THE ESSEX EIELD CLUB. 



257 



XIII., pp. 1-5). A full prospectus was inserted in the part of the same journal 

 for October, 1904 (Vol. XI If., part 7). 



Favoured with delightful weather the company gathered at Colchester Cattle 

 Market at 11 a.m., and were met by Alderman Henry Laver, F.S.A., Councillor 

 Shenstone, F.L.S., Mr. W. Gill, F.R.Photo.Soc, and these gentlemen 

 acted as guides throughout the day. Much of the success of the ramble was due 

 to the lucid and lull explanations of Dr. Laver, whose knowledge of the history 

 and archaeology of the town is probably possessed by no other man in such 

 degree. 



The party ascended Balkerne Hill, Dr. Laver explaining the various points of 

 interest associated with the building of the old Roman wall in the first or 

 second century A.D. At the Balkan Gate— which was viewed with special 

 interest — the doctor remarked that this was one of the original entrances to the 

 town, and shared, with a gate at Lincoln, the distinction of being the only two 

 Roman archways of the kind remaining in England. Having viewed the old 

 Roman guard-room, the company proceeded to St. Mary's steps, where they 

 inspected the remains of one of the towers built in the wall for defensive purposes 

 by the Romans. 



At Mr. Gill's house in High Street, some beautiful specimens of the new art 

 of tricolour photography were much admired, and Mr. Gill took an excellent 

 photograph of the company in his garden. 



At Sir Isaac's Walk, Alderman Laver pointed out stones at the side of the 

 roadway, forming the top of the Roman Wall. Scheregate Steps, and the two 

 bastions on the wall in Vineyard Street and Priory Street having been viewed, 

 the ruins of St. Botolph's Priory were then visited. The Priory, remarked Dr. 

 Laver, was founded in 1109, being entirely built with Roman tiles and debris. It 

 was dedicated to St. Botolph, and was a very important monastery— indeed, in 

 J 1 16 Pope Pascal gave it priority over all other Augustine monasteries 

 in England. It was one of the most beautiful examples of early Norman building, 

 but great care was needed to preserve the ruins. Tnere was considerable diffi- 

 culty in regard to this, as there were those who did not like to sacrifice the 

 ivy which clung to the building. They thought it picturesque ; but Dr. Laver 

 said soon there would be no church and no ivy. The Church of St. Giles 

 containing the vault where lie the remains of the " two valiant knights," Lucas 

 and Lisle, who were shot after the surrender of Colchester, was then visited. 

 The tomb, said Dr. Laver, was of special interest to him, for an ancestor of his 

 was one of the Royalist colonels. 



St. John's Abbey was then visited, the doctor remarking that its abbot was 

 one of three who, at the dissolution of the monasteries, refused to acknowledge 

 the King's supremacy, and was therefore tried for high treason, and hanged. 



An adjournment to the Masonic Hall for luncheon was then made. Dr, 

 Laver presided, and was supported by the Mayor of Colchester (Alderman 

 Henry Goody), Alderman Wilson Marriage, Councillor J. C. Shenstone, Mr. A. 

 E. Briscoe, B.Sc. (former principal of the Technical Institute, West Ham, and 

 originator of the survey), and Mrs. Briscoe, Mr. A. Horsley Hinton (Editor of 1'he 

 Amateur Photographer), Mr. Horace Wilmer, F.R.P.S., Mr. Bryan Corcoran, 

 Mr. E. McA. Moir, Mr. W. Gill, Mr. M. Veasey and xMiss Veasey, Mr. W. 

 Ping, Mr. G. E. Lyddon (hon. secretary Ilford and District Camera Club), Mr. 



