REPORTS OF MEETINGS 81
ancient church was noted in passing and also Upminster windmill a short,
distance beyond to the north of the road. At Upminster when a brief stop
was made to enable another member to board the coach the opportunity was
taken of drawing attention to the Church which was for many years the living
of the eminent divine, the Rev. W. Derham.
Shortly after leaving Upminster we entered the grounds of the 'ancient seat
or messuage' of Stubbers at North Ockendon. Here by the permission of the
Essex County Council and with the co-operation of the Warden we were able
to inspect the gardens. Further members of the party were awaiting our
arrival and when we had gathered together, the leader gave a brief history
of the house and particularly the garden. This was the first of the historical
gardens of the county, being made by William Coys (1560 - 1627). In this
garden many rare and exotic plants were cultivated and it was in this garden
that the Yucca blossomed for the first time in England in 1604. In the same
garden rhubarb was grown, possibly for the first time in England and certainly
for the first time in Essex. Here too, the Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria
muralis Bailing.) was first grown and whence it has spread to become a
common and charming plant of walls. Before long the party were well dis-
persed around the estate and quickly discovered that the Toadflax still grew
in some quantity on the walls surrounding the site of the original garden.
Whilst some were engaged in taking photographs of the plant, others found
the slightly over-ripe Mulberries to their taste and all those within reach were
speedily consumed. Botanically-minded members wandered around noting the
plants which still grew in the garden and before long the interesting discovery
of a clump of the alien Mugwort (Artemisia verlotorum Lamotte) was made
in a deserted flower-bed. An ancient Medlar too attracted attention but the
most interesting find was an abundance of the Golden Dock (Rumex maritimus
L.) growing on the sandy margin of the larger of the fish-ponds. Subsequently
the hybrid between this species and the Sharp Dock (Rumex conglomeratus
Murr.) was discovered in the same place. Some members took the oppor-
tunity of crossing a field to inspect the 'Crinkle-crankle' or serpentine wall
surrounding the kitchen garden. One member amused himself taking measure-
ments of the length and depth of the curves to verify a mathematical theory
concerning these structures.
Time was passing all too quickly and it was necessary to tear ourselves away
from this interesting place and proceed to North Ockendon Church. Here we
were welcomed in warm-hearted fashion by the Rector, the Rev. A. E. Hall,
who proudly displayed the beauties and points of interest in his church.
Some attention was paid to the memorials to the Poyntz family and the
fascinating story of the removal and subsequent recovery and restoration to
the church of these memorials. The splendid tester above the tomb to Sir
Gabriel Poyntz (1607) and his lady was much admired. The leader men-
tioned that it was in the chancel to this church that William Coys of Stubbers
had been buried on his death in 1627. Unfortunately because of subsequent
restorations the tomb was no longer visible. Concluding the visit to the
church the Rector kindly invited the party to adjourn to the Rectory where
he had thoughtfully prepared for their information a number of items relating
to the church. Amongst other articles and documents and maps were the
parish registers in which we saw the entries recording the burial of William
Coys in 16'27 and of his wife some ten years earlier. Whilst the paten was
seen and handled by the party the chief pride of the church, the beautiful
chalice, was not seen as it is on exhibition at the Victoria and Albert
Museum.
By courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Hall we were able to partake of our lunch
in the Rectory and cups of tea were kindly provided. The opportunity was
taken to hold a brief Council Meeting in the Rectory garden to transact urgent