William Cole (1844-1922) founder of Essex Field Club
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brusqueness. Thompson, who knew Cole well for sixteen years, added that only once in that period
did any problem arise between him and Cole. When the problem was explained to Cole he
spontaneously gave a generous and warm-hearted apology to Thompson (Thompson 1923 p. 171).
However, Thompson made a veiled attack on Cole seven years later when he noted "the marked
increase in the sociability of our members - a change which has frequently been commented upon by
those who knew the Club, say twenty years ago and who have returned to it in recent time" (Thompson
1930 pp. 23-24). In 1910, the time Thompson was referring to, Cole was coming to the end of his
effective period of being the Club's "Chief Executive" due to his breakdown in health.
In politics he was an avowed Socialist of the mild Fabian type in marked contrast to his father,
grandfather and great grandfather who were Tories. In religion he was a communicant of the Church
of England. His elder brother Cole was a clergyman. Cole had a commanding presence and dignity.
He was stout "with massive head and full face with deep-set eyes" (Thompson 1923 p. 171). A fine
photographic portrait of Cole prefaced the title page of the Club's Yearbook and Calendar for
1905-6. The same photograph accompanied Thompson's 1923 Obituary of Cole.
Cole and the Field Club
Cole the Founder: In the late 1860s William Cole became acquainted with Raphael Meldola in
Epping Forest while both were engaged in separate insect hunting expeditions. This developed into
a lifelong friendship and was the catalyst which ultimately led to the birth of the Essex Field Club. In
1877 the Cole family moved to Laurel Cottage, Buckhurst Hill, close to his beloved Epping Forest.
In the autumn of 1879 William Cole and his brothers Benjamin and Henry displayed their
entomological collection at a church meeting at Buckhurst Hill. A visitor, Mr. Henry Vigne, Master
of the Woodford Harriers, suggested to William "Mr. Cole, we ought to have a Naturalists' Society
for Essex" (Thompson 1930 p. 2). That night Cole wrote to Professor Meldola and other entomological
friends suggesting they form a local natural history society. Cole sent his proposal to the Woodford
Times which appeared on Saturday 25th October 1879. This led the way to the foundation of the
Epping Forest and County of Essex Naturalist's Club which was launched on 10th January 1880
(Harley 1980 p. 5). Within two months 140 members had enlisted. A purse and a silver salver
engraved "Presented to William Cole, Esq., by some members of the Epping Forest and County of
Essex Naturalists' Field Club, in recognition of his services in connection with that Society, February
26th, 1881" was given to Cole in 1881 (Cole 1881 p. i). At the Annual Meeting in 1882 the name
Essex Field Club was adopted.
The Club's aims were to promote the study of the natural history, geology and pre-historic archaeology
of the County of Essex and its borderlands; to establish a Museum and to issue publications.
Cole the Secretary: Cole, who founded the Club, was elected Hon. Secretary in January 1880 and
served for 42 years as the chief executive officer. Cole also shouldered the burden, especially in the
early days, of planning and organising field meetings. The Field Club made a payment of £25 to
Cole at the beginning of 1885 "in compensation for loss of time devoted to the Club's affairs, and for
obtaining clerical assistance when necessary". This amount was also paid to Cole in 1886 and 1889.
Cole was indirectly criticised by Thompson (1930 p. 6) for repeatedly altering "as experience
suggested" and reprinting at great expense the Club's rules during the first five years of its existence
"which with more forethought might have been minimised".
Cole the Curator: As early as 1880 the Club expressed interest in having its own museum. Cole
organised and ran the museum at Stratford and the one at Chingford, Epping Forest, for many years.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)