356 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
scribbled by him on the moulding of the window. Sandon's rarest possession
is a medieval wooden Pax, a tablet with a holy picture painted on it, which
was passed around during service and kissed by the priest and the
congregation.
After leaving the church, a picnic lunch was taken on the village green
under the fine Turkey Oak—not yet in leaf—and some members looked at
the Old Coffee House which has been scheduled for preservation. It is a
cottage with a fine old brick chimney, very large for so small a house.
The coach then travelled on to Danbury, stopping en route at Woodhill
for a few members to see some plants of the Common Polypody fern, and
here, among the woods, were heard the songs of Blackcap, Willow Warbler
and Chiffchaff and the repeated "whistle" and "whit-whit" of the Nut-
hatch. After passing through Danbury, a halt was made at Woodham
Walter, where members inspected the church. It is an Elizabethan
building of mellow brick with a red-tiled roof and a crow-stepped gable.
Inside there are some treasures saved from an earlier church, the most
valuable being the font, tall and light, with traceried panelling of the
15th century. There is some old glass in the windows, and at the west
end are seven roundels with glowing suns and the figure of a reaper with
a green cap, symbol of the work in those far-off days. On the south wall
is a very fine bronze memorial to a doctor who died in West Africa while
engaged on research.
After leaving the church, the members set off to walk to Woodham Walter
Common, the woods of which were entered after a mile or so of road on
the sheltered banks of which Ground Ivy and Greater Stitchwort were
coming into bloom. In the wood a fine show of Wood Anemone, Wood
Sorrel and Primroses was very welcome, and an hour or so was spent in
wandering among the trees and along the stream-side studying the mosses
and other plants and listening to the birds. Blackcap, Willow Warbler,
Chiffchaff, Nightingale and Cuckoo were heard, and one member of the
party watched a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. On regaining the road, the
coach was taken to the Dainties Cafe at Danbury, where tea was soon
ready. After tea, there was time for a short visit to the church, whose
foundations are of Norman origin. It was rebuilt in the 13th century
and re-fashioned in the 14th century, when the nave arcades and tower
were added. Prom the battlements of the tower ascends a fine spire cased
in copper, wooden shingles and lead. The church stands on a hill of 365
feet, in an encampment used by the Danes and of Roman or even earlier
origin.
Inside there are fine carved bench ends over 500 years old, and the tower
gallery is of 15th century woodwork. Among the most interesting memorials
are the oak sculptures of three crusaders. Each has his legs crossed, one
is drawing his sword, one is replacing his sword, the third crosses his hands
in prayer. An intriguing story has it that in 1779, when a vault was being
opened for the interment of the lady of the manor, Mrs. Ffytche, there
came to light a nameless leaden coffin. This was found to contain an Elm
coffin and this to contain a shell cased in cement. Within this last was
discovered the well-preserved figure of a young man, floating in liquid and
surrounded by fresh herbs and flowers. Thus rests one of the three knights
whose memory is kept alive by the wooden carvings.
Some little time was spent in picking out the landmarks of the magni-
ficent view which stretches south and east from Danbury, and once again
the coach was entered for the short run to Danbury Common. Here the
usual formal meeting of the Club took place, with members sitting in the
coach.