78 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
that it was erected in 1884 to commemorate the achievements of Sir William
James. Bart., while in command of the East India Company's Marine Forces
and "in particular manner to record the conquest of the castle of Severndroog
off the coast of Malabar which fell to his superior valour and able conduct on
the 2nd April, MDCCLV."
The ground floor now accommodates a shop for the sale of refreshments
while a stair leads on to the roof from which there are wide views of London,
north-east Kent and west Essex. It was interesting to pick out the various
parts of the Epping Forest area and we were a little disappointed to find
that, in the direction of the estuary of the Thames, the view was blocked by
the tops of nearby trees.
The party then returned to the cars which had been parked near the foot
of the hill and were driven to Well Hall Pleasaunce in Eltham. Here in the
Tudor Barn tea was enjoyed in very pleasant surroundings and afterwards
it was discovered that the same building housed an exhibition of paintings
of the Society of Marine Artists. An hour or so was spent in looking at this
display which illustrated many episodes in naval history and in strolling in
the pleasant gardens until the time came to thank Mr. Mulliss for arranging
such an enjoyable meeting and to start on the journey homewards.
South Essex Grass Foray (998th Meeting)
SATURDAY, 23 JUNE, 1956
The object of this excursion, which was attended by twenty-five members
led by Dr. K. L. Alvin, was to study the grass and sedge flora of a few
ecologically contrasting habitats.
A coach left Wanstead at 9.30 a.m., and the first stop was at Berwick
Pond, Rainham, where, by kind permission of the owner, Mr. Curtis, of
Berwick Pond Farm, members were able to collect from the marsh lying
along the south edge of the pond. In addition to the common reed-swamp
species, the beautiful and comparatively rare Water Whorl-grass (Catabrosa
aquatica) was found.
At Bulphan, the second stop, where the soil is a good neutral loam, the
open road verges present a richly developed grass flora. Here twenty-one
species were collected including most of the commoner meadow and pasture
species.
On the way to Childerditch Common where lunch was taken, a short stop
was made at East Horndon Church, a small, mostly fifteenth century building
standing on a hill from which an extensive view of the Thames plain is
obtained.
After lunch and some leisurely botanizing on Childerditch and Warley
Commons, most members of the party walked through Thorndon Park. Here
the gravelly, acid soil supports a semi-heath type of vegetation and the grasses
and sedges encountered are mostly those characteristic of heaths; some of
these, for example, the Mat-grass (Nardus stricta) and the Heath-grass
(Sieglingia decumbens), although abundant in many parts of the country are
comparatively rare in Essex, owing presumably to the scarcity of suitable
habitats.
Tea was taken at "The Old Log," Shenfield Common, and afterwards
a short meeting was held under the chairmanship of the President, Mr.
E. E. Syms. The following were elected to membership of the Club:—