that some were persuaded to leave this place for the return to Wanstead in
a perfect evening after a most interesting day.
Many members have already expressed their thanks to Dr. and Mrs.
Rudge, and your scribe has not hesitated to add his, but he would like to